Evening star., 1927-11-28
MORE TRADE SHIPS
URGED BY JONES
Merchant Marine Essential to
Security, He Says.
Calls on President.

Declaring 1t Is absolutely essential
for the national defense and security
of this country. and the promotion of
foreign commerce, to have an ade-
quate merchant marine, Senator
Jones of Washington. chairman Of the
Senate committee on commerce. who
was one Of President Coolidge's callers
today, is going to insist on the Gov
ernment building additional ships and
reconditioning the old ones. if there is
no other means by which the fleet may
be kept upon the seas.
The commerce committee head
would even favor an out-and-out sub
sidy IL 1t would serve the purpose of
having private interests assume the
ownership and operation of the Amer
lean ships. He would also approve of
the plan to dispose of the fleet to the
railroads, saying that there is every
reason to feel that the railroad COM
panies would be able successfully to
keep the American flag afioat around
the world. In fact, he made it plain
that he would agree to almost any
practical plan which would take the
Government out of the shipping busi-
ness and at the same time would in
sure the maintenance of an adequate
fleet.
Time for Decision. He Says.
During his conference with the
President, Senator Jones advised him
that the time has arrived when the
administration must decide upon some
definite merchant marine policy. lie
said he is not very hopeful of the
Government succeeding in selling it's
remaining merchant boats and that
if it must continue the operation of
the ships itself, 1t must spend money
putting the ships, which are becom.
ing worn and otherwise unserviceable.
in good condition.
Senator Jones said that he would
again offer his bill, which provides
encouragement Of material and sub
stantial sort to private interests to
take the merchant marine. He real
ICES that this bill would meet with OPP
position because it is in reality sub
sidy measure, virtually the same in
principle as the Harding subsidy bill
which went down to defeat in 1922.
Besides this he will offer bill au-
thor:zing the Government to spend
from 20 to 80 million annually on the
construction and reconditioning of
merchant boats until the point is
reached when the American fleet is
considered adequate. He has reason
to feel that there is considerable SEN
timent in Congress in favor of the
latter proposal for the salvation Of the
fleet. Already Senators Fletcher of
Florida, Edge of New Jersey and
Steiwer of Washington have express
ed themselves as favoring such pro
gram.
Called Aid to Defense.
1t Is realized that the President per-
sonally is opposed to the Government
spending any more money on the
building of new vessels. Whether or
not he could be won over to such a
program those who have discussed it
with him are unable to venture a
guess at this time. He has indicated,
however. that he approves of keeping
the present ships in repair. His hope
is that the Government will be able
finally to dispose of it's fleet to private
interests.
Senator Jones in his advocacy of
keeping an adequate American
merchant marine contends that the
National defense Is not complete with
out a sufficient number of merchant
ships. This lesson was brought home
to the American people, he pointed
out, when the United States entered
the World War.
THAT lesson cost us more than $3.-
000, 900. .000." Senator Jones said.
Aside from other losses. that lesson
is today costing us $120,000,000 in an
nual interest. We should never again
be caught in such position. Besides
the fact that a merchant marine
serves as an adjunct to the Army and
Navy. it also is necessary for the pro-
motion of our commerce. American
shippers should not be dependent upon
foreign bottoms for their overseas
transportation"
Senator Jones also discussed flood
control legislation with the President.
His committee will conduct hearings
on this subject. but he personally
proposes to be guided in the matter of
adopting a plan of control by the
recommendations to be made by Army
engineers.