The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-25
SENATOR SEES
. B|G MERCHANT
/. FLEE FOR j. 5.
Loss Of Subsidy Win Not Mean
Sale Of Ships, Fletcher,
of Florida, Declares
REMEDIES ARE SUGGESTED
America Can Operate Vessels
as Economically as Others
II Cooperation Is Given
BY DUNCAN u. FLETCHER,
U. 8. Senator from Florida.
Ranking Democratic Member Of the


U. s. Senator from Florida.
Ranking Democrats Member Of the
Senate Comnaitteo ON COmmerce.
Distributed by Universal Service.)
i No one should be deceived into
believing that because the Adj
| lninistration abandoned the ship
| subsidy bill there is not going to
be an American owned and Oper-
ated merchant marine.
INTERESTS WANT SHIPS.
/ There are some interests deter.
mined that the ships shall be sold
4 for song. They wanted the ships
and the subsidy they would be
satisfied with the ships--at "a
price" and await further develop.
ments.
| Our people have long realized the
need Of an ADEQUATE merchant
marine, and woe unto the individual
Tor political party that attempts to
''scuttle our ships and shipping. !"
The principal contention OF those
who favor q ship. subsidy is that
American ships cannot compete
with foreign vessels because the
latter can be operated at lower
cost.
If foreigners can and do operate
their ships at lower cost, which
/ is not admitted. then / suggest the
following remedies to become ef-
fectiye Immediately:
/ AbrOgate the treaties, as pro.
vided by law, 50 that the United
States may discriminate in the
matter Of customs duties on goods
carried In American ships. Con-
gress can do that II the Presi-
dent viii not.
Bring about q real cooperation
between all Government agencies
at home and abroad, and the
i operators and owners and patrons
! Of OIlr slrfDg.
PatFonixe and encourage others
to patrOnize American freight and
/ passenger ships.
Develop and maintain adequate
! port facilities on the Atlantic.
Gulf and Pacific, to the end that
the commerce Of the country may
be handled in satisfactory and
expeditions manner.
ASKS u. s. INSURANCE..
/ The Insurance Of American huIis
and cargoes should be placed with
American companies and associa.
tons and not with foreign under
writer's. That is very important
the reason is obvious.
i The cost of operating. maintain
ing and repairing our ships should
be reduced to a minimum and not
be exposed to graft or unnecessary
expense and delay.
Chambers Of commerce. boards OF
trade, commercial organizations,
importers and exporters; in fact.
| every American should patronize
the ships of his own country. No
corporation can survive il the stock
holders are dissatisfied or fail to
take a proper interest in its sue
| cess. Each and every American
| taxpayer n a stakeholder in the
American Merchant Marine, and it
Is his duty to patronize and assist
! in every possible way to make 1t a
| success.
There should and must be a
| closer and more pronounced CO.
| operation between our State officials
and our commerce department of.
| ficials, their representatives at
home andabroad, and our Shipping
Board, ship operators and export
ers and the public generally. Moth
ing is more important and neces-
sary to the early and successful
| DullulnB up Ol Jul "a
cept the restoration Of our foreign
markets.
SEES AMPLE COMMERCE.
l. When economic conditions abroad
again become normal through the
aid and assistance Of America. there
will be ample commerce to make
certain the profitable employment
Of practically all Of our ships. pro-
vided, OF course, improved business
and other methods are adopted, and
there is cooperation all down the
| line from now on.
America will have an adequate
merchant marine when all job
| hunters. lame ducks" publicity
agents and grafters arc eliminated.
and experienced, competent one
hundred per cent Americans, pa
| triotically interested in making
success of operating our ships, are
given free hand-free from domi>
nation of politicians and those who
seek to obtain something for nothing.
| The sooner such eliminations take
place the sooner we will have a
merchant marine. ,-