Evening star., 1927-08-31
PRESIDENTS SHIP
PLAN DISCOUNTED
Senator Jones Doubts Ability
of U. S. to Drop Merchant
Marine Soon.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
staff Correspondent of The Star.


STATE GAME LODGE. S. Oak.
August 31.-1n the face of President
| Coelidge's recently reiterated determi
| nation to have the Government dis
pose Of the American merchant ma
rine Wesley L. Jones, Senator from
| Washington and chairman of the Sen
ate commerce committee, declared
here yesterday that prospects of get
ting the United States out of the ship
ping business are not promising.
The Washington Senator. who is also
Republican whip of the Senate, shares
the Presidents desire to have the merI
chantmen taken over by private cap
| ita1, provided the American trade
routes are maintained and the ships
| operated under the American flag
! But there are so many conditions
| that the Senator doubts If private cap.
| ital can be interested. Therefore. he
| looks to continuance of Government
operation Of the ships and takes issue
with the Presidents stand that the
Government ought not to build ships
to replace United States liners as they
become obsolete or deteriorate.
Mr.. Coolidge believes that the mer-
chant marine can draw on the many
Government ships not now in opera
ton for such requirements as are nec-
essary, and is firm for the mainte-
nance of a strong merchant marine
for possible use in emergency as we'll
as for promotion of American COM
merce.
Senator Has Program.
Senator Jones, interviewed after
conference with the President on 9th.
er subjects, holds that the Govern
ment will have no choice in the mat
ter if it is to prevent the ruin of eX.
listing American lines. He expects to
present merchant marine program
in the next session of Congress.
President Coolidge this afternoon
will motor to Custer, IA miles from
here, the oldest town in the Black
Hills, to participate in the exercises
incident to the dedication of the Black
Hills Boy Scout Camp, named in honor
of the Chief Executives visit to the
hills. Although the President is not
expected to make a speech, he has sig
nitied that he will have a few words
10 say to the boys, principally in the
form of thanks for the presents the
Scouts Of Custer gave to him on his
birthday.
Some national figures in the ma
tional Boy Scout movement will be
on hand. including Dan Beard, the
veteran leader of this American or.
ganization. All Scout troops in the
Black Hills will participate, and spe-
cial guard of honor will meet the
presidential party upon it's arrival at
Custer and escort it to the scene of
the ceremonies.
Besides some speechmaking, the
program will include drills and games
by the Scouts and cavalry drill by
the famous Black Horse Troop from
Fort Meade.
President Prepares Speech.
President Coolidge remained away
from the executive coffee in Rapid
City today. not for the purpose of in.
on the address he is to make at
Brookings, S. Dak., on his way back
to Washington September 10, incident
to the dedication of the library at the
State Agricultural College. This will
be the second set speech for Mr.. Cool
idge during his Summer in the West,
and it Is understood he has selected
this occasion to include several sub
jects of major importance in his
address,
He started the drafting of the
speech yesterday ana succeeded In
making such headway that he had
Irwin Geisser, his personal stenog-
rapher, accompany him to the Sum.
mer White House to take his dicta-
ton. The President resumed his die
tation Immediately after breakfast this
morning and indicated that he ex-
poets to keep hard at it until
luncheon time.
To See Irrigation Project.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge
and their son John journey to the
Bellefouche irrigation project at
Newell S. Dak., tomorrow. After an
inspection of the great dam, said to
be largest dirt dam in the world, and
of other features Of the project which
includes more than 1000 farms with
total of $4,000 acres of irrigatable
land, and $50 miles of canals, the
party will stop off at Nisland, nearby.
to pay a brief visit to the county fair.
The trip will be made by train. The
party will leave Hermosa, II miles
from the Game Lodge, at o'clock in
the morning and is scheduled to be
back at that point about $50 tomor-
row night.