Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-06-30
MERCHANT SHIPS
Up TO CONGRESS
CHAIRMAN LAsKER DECLARES
COMMERCE ON SEAS DE-
PENDS UPON SUBSIDY
Head Of Board Urges Membera "a
Place Question Squarely Before
American People For Their
~ Decision

Washington. Chairman Lasker OF
the shipping board Sunday put the
future OF tho American merchant
marine squarsly up to congress.
In an open letter to all members
of the house and senate he declared
that one Of two things must happen
there must either he ship subsidy
bill or the American commercial flag
VIII retire from the high seas. Valu-
able word trade will he controlled by
other nations. The United States will
have to suffer the loss Of the tire.
mendous investment Ia constructing
the great fleet
"The final determination need not
be dependent on whether one feels
that the United States needs mer-
chant marine; the fact is that the
shipping board IS today in possession
Of the greatest fleet the world has
ever known LaslSer wrote.
The shipping board admits that II
cannot operate its fleet remotely as
economically as private owners oper-
ate their vessels; the history of prior
boards shows that they were unable
10 put the operation of the govern
men fleet on proper business basis.
The shipping board believes that the
fleet under its charge can never be
profitably or successfully operated un-
der government control
What shall we do with this war in
heritance7 Shall II be sold TO private
ownership for operation under the
American flag7 Shall II be sold abroad.
possibly some day to rise and plague
us, or shall 1t be junked and charged
off TO war cost as powder and shell
were charged orr"
The chairman dlsmlsses as imprac.
teal the suggestion that the ships be
junked, as Il would be an admission
that Americans are incapable OF opera
ating them and IL would prove SER
ious blow to the United States pres
tige. TO sell them abroad. he points
out, would be 30 put in the hands Of
oar competitors an effective weapon
10 destroy our world trade.
by substituting the administrntion's
ship subsidy bin for the present form
of operation the ships could be turned
to profitable private ownership and
the taxpayers relieved of a heavy bur.
den. The ships are costing the gov
ornment $J0.0DO,O00 annually, cxclu.
sive of depreciation. insurance and
interest. And of 100000 tons now
owned by the government Mr. Lesker
declared II had been possible to soil
rent conditions.
Since taking over the board every
effort has been made to develop prof.
table shipping lines by congress, he
stated. This proved unavoidable be-
cause at the same time private oper-
alton proved Improbable and there
are no purchasers,
''Tho shipping board believes tina,
the great purpose before us can be
accomplished through the agency OF
direct and indirect aids, as proposed
in the measure now before congress,
the letter continues.
The fleet was acquired through wal
necessity. Many OF the ships are OF
the wrong type for peace time trade
There can be no thought of naval
equality with Great Britain unless we
have as many ships OF proper type
suitable for naval auxiliaries. Great
Britain already has $50 ships OF this
class to this countrys fifty.
ships are as essential to foreign
trade as are goods. 1t is not to be sup
posed that our competitors will always
give us ships when and as we neet
them Regularity o. sailing ant
promptness OF service are the yer!
life of foreign trade. Inability Il
market our surplus abroad will meal
depression at home.
1.-THE farmer is vitality interested
In the merchant marine. IL is pro
bable that the great carrying nations
OF the world owing us large sums o
money may buy their agricuftura
needs elsewhere. We must insur
such ocean service as will compe
them TO buy from us A great tol
I'm excessive freight charges may b.
collected from us by foreigners.