The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-06-29
MERCHANT SHIPS
Up TO CONGRESS
CHAIRMAN LAskER DECLARES
COMMERCE ON SEAS DE-
PENDs UPON SUBSIDY
Head Of Board Urges Members TO
Place Question squarely Before
American People For Their
Deelsion

Observation-Disclosures Lasker of
the shipping board Sunday put the
future of the American merchant
marine squarely up to congress.
In an open letter to all members
OF the house and senate he declared
that one of two things must happen
there must either be ship subsidy
bill or the American commercial flag
viii retire from the high seas. valu-
able word trade will be controlled by
other nations. The United States will
have to suffer the loss OF the ire
mendous investment In constructing
the great fleet.
THE final determination need not
be dependent on whether one feels
that the United States needs a mer-
chant marine: the fact Is that the
shipping board is today in possession
OF the greatest fleet the world has
ever known" Lasker wrote.
"The shipping board admits that II
cannot operate its fleet remotely as
economically as private owners oper.
ate their vessels; the history of prior
boards shows that they were unable
to put the operation OF the govern
men fleet on n proper business basls.
The shipping board believes that the
fleet under its charge can never be
profitably or successfully operated un-
der government control.
"What shall we do with this war I'm
heritance? Shall II be sold to private
ownership for operation under the
American flag? Shall IL be sold abroad,
possibly some day TO rise and plague
us, or shall II be junked and charged
on TO war cost as powder and shell
were charged off?"
The chairman dsmisses as imprnc-
tical the suggestion that the ships be
junked, as II would be an admission
that Americans are incapable OF opera
ating them and II would prove a SER
ious blow to the United States pres
tlge. To sell them abroad, he points
out, would be to put in the hands OF
our competitors an effective weapon
to destroy our world trade.
BY substituting the ADMINISTRATORS
ship subsidy bill for the present form
OF operation the ships could be turned
to profitable private ownership and
the taxpayers relieved OF heavy bur-
den. The ships are costing the gov
ernmo- $50,OOO,O0O annually. exciu-
siye of depreciation, Insurance and
interest. And OF 100000 tons now
owned by the government Mr.. Lasker
declared it had been possible to sell
only 10000 tons in the face OF cur
rent conditions.
Since taking over the board every
effort has been made to develop prof
liable shipping lines by congress. he
stated. This proved unavoidable be-
cause at the same time private oper-
alton proved Improbable and there
are no purchasers.
"The shipping board believes that
the great purpose before us can be
accomplished through the agency OF
direct and indirect aids, as proposed
In the measure now before congress-"
the letter continues.
"The fleet WIS acquired through war
necessity. Many OF the ships are OF
the wrong type for peace time trade
There can be no thought of naval
equality with Great Britain unless we
have MS many ships of proper type
suitable for naval auxiliaries. Great
Britain already has $50 ships of this
class 10 this country's fifty.