The Washington times., 1923-05-31
HOPE FOR
SALE IS
GONE
Government to Discontinue
Managing Operator Plan
and Run Own Ships.
BY ROBERT S. THORNBURGH,
International News Service.

By ROBERT s. THORNBURGH,
international News Service.
In the Governments program
Of putting the American mer-
chant marine in a position to
meet any competition of foreign
powers, the United States Ship
ping Board will ask Congress for
an appropriation to build two
passenger liners as running
mates" to the Leviathan, and to
construct a number of specially
designed refrigerator vessels,
Commissioner E. C. Plummer
said today.
Give Up Hope of Sale.
Commissioner Plummer's state
ment followed the virtual abandon
ment of hope by the Shipping Board
that the eighteen trade routes Of
Tered for sale by the Government
can be disposed Of to advantage, al
thought there is a possib lily that
one route in the Pacific and another
in the South American trade may
be sold profitably.
1.-THE bids indicated that the ma
tority of ships can't be sold,'' Com
missioner Plummer said. There
fore the board will get ready to
operate the ships with no waste OF
time. The change from the man.
aging operator plan to direct Gov
eminent ownership will be accom-
plished without ripple in the serv-
ice. The present operators will
probably be given thirty days no.
tice."
Plummer said the Leviathan's two
mates, as planned by the board,
wilI not be as large as that vessel.
The length may be about 500 feet
and the cost approximately $12,-
O0O, goo each, while to replace the
Leviathan, would cost nearly $780,
O0o, 1000.
Expect Venture to Pay.
= He pointed out shipping experts
regard vessels slightly smaller than
the LeviatE1an as more practical,
although he declared the queen of
the American fleet should be pay
ing venture during the summer
months at least. P1ummer added
there is a growing demand for the
most luxurious accommodations for
ocean travel.
While the Shipping Board has
sufficient vessels to adequately
operate it's eighteen trade routes,
for the shipment of fruits and fresh
meats. a number of refrigerator
ships are necessary. according to
Plummer. The cost of these would
be nominal, he said.
c11 the
Shipping Board has built up, l am
confident Congress will not hesitate
TO appropriate funds for the new
vessels" Plummer said. Every
dollar SO far appropriated has been
devoted to the movement of Ameri-
can goods"
In Good Condition.
Commissioner Plummer, after an
inspection of the James river tied
up fleet with Admiral Benson, said
the 800 vessels there, with slight
overhauling, can be put into COM
mission. He believed the remainder
Of the 1000 tied-up vessels are in
fairly good condition These yes.
sells, Plummer pointed nut, will be
used to add to the various trade
routes under Government operation,
as business demands
Reports to the Shipping Board in.
dicate the South American trade
has doubled in the last year Emery
Sncy fleet craft, on accurate SEIZED.
ule, is placing goods in South Ameri-
can markets much more quickly
than the merchant marines of Eng.
land, France and Germany. Plum
mer said.
Commissioner Myer Lissner will
head a Shipping Board committee to
go TO New York tomorrow to start
conference with the few firms who
made bids on South American and
Pacific lines which give some hope
Of sales. The bids were indefinite,
1t was understood, and call for per-
sonal interviews with the bidders.
The billion dollar bid of a New
York firm was practically cast into
the discard, not having been taken
seriously