New-York tribune., 1921-01-22
Slippers Plead
For More Aid
'ToU.S. Marine
National Association Goes
on Record as in Favor
Of Making Permanent
Ship Board Personnel
Seeks to Compete Abroad
Urges That Private Enter.
prize Be Encouraged;
Il Frank c. Munson Speaks

WASHINGTON. Jan. 21.-Immediat,
and faithful enforcement o. the mer
eAa1t marine act is urged in declara.
sion Of policy adopted by the Nationa
Merchant Marine Association at the
closing session of its convention here
tc.day, with Senator Joseph E. Rams.
sell, Of Louisiana, presiding.
The association also advocated that
lie Shipping Board personnel be put
on basistof permaneney and, that pri-
yste enterprise should be encouraged
to engage in shipping through national
Gd in order that American ships may
be able to operate in competition with
fefeign ships in the same trades.
Ia order that farmers, manufacture
ers and other producers can compete
in foreign markets and that the mer-
chant marine shall be privately owned
sy the citizens of all sections" the dec
larstion continued, at should be de-
ejded what new routes are to be estab-
lished by the Shipping Board and ar
xugements made for the development,
With q view to the subsequent pur-
chase, Of the routes and ships"
Condemns Criticism
Il also is urged that, wherever rea-
sonably adequate services are being
performed by privately owned or op-
!. srassd ships, the Shipping Board should
net allocate further tonnage SO that
concerns already in these trades may
hsye fair chance OF development.
Pointing out that the high prices ut
wkieh the Shipping Board tonnage was
sold are proving a burden on Aneri-
sacan companies competing with foreign
vessels, the convention urged that an
equitable plan of relief be. devised and
applied By the board. This could be
dtne through giving the original pur-
chasers the benefit of any reduction
nlde on future sales of ships.
Congress and the Navy. Department
snanent the policy of enrolling in the
Naval Reserve competent officers and
.nen of the merchant marine and a
recommendation was offered that the
treat Lakes Naval Training Station
k ret abandoned.
n conclusion the declaration os
rolicy calls for {; -eneral cessation of
destructive criticism of American
chipping and for constructive coopera
sien'i in meeting problems to be faced.
Among tic speakers at the closing
session was Frank c. Munson. presi-
Cent of the Munson Steamship Line.
vho discussed methods by which tho
United States could improve its posi-
tion on the seas.
Mr.. Munson urged that the Shipping
BOARD remove the reciprocating en-
gines and steam turbines from d great
portion Of the vessels it still holds
and replace them with Diesel engines.
The expense, Mr.. Munson declared
not only would be fully justified by
tie savings in fuel and CARO- space
and other economies, but ii would
rake the marketability Of the boar'"s
.onnage much greater and would en-
s5|e American ship owners to comE ete
With foreign companies. -u
Bare Boat Charter Plan
Y would advocate that the Shipping
Board ascertain the present book value
Of the fleets of Great Britain, our chief
competitor, and that that price be used
% g uecfo 1of tHS pliSC VI |tlS 'OV0A0 o
ships" said Mr.. Munson. To-day the
board could not sell any ships at 500
ton. Let the American ships be sold
at price to correspond, SO that we
may compete. Charge off the loss as
var loss" NJ
Advocating the adoption Of the bare
,oat charter plan by the Shipping
board, Mr.. Munson said that this
would be another step toward making
ne operation of American shipping
profitable. and that in his opinion it
would minimize the overhead expense
the Shipping Board by at least SO
yer cent.
iime charter rates also should be
axed at reasonable figure, Mr.. Nun
"a saio, adding: Scandinavian ships
sneuid not De allowed to come into
sais market TO the detrisnent Of Amer
Eepiaeing Of the present Shipping
gHvsrd with an entirely new member
sp would mean at least six months
;ss'ss n the development Of the Amer.
la ia MERCHANT marine, Mr.. Munson de-
-:., .Med, because it would mean a board
ss..a'at -. any one on it familiar with
sh ass mad been developed. "A complete
ssssge would be DISASTROUS he said.
!. a !. would urge the retention of two
!. sas present members, Admiral Ben
~ ~ shd Commissioner Donald. OF the
;as sl commissioners, two, in my opin-
e., saouid be ship owners, one prac-
sIsa. engineer, with knowledge Of
sssxes and marine engines. and one a
49, and accounting expert. The
- saa snopid have under It commit
~ experts to study and stimulate
ps;s;sae p;s;ser suosidies nor discriminatory
'ssss. Dir. Munson said. would. in
es... .vpIhien, aid the American mer-
ss5ns.a.:ne marine as much as international.
s.a.ion. sp..n. There is no necessity for
! s.cvrsMsfcial war between xhipowning
Ill 9sss, he continued. "I belieye
as,sneas sleas Britain, through the medium
hi. conferences, will recognize our
as1sn' - a fair share Of the worlds
>pposes Commercial Treatfes
sopsAking after Sir. Mmson M T.
tits -, 81 New Orleans, connected
rrt. ~ - Leyiand Line, dfseredited re-
ksr;si sIas tfest Britain planned COM
sass campaign against American
representative George W. Edmond.
nj T. yiyania, told the convention
xsy,'ss ~ iayored the abrozation of COM
Il s,s.s sfeatses by the United States,
a. sss'asd ~ a for In the merchant marine
nses 49, me use Of preferential railroad
- ,.sl ~ sn'paasSsts carried in Ameri-
safisx 1stenends & emphasized adequate
~ ~ insurance facilities at low rates
/ 4essss,," 70 the growth Of American
a6SsX ofaos. Foreign trade cf the
VI r.ss. .sss.asss, ne said, wou11 be penal
e95s.ssssan sn american marine Insurance.
~ III made syailabio 10 shipown-
~