Evening star., 1922-04-04
MERCHANT MARINE
EXPENSIVE FAILURE,
LASKER DECLARES
Government Operation Only
Drives Private Owners Off
Seas, He Says.

DeCla1lnS government operation VI
the merchant marine is a costly fall
ure, accomplishing nothing but driv-
ing private owners off the seas, and
asserting that only by extended gov
ernment aid can the emergency fleet
be disposed of, costly government op-
GRAFTON stopped and a fleet be built up
suitable for the carriage Of the proper
share of American commerce and for
use as auxiliaries in time OF war, Al
bert D. Lasker, chairman OF the
United States Shipping Board. took
the stand as the initial witness to-
day before the joint congressional
hearings on the administration mer-
chant marine bill.
IN acknowledgment of our national
being the merchant marine for peace
and war purposes has become a vital
organ" Mr.. Lasker said. Govern
mental operation makes that organ
a diseased one. If the status quo re-
mains we know that as merchant
marine power We shall be bankrupt.
Republican leaders are confident the
House will be able to act on the
administrations ship subsidy bill be-
fore the close Of the present session,
but there is doubt whether the Senate
will have time to dispose of 1t before
Congress reconvenes in December
Long Hearings Expected.
Sitting in joint sessions the Senate
commerce committee and the House
merchant marine and fisheries COM
mittee plan first to hear the testi-
mony of Shipping Board officials. and
then to ascertain the views of both
proponents and opponents of the leg
islation. Members Of both committees
were generally of the opinion the
hearings would continue for a month
or more.
Prepared by Shipping Board OFF,
cials, with the approval of President
Harding, identical bills proposing
government aid for the United states
merchant marine are pending oeIore
both committees. They were intro
duced simultaneously by Chairman
Jones of the Senate committee and
Chairman Greene of the House COM
mittee Immediately after the Presi-
dnt on February IS, addressing
joint session of the Senate and House:
urged adoption of a farslShteo
merchant marine policy
Contrary to the usual custom OF Sem
ate and House committees holding
separate hearings. those to which the
administration bill was referred de-
cided, in an effort to speed up action
of public hearings. At their conciu-
sion. it was indicated today by the
chairmen of the committees, confer
ences will be held between members
of the two groups to reconcile diner.
ences of opinion so that the bill VIII
come up for consideration in both
houses in practically the same form.
Extracts Of Lasker Remarks.
Extracts from the opening remarks
of Chairman Lasker follow:
1.-The matter under consideration is
not merely one of subsidy or no sub
sidy; it involves what shall become OF
the governments vast war-buift mer-
chant fleet; what shall be done to end
the large losses of government ope-
ration of ships through the Emergency
Fleet Corporation; what shall be done
tn insure the overseas carriage of
Americas surplus products in times of
peace: and it involves, in Importance
possibly beyond all these questions,
whether America, through the possess
sion of an adequate merchant marine,
shall be self-sustaining and self-suf-
ficient on the seas in times Of war.
saThe world war has changed prac-
tically every phase of human life.
America energies from that war hold
ing first economic place in the world.
She finds herself a creditor nation
whether we will it or no, we are now
cast for continuing first place on the
stage of world commerce. No nation
ever held that proud position unless
she was strong in her own rights on
the seas.
Pre.War Basis Unlikely.
"There can be no return to a pre-
par, basis. Increased overheads
through increased capacities demand
increased consumption in many lines
beyond that which can be found in
our home country.
Having agreed to a naval program
of 5-5-3, we can have no thought or
hone of actual naval equality unless
through our own merchant ships in
time Of war. should that unhappily
come again.
'aTo the extent that we fail to sup
ply ourselves with an adequate mer-
chant marine of the type and num-
allotted to- us in the Washington con-
ference, we should do away with the
maintenance of capital naval ships.
We cannot fool ourselves; we only
are on a 5-5-3 naval basis with Great
Britain and Japan to the extent that
we possess on a 5-5-3 basis a mer-
chant marine of the type and kind
necessary for naval aid.
Prevent Marine Policy.
Under the merchant marine act.
it being obligatory on the Shipping
Board to maintain certain routes, the
board has been forced to continue in
q system of which economically il
does not approve.
1--WE believe that the present opera
ton by the Shipping Board 10 fast
approaching as efficient an operation
as government can give. But any
free competition with the privately
owned shipping of the world, through
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