New-York tribune., 1921-01-21

owned. We have invested our money
IN American shipping. We have bought
vessels from the Shipping Board and
rave transferred large ship from the
British to the American flag. We were
the first to sign requisition papers
have Offices at many American ports
both on the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The charges made are an injustice.'
Admiral Benson said that the agree
ment made with the British govern
ment must have been laid before
previous chairman of the Shipping
Board, as he did not know until few
days ago that there was ary such
agreement.
it," he added "and shall investigate
it and if l find it to be what think
it is shall do my duty as chairman
of the board. The American merchant
marine must be 100 per cent American
or go out of business. I don't blame
our competitors for trying to win, but
believe insdious influences are at
work to-day throughout the country"
Benson Defends Ship Prices
Pointing out that economies were be-
ing effected by tho Shipping Board
and that more were in prospect, Ad-
miral Benson took up the question of
the boards ships.
1--WE have been criticized" he said,
"for not reducing our prices to
ridiculously low figure. l regard it as
extremely fortunate that no reduction
to ridiculous levels was made in
mediately after the war. Such action
would have put the ships in the hands
Of irresponsible speculators or of mo-
nopolistic corporations, to the detri-
ment OF the establishment of q mer-
chant marine.
The law requires that the disposal
OF the ships shall be made with due
regard to the cost of production. We
cannot afford to destroy American ship
building: While the price at which we
are holding the tonnage now may be
too high, steps toward a revision will
be taken very shortly, but not to any
such rldculously low figures as have
been suggested in some quarters. These
prices would be a violation of the law
and an attack on the Treasury. 1t will
be some years before the country can
absorb all the ships, and in the mean
time we must establish new foreign
trade routes and develop our port
facilities'
Speaking at dinner given by the
National Merchant Marine Association
tonight, Mr.. Franklin declared that at
ernment's war-built ships, irrespective
of price, and that there will be none
until the Shipping Board ceases COM
petition with private owners in the
shipping business. Not only are pri-
vate owners suffering from government
competition, said Mr.. Franklin, but the
taxpayers money is being lost in the
operation of government ships. while
agents who manage for the Shipping
Board are making money without risk
to themselves.
"No one can safely invest money in
American flag steamers for any trade"
he continued, until the government
clearly defines it's policy in regard to
competition in such trade. The state
mcnt OF policy must not only include
the direct trade. but must also define
the general policy to be pursued in all
other trades which influence such di-
rect trade, as action taken in one trade
might be ruinous to the Interests of
seemingly remote trade"
Hartman Gloomy Over Future
". A. Hartman, president Of the
American Ship and Commerce Corpora
ton, who followed Mr.. Franklin as a
speaker at the dinner, drew a gloomy
picture of the outlook for American
shipping.
.""Government-ow owned tonnage as such
will never survive" he said. "Privatc
shipping is the real infant industry,
and | am watching it slowly die. The
legislation we have had is not assist
ing the situation as it is to-day.
would think the problem hopeless if
the development of shipping was not
essential to the American nation.
THE merican-Hawaiian Line is to-
day disrupted by the competition of
Shipping Board operators who are
without any interests in the ships they
operate. The government can drive us
out Of business if they wish, but if
they do ! would consider it a national
disgrace"
Mr.. Hartman advocated an adjust
ment in the price of government-owned
tonnage. not with view that it would
result in the disposal of much shipping
but for the purpose of safeguarding
companies which bought at the high
rates following the war with the faith
that they would be safeguarded in the
event Of any reduction.