The New York herald., 1922-11-12
HELP FOR SHIPPING
BY j. S. Is URGED
Speakers at Marine Exposition
Also Dwell on Need of
Tramp Steamers.
GOOD FOUNDATION LAID
Foreign Competitors Making
Active Effort to Wrest Bus
mess From Country.
GOOD FOUNDATION LAID

The need for Government support for
the American merchant marine, for en-
couragement to American tramp ships.
for greater efficiency of seagoing per-
sonnel, and for better cooperation be-
tween shipowner and ship officer formed
the themes of talks given yesterday at
Grand Central Palace in connection
with closing day of the Marine EXPOSE
tion and of American marine week.
Francis II. Sisson. vice-presldent Of
the Guaranty Trust Company. spoke
more enthusiastically than do most
bankers in favor of national aid to ship
ping. He said:
1--WE have now the foundation stones
for any international trade structure
that we may desire to erect. We have
ships, a worldwide banking organiza-
tion. illlmitable capacity for production
of both raw materials and manufac-
lures, and capital resources far beyond
any competitor We have ceased to be
a debtor nation and, In addition to a
record of actual favorable trade bal
ances of many billions for the last few
years, we shall have an invisible ex-
sums that have been loaned abroad.
Must Meet Challenge.
1--WE must go forward OF we shall in
evitably be forced to retreat from our
present position with heavy losses all
along the lne-in shipping, banking
and trade. We are already vigorously
challenged by competitors in foreign
markets. A courageous national policy
of legitimately aggressive development
of those newly coordinated resources
for the conduct of foreign trade is
essential. There is no one American
merchant. manufa cturer, banker. farmer
or laborer-who has not some stake in
this struggle. Our sales abroad Of
large quantities of food products an
nually is fact of Importance to every
farmer, either in direct interest or in
effect upon prices"
The Shipping Board was criticised
for devoting, its resources 20 the de-
velopment OF liner services to the ex-
clusion of the tramp steamer, which has
no regular sailing date, but goes from
port to port in search of cargoes, by
Charles II. Potter. president of the
Maritime Exchange and of the United
States Ship Operators Association.
Mr.. Potter declared that the tramp
steamer Is valuable and essential as an
auxiliary aid for national defense pur-
poses. as a medium for the develop
ment of a naval reserve, to transport
coal. and other supplies to navalN sta
tons and navy vessels, as a merchant
vessel to transport bulk cargoes, for re-
lief expedition purposes, for relieving
freight congestions, as a pioneer for
establishing regular berth services. and
as medium to prevent profteering by
berth operators. He said he was glad
TO note that the proposed subsidy bill
will compensate tramp steamers.
Trained Personnel Needed.
Emphasis on the necessity OF an ef-
fcient seagoing personnel was placed by
Capt Reginald Fay. president of the
National Board of Steam Navigation,
who said that without such efficiency
the country's shipping would never be
successful. There is needed.> he said,
more scholarships, more continuous
service before the mast, a greater gem
eral knowledge OF the responsibilities
and worth OF masters and chief en-
sineers, and IAN awakening of the old
spirit of the greatness and the glory
OF the American merchant marfne-a
spirit that calls for achievement and
efficiency in the handling of our ships
and cargoes."
Cdpt' JonH 4. Milliken, secretary
treasurer of the Neptune Association.
asked for better treatment from shin
owners on behalf OF American deck
officers. He said that the navigation
laws governing the employment OF off,
GERS were being violated and such low
wages being paid that universal dissatis-
faction was the result. He concluded:
"A little more generosity and fair
treatment now on the part of the own
crs toward the officers Will 60 a long
way toward cemenung the friendship
that IS so necessary for the success of
our merchant marine"
plea for the subsidy was voiced by
Winthrop l.. Marvin, vice-president and
general manager of the American
Steamship Owners Association.