New-York tribune., 1921-01-18
Vide Inquiry
! Into Shipping
Will Be Made
Lsree Conventions Planned
for Washington This W eek
for Discussion of Prob
lens Of Merchant Marine
|jrse Ship Labor Cost Cut
owners and Representatives
Of Men to Meet; Export
Freight Rates an Issue

!. snd two investigating committees
/. session in New York dealing with
..,tsrs relating TO shipping. this week
=, witness a general consideration OF
.nhlems concerning the American
r.rchant marine.
In addition there will be a confer
.-.s between committee of the
lnsrican Steamship Owners Associa-
son and representatives of marine Of
,esrs' associations and seamen's
,nious, This, it is said, will be one
Il the first steps to bring the Ameri-
on merchant marine on a competing
tbasis with foreign shipping. Modihca-
lions Of overtime pay arrangements
and other adjustments of the wage
scale will be considered at the
Ieonierence.
Captain Eugene E. O'Donnell, of
Boston, is chairman of the shipown-
Iers' committee, which feels that,
Iyew of the depressed condition of the
shipping trade and the withdrawal Of
many vessels during the past few
months, notifications of the wage
sale are warranted. The Shipping
Board is said to support the ship
owners in this pcsit.oK Practically
al the wage agreements expire on
Nay l.
Ship Labor Cost to Be Cut
Steps have already been taken on
Ithe Pacific Coast for a reduction in
ea wages, the shipowners there hav-
ling notified the men of cut in wage
Iscales to take effect thirty days from
1.-The time of notification. AS matters
Stand American wage scales on ship
board are materially above those Of
NLl other nations and this is one of
she material factors in handlcapping
limited States vessels in compel .tion.
representatives OF the commercial
interests and shippers of twenty seven
+ South Atlantic. Gulf and Missirpi Val
+ ley states will meet in Washington to-
morrow and THURSDAY to advocate the
continuance of equal export freight
rates to all Atlantic and Gulf ports and
/ 10 urge the maintenance and extern
sion Of new foreign trade routes.
These representatives will come to
Washington as delegates to meetings
/ Of the South Atlantic States Associa-
ton and the Mississippi Valley Asso-
cation. Although the two organizations
! will meet separately they will act
jointly. it is said, upon export freight
nate and new foreign trade route ques-
| ftons and other matters of mutual
feoncern.
On Thursday and Friday the Ma
|Eonal Merchant Marine Association
|will hold its annual convention at
Washington, with Senator Joseph E.
Ransdell, Of Louisiana, presiding, and
many men prominent in shipping and
Allied interests as speakers.
To Adopt Marine Policy
The purpose of the meeting is an
bounced to be the formulation of poll
sies to be recommended to Congress in
the development of an American ma
rine and to develop clearer public
understanding of shipping problems.
Matthew Hale, Of Boston and Wash
ington, president of the South Atlantic
States Association, has announced that
be has ever. reason to believe that
| shippers of the Gulf and South Atlantic
states and those of the Mississippi
Valley would stand solidly together
against any attempt to cancel the exist
| Ing equal export freight rates to all
ports, without re-ard to geographical
location, but that they also would be
strongly supported in this position by
i tie shippers and commercial interests
generally Of all states west of the Mis-
sssipp River, including those of the
Central West. the Inter Mountain re-
tions and the Pacific Coast.
As first vice-chairman Of the. Mid
sest-Gulf-South Atlantic Foreign Trade
md Transportation committee, Mr..
Hale called that organization to meet
esys simultaneously with the South
Atlantic States ard Mississippi Valley
associations in order that the seven
zen cities, extending from the Gulf to
Aansas City, represented on the COM
s!s'ee, might be represented.
Want Freights Maintained
The present export freight rates,
established by the United States Rail-
'sad Administration in December, 1919,
yH 81 Atlantic ports on an equal foot
ay Tor the first time in more than
a,!y years, and resulted in opening to
asiseas traffic ten South Atlantic and
wi ports, many Of which had there
.Aors virtually been closed because of
.se eid prohibitive export freight rates
tsose outlets.
| IN connection with the advocacy corr
Aaasnce Of the existing export freight
.s.ss the organizations which will meet
/ ~ It Is asserted, will stand squarely
n@1o senator Jones and Admiral Ben
~ 10 their advocacy Of new foreign
ss ssss soutes, as provided for in the
~'sns.aant marine act.
>, ,oppostfon TO the Unrestricted sale
sesernrn ent-owned ships proposed
& ma.'in j. Gillen, formerly assistant
,sn..irmen Payne and Benson. Of the
spnng Board, also Is expected to