The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1922-08-03

carrying but IS per cent: THIS que
largely to the tact that in time of sore
depression, the nations with either
or both old established lines and low
ier standards Of living make It hard
for us to compete.
However, the AT steel ships the
Government is today operating are
covering practically every trade route
in the world, insuring constant access
to the markets available for the prod
uct of America.
Fleet Kept Freight Rates Down.
Immediately after the close of the
war, had we not possessed the Gov
ernment-owned feet. there is no doubt
that freights would have scared even
higher than they did; and today were
Americas Government-owned tonnage
withdrawn from the seas, our traders
would pay increased tolls to foreign
owners. So we must remember that
while the operation Of the feet is cost
ing us millions, it is saving US mill
lions in freights and insuring us con-
tinuous relations with our customers.
The Shipping Board, including ad-
ministrative expense, cost Of tie-up
and maintenance of its unused feet,
and the operation Of over 400 ships
is being run at cash outlay of the
Treasury approximating $50,O00,000
annually. This does not take into &C.
count the cost Of the ships and conse-
quent capital charges.
1t is true that overhead would not
be greatly increased If the operation
of more ships were needed to take
care of Americas trade. But my ex-
perience as Chairman OF the Shipping
Board has caused me to realize, as l
never realized before, that Govern
ment operation is as poison ivy in the
garden of industry.
do not want to be understood as
hsinuating that the Shipping Board
is not today making a very good op-
GRAFTON Of the ships it Is running. In
it's early history, however, because Of
the vast feet it had to run without a
properly trained organization, the re-
suits obtained were by no means those
produced by private ownership; and
no one will SO argue
Present Losses Amount To Subsidy.
But l aver that under the Harding
Administration the Shipping Boards
operation has become comparable to
the best operations of privately owned
ships. The point wish to emphasize,
though Is that Government ownership
is not building up for the future, and
Is overly costly in its operations at
all times.
i. While we are losing $4,000. 900 an
nuafly In cash in operation, we are
wearing out the feet, and in the
course of few years 1t will be of no
worth. Nowhere have l heard any
voice suggesting that the Government
build further merchant ships, and only
through private ownership can we see
hope of renewals and additions that
will be needed. So while at the mo.
ment we are not only justified, but our
national need demands that we con.
tinue the sad losses of operation Of
the Shipping Board until we can work
out national policy which will insure
the passage Of the feet into private
hands, we have no excuse for not i'm
med1ately tackung our problem and
solving it.
The main factors of our problems
are, what kind Of merchant marine do
we require for war needs; what types
do we require for business needs; how
can we use the Government-owned'
fleet as nucleus in private hands for
the meeting of these needs? PRESIDENT
Harding has offered to the Congress Al
program of legislation which will pro4
vide the solution.
In my next article I shall discusel
our war needs In a merchant marine.
Miss Alice Lindskog of Maple Hill
is a guest of Mrs. Frithjof Wannebe
on Good Harbor Hill.
G.. A. A. Nelson and Andrew Kjel
dahl of Tl1tsen were among the TL1t.