Evening star., 1925-11-19
THOMPSON RAPS
COOLIDGE POLICY
Retired Shipping Board Men,
Der "DepIores" 0ne-Man
Control of Merchant Fleet.
By the Associated Press.

BIRMINGHAN. Ala. November ls.
The apparent intention of President
Coolidge indicated in press dispatches
from Washington. to adopt IL lher
chant marine policy OF one.man con-
troll of operation and HQuldatlou "a
the merchant fleet through the pfeSl-
dent of the Fleet Corporation unuer
cabinet or White House supervision.
was deplored in a statement ISSUED
by Frederick /. Thompson, recently
resigned commissioner of the shipping
Board.
Mr.. Thompson held that if the new
policy were substituted for the present
control bv a board selected with parti-
san and regional consideration the re-
suit would be concentration or con-
troll in the North Atlantic seaboaro,
with ensuing domination by foreign
shipping interests. Mr.. Thompsons
statement follows:
Cites Facts" Not Publicly Known.
Certain facts should he publicly
known in connection with the attltude
Of President Coolidge, indicated IN an
Associated Press dispatch or yester-
day. to change the shipping laws SO as
10 nullify the voice in ship operation
of all SeaboardS.
"The inevitable result OF such action
would be to concentrate control in the
North Atlantic seaboard, recognized as
being dominated by foreign shipping
interests to a preponderant. degree.
Credited as being the President S
adviser on shipping is Matthew I:
Brush Mr.. Brush is an ofhclal OF
the International Mercantile Marine.
The international Mercantile Marine
is controlled by the American fiscal
agents of the British government.
Mr.. Brush's company made contract
with the British admiralty and British
Board of Trade binding this American
company to do nothing detrimental
10 British shipping interests. And
British official is the arbitrator in any
dispute.
British Monopoly Discussed.
British shipping interests, long
having a monopoly of America
Ocean-carrying trade, see a menace to
such monopoly in the operation OF
American flagShipS. Their effort con-
tinually has been to destroy or neu-
tralize American flagship competition.
They want to control both the ocean
carrier and the freight charge OF
American goods to foreign markets.
They want to protect foreign markets
for the British manufacturer, as
against the American manufacturer.
The stenographic records of the
United States Shipping Board prior
TO my resignation III octobeI Silo"
that Admiral Palmer, the Presidents
choice, recommended to the Ship
ping Board that one-third of the
American ships in the north Atlantic
and United Kingdom and Continental
Europe operation be withdrawn from
service. These ships were going 95
per cent full of American cargoes.
Board Rejected Palmer's Advice.
The Shipping Board refused to
follow Palmer's mmendation.
This was but one incident of Admiral
Palmer's form of administration that
the Shipping Board encountered and
for which later he was removed.
IF the commerce committee of the
Senate will but give to the Shipping
Board problem the same sort Of open
light investigation being given to the
air defense of America, an American
merchant marine will be preserved.
Unless done, it will be destroyed"