Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-05-26
HI.AMES VESSEL OWNERS
FOR DECAY UT SEA POWER
AND FLAWS ENTIRE POLICY

BY international Labor News Service.
Washington, II. C.~~Becauae the
proposal is provocative of inefli-
cheney and graft and general pafaAit-
isms aud for other clearly stated rea-
sons, the American Federation of La
bor Executive Council, meeting here
this week in preparation Tor the com-
ing convention, adopted resolution
eondemning the ship subsidy bill In
the severest terms.
Six distinct REASONS are given w
tl,o eouncii fes4 a4alasltlan to tls4. siahs
sidy bill which Is backed by the al.
administration, the shipping board and
the great shipping and banking In
lefesta.
The resolution follows:
WHEREAS: Congress through It's
committees liz now conducting near,
inRs on y. 32i7-~"A bill 10 amend
and supplement the Merchant Marine
Act of 1920 and fof other purposes
which is In fact bill 10 suhsidize
the shipowners of America; and,
WHEREAS; This bill IN every
feature thereof IL predieated upon
the unfounded claim that such sub
sidy Ii needed to equaligo the wage
cost, which IL Is claimed runs strongly
against the American vesseisi and,
WHEREAS. There Is no material
difference Ia either wage cost OF sub
siatence cost running against Amen-
can VESSELS and any real enforce
ment of the Seamen'a Act will pre-
vent any diiierential against vessels
under American flag Ia The futufei
therefore,
RESOLVED, That acting for and
on behalf of the Trade Unions Oh
America we reiterate that We are
generally opposed 10 subsidies OF any
kind aud specifically opposed to SUD
sidleg being granted 10 shlpownefs,
because, first, there IL no proof lhht
subsidies ever built 40 or materially
aided in building any merchant ma
rine. second, because IL IS provocative
of inefIiciency and graft and general
parasitism.
Resolyer further, That we are op-
posed TO this particular bill for feh-
sons some Of which we enumefa~ aa
follows: a
First Because il presumes to sell
the vessels now owned by the Toy,
eminent when in fact the so-ealied
sale Is nothing but smoke screen 70 +
hide the fact that the shlp-ownets
are to receive the vessels Tor notfing
and then some three hundred million
dollars over and above the purchase
price for operating the vessels iof zen
wears. after which time the shlp oper-
ators may turn the vessels back 70
the Government;
Second.--Beeause this bill eonisfs
upon the Shipping Board powers sueb
as have never been, so FAR as we can
ascertain, given 10 any commission .. ~,
board in any country; under TINS plil
II can give the subsidy or ~ithhoia'
IL can reduce the subsidy or double
Il. ID can sell the vessels at any prce
Ia one person or refuse 10 sell % an
other person at a high bid because
Il Is Of the opinion that the bidder =
character il such that he may not use
the vessel To promote the interests oi
the United States; il can lend money
10 one person at per cent interest,"
and refuse IL to another, when polh
are TO use Il for the same purpose.
Third.-Because the shipO@nef2
who are advocating the bill ana WIZ
be the recipients Of the bounty feluse
to give any real information about
their business during the last zen
years, in fact, any information, when
might show whether any SUBSIDY y
really needed, even from the point ol
view of those fayoring subsidies az
principle, unless ordered 70 40 50 ~
The Joint Committee conducting the
hearings. ,.z...,.-s
are 30 organized that there Is not nor nor
viii there be any competition between
them in the buying Of the SHIPS.
Fifth.-Because the shlpo@nle.fs
have dominated the policy Of the SNIP
ming Board during nearly ail oi -
nnw and there Is no reason TO believe
that they win not continue to eontroi
+ Il in the future. . .,,.
Congress has, during our
! history, except in two or three III