Evening star., 1927-09-01
Congress Expected to Tackle
Problem of Merchant Marine

practically out of date when we took
them over IL years ago, and which
cannot replace the ships now in servics
or even be operated at all without q
heavy outlay for recOnditioning. II
the Government is to develop trade
routes which private capital can later
take over and maintain. 1t will have to
provide service comparable with that
Of it's foreign competitors, and 1t can
not do this If 1t fails to look ahead to
future requirements"
Recognizing the same state of ,af-
fairs, the Philadelphia Evening Bull
letin nevertheless remarks: ITO enter
on a vast program of building great
ocean greyhounds, at any rate until
some permanent national shipping
policy has been adopted. would be
highly speculative" The Bulletin
contends that governmental ship op-
Grafton has not only proved profitable,
ize private ship operations by the IA
vored position 1t enjoys from the COM
petitiye standpoint"
On the other hand, the Springfield
Union holds that IF the Government
can turn over the merchant marine
to development in private hands with
out impairing its value, either to the
commerce or the defense of the Ma
ton. well and good; but If purchasers
cannot be found Under the conditions
laid down, a policy for maintainir~
and possibly adding to the feet may
need shortly to be developed" The
Norfolk LedgerD Dispatch also holds
that certainly If private capital is
not ready or willing TO so into the
shipping business on large scale,
there is no alternative but for the
Government to continue its activities
through the Shipping Board or some
other agency. not as a Near-to-year
development. but until such time as
American capital will guarantee an
American merchant marine"
x xA*
"Our merchant marine has been
sacrificed to strengthen British su-
premacy In merchant ships as well
as fighting ships" charges the Raleigh
News and Observer. and the Water
loo Tribune asks. when viii our
shippers-our producers of agrieul-
tural products included-see the ad-
vantage of competent merchant ma
rine fiving the American flag and
giving preference to delivery Of Amer
lean merchn ndise?"
Quoting the Presidents view that
"a large commercial fleet would as
sist the Nations fighting forces" the
louisville Courier-Journal declares
that "the President has appeared In
the role of auctioneer Of the merchant
marine and made a move toward
ship subsidy" And with an expires
sion of doubt as4~tO congressional
action. the Charleston Daily Mail
finds that "aili.s a 'rUmher nf Ameri-
lean owners Of seafaring craft seem
to think that, according to reporcs.
the permanency OF II g merchant ma
rine can he assured under private
operation. IL the Government grants
indirect aid. preferably in the form
of mail contracts"
While recognizing the need of a
great fleet. the Chicago Tribune as
serts that no such fleet can or will
be built up unless the process is a
paying one, and 1t will not be a
paying one so long as the Govern.
ment retains control" The Portland
Oregonian maintains that when poll
ticians have clutched business
through public ownership they take
grip like that OF devilfsh. and
herculean effort is required to Jar
them loose"