Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-19
Thursday, November 10, 1925.
1--WE love the old songs because we
loved the ones who sang them"
THE MERCHANT MARINE

with Herbert Hoover's conclusions
respecting our merchant marine,
but all will admit that his depart
the opportunity has been his for OBJ
serving conditions. He spoke very
frankly at the opening Of the con-
ference held this week in Washing
ton and we think people at all inter-
ested in our merchant marine, which
of course should include all Of us,
will be interested in what he had to
say. Here is summary of his con-
clusions:
There are about 20 overseas trade
routes which are the connecting
links between our inland trade routes
and foreign countries upon which
our foreign trade is dependent.
For the protection of our COM
merce from discrimination and from
combinations which would impose
onerous freight rates, we must main
tain upon each Of these routes the
operation of very substantial SHIP
ring under the American flag.
2 commerce cannot operate upon
uncertainty of transportation; 1t re-
quires regular ferrylike sailings over
essential routes.
1.-THE type of Ship which is best
ADAPTED to such regular service and
at the same time is the most profit
Is able to operate is the cargo liner OF
from 10000 to $4,000 gross tons,
speed IL to Is knots. preferably
Diesel propelled and having up to
/. say, 209o Of passenger space. Re-
placements and extensions should be
driven to this ideal.
1.-THE national defense requires an
American Merchant Marine and 1t
also largely requires the cargo liner
type. If any type other than that OF
strictly commercial character is re-
CURED. the extra cost of building and
operating should be part OF the
military budget.
1--WE will never have a real or
satisfactory Marchant Marine until
it is owned and maintained by
private enterprise. The government
cannot operate cheaply. 1t cannot
secure revenue as large as private
enterprise. It cannot avoid the In
terminable difficulties and wastes OF
bureaucracy and above all, the direct
and indirect political pressures.
Furthermore, government operation
and competition with private enter
prise, with the U. s. Treasury as a
reserve fund, totally dulls private
initiative. We must get out OF gov
eminent operation as quickly as we
can establish private operation. 1t
is useless to renew proposals to
substitute shipping.
Some of the lines on these trade
routes are today successfully oper-
ated by American flag private enter
prise. Some of the government lines
which are losing money today would
: pay private enterprise. and they
could be disposed of under proper
guarantee of continuance If private
firms could be sure Of future govern
ment policies. With the growth Of
the volume of trade most of the re-
mainder Of the lines could, I believe,
be ultimately disposed Of to success
full private operation. Some OF them
could be partially assisted by inter-
ested communities. All of them
would be assisted by more liberal
postal rates commensurate with
those paid by foreign nations"
Mr.. Hoover believes in maintain
ing tho flag on all these important
trade routes until they may be built
up where private operation can be
undertaken or until proved unprofit-
able: that we need some criteria for
determining when they actually can
not be made profitable.
He addss 1.-THE Shipping Board
was originally conceived largely for
regulation of Determinations and
other bad practices in ocean traffic.
1t was established upon bipartisan
and later a regional basis. It was
afterwards loaded with the most
gigantic administrative task in the
government. The necessarily divided
minds of the best board on earth has
always resulted in failure in execu-
tive work. Each member has
a four-way independent RESPONSE
bility. He is responsible for every
act Of the board to the country as a
whole, to his particular constituency,
to his political party and finally to
Congress. Responsibility to the
President, the one responsibility
which every administrative officer of
the Government should acknowledge
. under the spirit of the Constitution,
is denied by the Board. - ."
He declares: 1.-THE whole fleet and
other property should be transferred
to, the Emergency Fleet Corporation
and the President thereof should be
appointed by the President of the
United States. subject to confirma-
ton by the Senate and should be
solely responsible to the President.
This function should not be incor-
porated into the Department of
= Commerce which is q service agency
to the whole Merchant Marine
whether private or governmental.
I'VE believe that for certain major
questions Of policy an Advisory
Board to the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration is desirable and this Board
should represent and coordinate
the great government departments
for they are very largely involved in
Merchant Marine questions. Such
, an Advisory Board should comprise
the Secretaries of the Treasury, War,
Navy and Commerce, the Postmaster
General and the President of the
emergency Fleet Corporation, and
chairman OF the Shipping Board.
Inc various functions of the Gov
eminent to the Merchant Marine
which now lie principally in the De-
parIhent OF Commerce, should be
lertner consolidated by the addition
through some five other departments
photographic office, Clearance of
vesseis, admeasurement, etc.) and
paced under the direction of an
pnder Secretary of Merchant
Marine"
AN this, OF course. does not meet
with the approval of those who wish
70 run the Merchant Marine as ma
'hlne designed to please such parts
me country or such political lead
=. q may command the requisite