Evening star., 1922-05-18


the Department Of State"
Ocean and inland transportation and
their relation to the restoration to nor
NAL world trade conditions and the
extent to which the United States
should make prepare tions to support a
merchant marine were discussed from
all angles at the morning session of
the annual meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, in Con-
vention Hall.
In discussing the Presidents pro-
gram for a merchant marine. Albert
d. Lasker, chairman of the United
States Shipping Board. pointed out the
absolute necessity of American busi-
ness supporting American ships by
using them. if they expected to have
means of water transportation when
conditions finally become normal.
This was the governments view
point. The viewpoint of the farmer
was presented by Harvey ]. Sconce
of Sidell. ILL.,. the viewpoint of the
shipbuilder by J. L. Ackerson of
Chester. Pa, vice president. Merchan mt
Sffpbuilding Company. and former
vice president of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, and the viewpoint
Of the ship operator by Frank c.
Munson. president, Munson Steam
ship Lines. New York city.
President Harding will address
the delegates at o'clock at the Con-
vention Hall: and Secretary Hughes
of the State Department will address
the delegates tonight. Tks~repNxt
of the resolutions committee will be
made this afternoon The convention
will conclude it's three-day session
with the session this evening at 8
O'Clock.
Absolute necessity of maintaining
q large merchant marine in order to
keep up the naval ratio of the United
States outlined by the recent arms
conference here was pointed out by
Albert d. Lasker. chairman of the
United States Shipping Board. Un-
less this is done, he said. Great Britain
with. her large merchant marine will
be largely superior to the United
States on the seas.
are as essential to the operation of
a navy in time of war as the capital
ships of the navy itself. he said. In
these types America is sadly def
cient- There can be no hope of the
United States keeping a naval parity
with Great Britain unless there Is
created a merchant marine power to
equalize the difference.
Will Build No More.
He told the delegates that the
United States will not build any more
ships. that the building up. of the
merchant marine must depend on
private capital. A large merchant
marine must be constructed in order
10 carry American goods, or they
would have to depend on foreign
competitors. But he pointed out that
ships as an aid to building up the
merchant marine. Mr.. Lasker ad-
mitted that the Treasury was losing
money on the operation of the ships,
but pointed out that they would
Jose more money until American
The necessity. of providing a mer-
chant marine, the ships of which
could be used as cruisers and raid
ers in war time, was one of the
"upon America the necessity of an
Immediate decision as to policy that
will encompass it's future on the seas"
Now Creditor Nation.
"The second reason that has Great
ed a new situation in connection with
bur need of a merchant marine is
that before the war America was a
debtor nation. and those who con-
trolled the vehicles of transportation
on the sea were largely our creditors
and would send to us for the goods
and raw materials wherewith we
should pay what we owed them" he
said. To-day, no longer a debtor ma
fion, bat a creditor nation. through
expanded plant capacity and through
need of increasing our export busi-
ness, that We may make use of the
vast gold reserves that have accumu-
lated, we come into competition with
the nations that control the sea car
90 ~lyo =
that are still to be developed
The third reason rs that, through
the need of the late war. America has
come into possession Of a great feet,
approximately 1.500 ships of 10000, 900
gross tons. built at cost of over
three billion dollars. These ships sfe
being operated by the government
on essential trade routes at an annual
loss of s5e.000.000.
Led President to Act.
UT was these three problems that
led President Harding to go before
the Congress with proposal for leg
1slation.
The first of the three problems
that of the need of a supplemental
merchant marine for the Navy-is one
that directly interests all groups of
Americans. Secretary DENLY and all
the naval experts of America will
agree that in time of war we are an
impotent America unless we possess
ships of the fast cruiser and raider
type, so essential to naval operations
II do not dwell on the naval need
Rather do ! turn with you to two
other problems involved. to wit: The
need of America having facilities for
carrying her own overseas commerce
end insuring her own overseas trade
and the further problem as to the
liquidation of the fleet Of which the
government finds itself possessed, as
y ell as the concomitant subject Of
the governments retirement from ship
operations. These are questions that
peculiarly cry for exploration by
body such as yours, which In itself
! represents the very best of the busi-