The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-26
OR. SCRAP
]. S. SHIPS, SAY
OWNERS
Association Advises Board In
). .dustry Must Be Freed
Of Competition.
BY ROBERT s.MTHORNBURG

BY HUBERT S.WTHORNBURG
Comprehensive plans for getting
the Government out OF the shipping
business based upon the immediate
sale to-. private interests of the
vessels now being operated at an
annual loss of $50, 000, 0O0-were
handed ITO the United States Ship.
ping Board today by the American
steamship Owners Association.
Steamship owners and operators
were asked to submit plans to the
Shipping Board for the disposal of
the American fleet, following the
failure of the ship subsidy bill in
Congress.
Chairman A. d. Lasker of the
shipping Board is hurrying back to
!. washington from st. Augustine,
. Eta', to examine the various plans
Tor submission to President Hard
ing.
Sell or Scrap.
Declaring that experience has
demonstrated that an American
merchant marine in foreign trade
cannot be built up through Govern
ment operation the report recon.
mends that the board offer for saIe
to American citizens, without anv
reservation and without discrimins.
ton between buyers, all it's remain
ing vessels.
1t further recommends that all
the vessels not sold under the plan
IN reasonable time should be
strapped.
= The. report declares that failure
to provide national aid places a
most serious. aspect on the entire
SITUATION with respect to American
shipping in foreign trade, and
makes the problem one which can
be solved. if at all, only after a
more extended investigation than
is possible before March 26 (the
time limit set in the query sent out
by. the Shipping BoardC'
The report recommends that the
board should Immediately scrap such
vessels as are inferior in design,
equipment or condition., but advo-
Gates the continuance Of O. few
freight. passenger and mail services
now maintained BY Government YES
sells. Continuance of these services
is regarded: as essential to the ma
tional. interests. In the case of |
these vessels the report urges they |
be placed in the hands of private |
owners under an operating arrange |
ment until buyers can be found or |
the impossibiAity' of profitable opera
ton be definitely established.
Prefer American Capital.
In conclusion the report says:
Without national aid or a radi-
cal revision of existing laws a rri-
Vately owned merchant marine can
not be. maintained let alone created |
OF developed. Competition or the
menace of competition by Govern
ships makes success the
more certainly impossible.
I'm any plan the Shipping Board
may develop for the disposal Of ton
mage due regard should be given to
the existing privately invested
capital. Otherwise it will
spell disaster to the entire American
shipping business"
Magnates are not adverse to dis
posing of some of the smaller ships
Of the fleet to foreign owners. it was
learned, provided an agreement is
made with the Government that such
bottoms will not be used in compeIi-
ton with American vessels.
The board has at least 200 vessels
which would come within this class,
officials said. However. it was spe-
declared no sales of this
character would be made which
would place the ships in trans.At.
antic or trans.Pacific trades.
The board would demand an agree
nent that ships going to foreign con.
Germs woINd be operated in coastwiSe
Or river SSrVice. >...