Evening star., 1923-03-04
lasker Says No Changes
viii Be Made Until Private
Ownership Plan Is Complete.
COMMITTEE is At WORK
Rapidly Whipping Into Shape Pro.
gram for Complying With
Marine Act.

lines without change until detailed
plans are completed for transfer OF
Its merchant fleet into private hands
was announced last night by Chair
man Lasker
Shippers and passengers have the
governments assurance" he said.
that they need not hesitate to book
on government ships; the service will
be as in the past-adequate, prompt
and regular
In statement Mr.. Lasker said he
had hoped to be able to announce the
boards plan in a general way. leav-
ing details for future publication,
but that II had been decided that an
lacking fullest details
might lead to misunderstanding.
Waits for Mature Plan.
THE board has therefore decided
that matured plans and details had
better be announced simultaneously"
said Mr.. Lasker. These We hope to
have ready with all elaboration as
expeditiously as possible
Mr. Lasker said that committee
consisting Of Commissioners Lissner.
Thompson and Chamberlain had been
named to study and prepare detailed
plans with a view to bringing about.
without interruption OF service, the
passage of the governments lines into
private hip. in 50 Gar as possible,
Announcement, however. was made
that the board intended to reoondi-
ton four ships-the Mount vernon.
ARamemnon, America and President
Buchanan-all OF which, together
with the Leviathan, now being re-
conditioned az Newport News, Va, II
was stated, will be assigned to the
United States Lines.
To Make Survey.
The Shipping Board. under the
merchant marine act OF 1920. accord
ing TO MI I-askers statement, hopes
to bring about the passage of the
lines and routes operated by the
government into private hands. "as
mandated by law, with guaranteed
obligation that such lines will be
maintained for term Of years. thus
insuring to ports and shippers con-
tinuous service"
A committee consisting OF Vice
Chairman O'Connor and Commission
ers Benson and Plummer. IT was an
nounced, will make a survey Of the
physical condition of the govern
ment's merchant feet as a whole.
There is substantial part Of the
laid-up feet" said Mr.. Lasker. that
experts have always maintained can
not be successfully operated in peace
time, having been built for war
needs"
Mr. Lasker indicated that in liqui-
dating the governments shipping
venture the board would act under
the preamble Of the merchant marine
act of 1920. which reads.
Cites Marine Act.
THAT II Is necessary for the ma
tional defense and for the proper
growth Of It's foreign and domestic
commerce that the United States shall
have q merchant marine OF the best
equipped and most suitable types OF
vessels sufficient to carry the greater
portion Of it's commerce and serve as
a naval or military auxiliary In time
Of war or national emergency, ulti-
mately to be owned and operated pri-
vately by citizens OF the United
States"
In his statement the Shipping Board
chairman reviewed the efforts to have
Congress enact legislation providing
government aid for operators Of
A,onrtcon uhirr whtrb mat daath In
the recent shelving in the Senate OF
tho administration shipping bill.
When that measure was given up as
lost Mr.. Lasker began conferences
with President Harding as to q liqui-
dation policy, and, while no an
nouncement has been made as to de-
tailed plans, II has been stated au-
thoritatively that the plan would be
novel and that 1t would be put in
venes, the President having an
nounced he would not renew his
recommendation that tho shipping
bill be enacted.
To Convert Two ships.
Failure Of the shipping BILL Mr.. Lask-
er said, has made it necessary for the
board to attempt to bring about the re-
suit contemplated under the merchant
marine act.
The Agamemnon and the Mount Ver-
non, both formerly German liners, will
be converted into Oil burners with the
expectation that they will be ready for
service in 1924. Each will have ac-
commodations for approximately 900
first and second class and 500 third
class passengers. They are about 700
feet long, with a gross tonnage Of
about 10000 tons and have a speed Of
% knots.
Plans for refitting the President Bu-
chanan, formerly the President Grant,
call for additional boilers, installation
of fuel oil system and a general over
hauling Of mechanical equipment The
ship will have Accommodations for 700
cabin and 400 third-class passengers
Bids for the reconditioning OF the Pres
ident Buchanan will be opened about
April I, while those for the reftting Of
the America will be opened March 8.
The America has been in the service Of
the United States lines since their in.
ception.