Evening star., 1922-07-16
Politics VS.. u. S. Ships
\ lOLITICAL sxpediency versus
public interest, a conflict not
infrequent, unfortunately, is
BY G.. Could Lincoln.

HOLITICAL expediency versus
- public interest, a conflict not
infrequent, unfortunately, is
looming up in connection with
the consideration Of the administra-
tion merchant marine bill. more COM
monty known as the ship subsidy bill
President Harding not long ago, con-
WINGED OF the vital need OF maintain
ing and building up the American
merchant marine. addressed a letter
to House leaders, saying that he con-
sidered the passage Of the bill SO i'm
portant he would feel constrained to
call Congress back in special session
should 1t adjourn without disposing
of this bill.
But the House took a recess until
August Is. when 1t might as well
have remained in Washington and put
through the subsidy. bill. A poll of
the republican members of the Sem
ate by Senate leaders has revealed
the fact that the sentiment of the
majority is that the bill should be
put of until after the coming cleo
tions.
y y *
1t appears, therefore, that unless
the President makes his demand for
action on the bill at this time felt in
no uncertain manner the bill will be
allowed to go over
This Notwithstanding the fact that
American shipping and business in
terests which are planning to enter
the shipping game are up in the
air" and hesitating to go forward
with their plans until this legisla-
ton has been disposed Of one way or
another. And notwithstanding also
the fact that the hands Of the United
States Shipping Board are practically
tied until something is done.
X = = =
A report of the United States Ship
ping Board Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion, under date of July II, practically
to date, tells the story graphically.
This report shows that the corpora
tion owned on that date grand total
Of 1873 vessels; that 1.705 were in
the operating department of the cor
poration, and thirty-four in the So
called surplus property department.
OF these vessels AIS were listed as
active" 81 as Temporarily inactive"
(awaiting repairs, cargo, or waiting
to be tied up). and 1898 as inactive"
or tied up. Nothing could be more
conclusive evidence that il the ves-
sells owned by the Shipping Board.
snd for which the United States
poured out its millions and billions,
are not to be allowed to rot away
inactive" drastic action must be
taken to put new life into the Ameri-
can merchant marine This is what
the administration ship subsidy bill
proposes to do.
Does the United States desire an
American merchant marine? 1t seems
almost an idle question when the
situation that confronted this coun-
try at the time Of the great war is
recalled. This country had prac-
tically no merchant marine at that
time: that is, no merchant vessels
doing an overseas business. No one
can tell with certainty how long this
country will remain at peace. And
a merchant marine has long been
recognized as a secondary line of
defense.
Yet when concrete proposal to
insure an American merchant marine
is made by the President and drafted
and redrafted by the committees of
the House and Senate there is hesi-
tation and delay on the part of
Congress.
The proposed aid for the merchant
marine will not fall heavily upon the
country. The taxpayers will scarcely
realize that the aid is being extended.
The bill proposes. among other things,
that there shall be created a revolv-
ing fund Of $125,00o.ooo from the sale
Of Shipping Board vessels. American
ship builders will be permitted to
borrow from this fund for the con-
struction of new ships. paying only
2 per cent interest. The loans will
run for fifteen years, and builder
may borrow up to two-thirds the cost
of constructing a vessel.
Another fund is to be created out
Of a percentage Of customs receipts
and from other sources for the direct
compensation of American vessels
complying with the terms of con-
tract entered into with the govern
ment. 1t is proposed. too. to remit
some Of the income taxes of ship
owners and to have at least half of
the immigrants who come to this
country carried in American bottoms,
and that all officials of the govern
ment and supplies for the govern
ment shall be carried in American
vessels when 1t is found possible to
do so. The sale of the government
owned ships is to. be made easier. so
that the government may eventually
get out OF the business of running
merchant vessels itself and American
citizens shall engage in that industry
as they have in the past
OF course, the most important and