New-York tribune., 1922-10-27
Ship Men Say
Aliens Aim to
Kill II. S. Bill
British Tactics Are Assailed
by Commissioner Plum
mer; Marvin, Edmopsls,
Ferguson Uphold Plans

Direct charges that foreign ship
owners are conducting campaign
against the United States shipping bill.
shat the purposes of the bill are be-
ng distorted here and abroad and that
atner maritime nations are discrinlf
mating against American vessels while
they are speaking for fair play were
made in addresses yesterday before
the American Manufacturers Export
Association, IN session at the Waldorf
Astoria.
Skipping Board Commissioner e. C..
Plumrner gave names and dates TO
support his charges OF propaganda and
aiscriTn snation. He singled out espe-
ciaily SIR Frederick Lewis, president
# the Chamber OF Shipping of the
jaited Kingdom and head Of mum
Der of large steamship lines. Quoting
rom recent address by Sir Frederick.
N which he declared friendship for
American shipping and sympathy with
fhe efforts here TO upbuild the mer-
chant marine, Commissioner plnmmer
said one OF the British lines under Sir
Frederick has been guilty Of unfair
discrimination.
"Sir Frederiek's ships were and are
members of the Liverpool Conference,
yhich refused to permit American ves-
sells to carry pound OF that Egyptian
cotton which Americans had purchased
there," said Mr.. Plummer, though the
rate offered by the American vessels
vas Is shiilings less than the price
demanded by those foreign ships, and
hey only permitted Americans to
share in that carrying of American
owned goods when the Shipping Board
PRODUCED the big stick which Congress
so wisely had put into it's hands"
Others speakers for an American
merchant marine were Representative
George w. Edmonds, of Pennsylvania,
chairman of the subcommittee which
RATED the subsidy bill; Winthrop l..
Marvin, vice president Of the American
Steamship Owners Association, and
Homer F.. Ferguson, president Of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company and former president
If the United States Chamber of Com
merce.
Mx. Edmonds expressed the belief
hat shipping would not need 80 much
assistance from the government after
it was firmly established He said
shat Middle Western interests which
oppose the bill are not logical, as the
farmers themselves have received sub
sides in the form Of land grants, river
improvements and better roads.
Mr.. Marvin said that foreign ma
ions, as general policy, have often
resorted to subsidiaries to upbuild
heir shipping, and that many such
Jaws are in effect to-day.
Between 1899 and 1922 British sub
yertions to the national mail, passen-
ser and cargo lines are to be meas
ured by some hundreds of millions of
dollars" he said.
Bear in mind the fact that British
subsidies, with one or two excep-
lions, nave been given only to regular
services carrying mails and passen-
gers. British cargo craft, the 'tramps'
II to-day, have been aided in another
but equally effective way, through the
worldwide, well-organized co-ordina-
zion Of British commercial, maritime,
banking and underwriting interests in
nome and foreign ports, which under
the aegis OF free trade have actually
made the British mercantile marine
perhaps the most effectively protected
industry in existence"
Mr.. Marvin explained that govern
nent aid was needed TO Offset higher
labor and construction costs.
Mr.. ferguson, who presided, said
that with the exception Of the Levia-
than there was not first class pas
sengef liner under the United States
fia@ to-day. The country. he added,
needed vessels the equal Of any on the
seas.
MIR. Plummer cited instances of dis
elimination abroad, and referred to
the protests against extension of
American coastwise laws to the Phil
ippines.
"Why is it that it's all right for
Japan to apply coasting laws 70 For
mosa and All wrong for us to do the
same with our Philippines 2" he asked.
Why is 1T all right for Australia
In its current budget to appropriate
e2 100000 TO be loaned for ship con
struction and all wrong for us to do
the same thing? Ii we followed Aus
traila's lead we'd have in this bill a
loan fund OF $205,00o 900 instead of