New-York tribune., 1922-06-26
Help Us Get Rid
OF Fleet, Lasker
Urges Congress
Subsidy for Private Owner
Is Only Way Government
Can Liquidaic 80 Million
a Year Loss, He Asserts
Puts Liquor Issue Aside
SAYS Sale Of Ships Abroad
Would BE Menace and
Junking Disgrace to L. ).

Froa, ~, Tribunss Woshin0ion Buysda
WASHINGTON. June 25.-The gov
ernmont, through Chairman Lasker or
the Shipping Board. to-day made its
final plea for enactment o. the ship
subsidy bill. IN letter sent by the
chairman TO every member OF Congress
the executive branch brought out in
bolder relief specially TO the House
Of Representatives. which will take the
question 20 the people in recess 70
begin within few days, the urgent
need for Federal shipping aid.
Sweeping aside such incidental fac
tors as the liquor controversy and
going straight TO the heart OF the situ.
alton. Mr. Lasker told Congress the
problem is clear cut, Whether the
United States needs a merchant ma
rine should not be considered, he said
"Ihe fact is that the Shipping Board
to-day is in possession Of the greatest
feet the world has ever known, and
which, by act Of Congress, il Is man
dated 10 operate on essential trade
routes until such time rs its vessels
can be sold 20 private owners" he said.
What Shall We DO With It!'
The Shipping Board admits that Il
cannot operate It's feet nearly as eco
nomically as private owners operate
their vessels. he again pointed out, and
thus the question to be considered Is,
What shall we now do with this war
inheritance
"Shall IL be sold TO private owner
ship for operation under the American
aag?" ne asks "Shall it be sold abroad,
possibly some day TO rise and plague
US, or shall il be junked and charged
of 10 war cost as powder and shell
were charged Off
The Shipping Board. approaching
the problem as a business problem, be-
lieves that few Americans would advo-
cate junking a feet which cost the
nation vast sums OF money. That alter
native is dismissed as impracticable
and impossible - impossible because
such a course would admit to the world
that the United States, possessed OF
q great feet Of merchant ships, was
forced 10 concede that IL lacked the
ingenuity and ability TO convert that
feet to revenue getting, profitable
asset comparable 70 the merchant
fleets responsible for the commercial
success Of other great nations, and thst
the United States was bankrupt IN
statesmanship that visuslized the need
of keeping alive a merchant marine
under its flag for peace and war pro-
lection.
Against Sale Abroad
The Shipping Board does not be
lieye that the desirable units Of Amer
iea's feet should be sold abroad; not
only because such course would END
for decades any hope Of establishing
the American flag on the seas, but be-
cause il would place In the hands OF
our commercial rivals added tools TO
control world trade; would strengthen
in certain ways the naval powers OF
other countries and weaken our OWL
and would allow citizens II other ma
tions 10 select the cream OF our ION
mage AT their own prices while the
United states paid the great cost OF up
keep OF the lnferior ships left on our
hands.
"The Shipping Board, composed OF
four Republicans and three Democrats!
advised to-day by as competent a stan
OF experts as possibly any government
tcoaliausd o. asst ssssl