The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-10
SENATOR OPPOSES
HARDINC'S VIEWS
Fletcher Says Government Controi OF
Ships Did Have a Proper Chance.
LAY GEORGE Il. MANNINel

WASHINGTON, March 6.-Sharp issue
is taken regarding President Harding
views concerning the needs of the Amer
lean merchant marine, as expressed IN
his address to congress of few days
ago, by Senator Duncan u. Fletcher,
democrat, who was chairman of the SEN
ate commerce committee during the re-
cent years of democratic rule in congress,
He differs with President Harding s
contention that the government cannot
successfully manage and operate ships
and says the proposition has not been
given a proper chance. The shipping
board vessels have been turned over
chiefly, he says. to adventurers and in
experienced men to operate, and that
where competent men have operated
them it has turned out successfully.
Senator F1etchar's views on shipping
questions are held in high regard In
congress because of his extensive &C
quaintance with the subject and the
fact that as chairman of the senate COM
merce committee he was in charge Of
all shipping legislation from 1911 to
1921, including the war period and the
time Of the building up of the shipping
board and it's fleet.
The ship subsidy policy proposed by
the president is vicious, Senator Fletcher
asserts, and has never been successful
anywhere in either building up foreign
trade or a big merchant marine.
'"rhe president is in error, in my judg-
ment, in contending that the govern
ment cannot successfully manage and
operate ships, and in intimating that
failure has been made in that connec-
tion," declared Senator Fletcher.
LAS a matter of fact. there has been
no operation of shipping board ships by
fta srry -Srae,J =
operated by private individuals and cor
and adventurers. The only experience
we have with government operation is
with the Panama Steamship company,
and that has been a decided success.
my inclination, too, has been against
subsidy" continued Senator Fletcher. 81
contend strongly that no country ever
permanently developed shipping or estab
iished or Increased trade through sub
sides. We have made some moves in
that direction in the past, and they have
been futile, and the policy is vicious.
"a subsidy based upon the tonnage OF
the ship and the mileage It covered in
France resulted in ships under the
French flag sailing about the oceans in
merchant marine. No form of subsidy
or subvention has ever created foreign
trade or increased it.
1.-THE plan proposed is quite ingenious,
and 1 shall study the bill introducer to
carry it out carefully, my present feel
ing being against the subsidy.
1.-THE fact is that steamship companies
are making good profits today, in spite
of the general depression in trade. The
net earnings of at least three companies
operating American Ships today are
greater than 10 per cent per annum. Re-
ports from others are not at hand.
doubt If the 10 per cent proposal of the
presidents would be attractive to most
of our lines. There is no need of subsi-
dies. in my opinion. I would. however,
favor the government furnishing insur-
ance to our own and private American
ships at practically cost, just as we did
during the war. when the government
marine bureau provided insurance and
made a clear profit OF $4,000 000."