Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-02
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising r iresentatives


policies Of the government relative to the
liant marine will DO definitely decided at the next
session Of congress, according to those who have been
Iudying the situation. Many members of congress
We devoted tbs simmer to an investigation Of ship
ng conditions at home and abroad, and it is under
stood they ykave reached definite conclusions in re-
gard to the policy the American government should
adopt and maintain
The next congress is expected to authorize an ap-
preparation to replace the obsolete merchant vessels
owned by the government and also 20 build several
fast cargo boats to compete with the new ships Eng
land, Germany and France have recently launched. This
view has been expressed BY the majority Of the house
committees on merchant marine and appropriations, and
their views are expected to be reflected by the majority
of both the house and senate.
Senator Fletcher, who was chairman Of the senate
committee which handled the legislation creating a
government owned merchant fleet, recently stated in
New York that the government would not only continue
TO operate its merchant lines but would be compelled
to increase them TO meet foreign competition. In re-
gard to the principle that the government should not
remain in business, a principle Of which he is an ar
dent sponsor, he stated that government owned ships
cannot be sold to private interests with any assurance
that the trade lines established by the government
would be continued, and that these trade lines have
been a very important factor in developing Americas
foreign commerce.
The impression in Washington is that the Jones
act, which was reported 10 the senate last year, will be
A23G AA A& &&A@N 6sh1
legislation will inaugurate an aggressive marine pro-
gram for the government and enable it to meet the
competition of foreign ships.
Senator. Jones expressed the opinion that the busi-
ness men of the United States are well convinced that
IL is necessary for the government to operate the
merchant fleet, inasmuch as the private buyers, vino
have submitted tentative offers, would not assure main
tenance of the present service, though the government
indicated it would dispose of the fleet at q ridiculous
ly small figure. Commenting upon the necessity for
the government to maintain the fleet, Senator Jones
stated: "In my opinion it is time to stop talking
about private operation Of the ships built during the
war and operated and owned by the government since
that time. Personally, ! prefer private operation, but
experience in the last eight years has shown that we
cannot get satisfactory private operation. The govern
ment cannot sell the ships even at IS and Sc q ton and
get any guarantees that they will be operated over
trade routes. We had difficulty in selling the Dollar
Line for ~$4,500,000, four ships which cost s40y000y000.
There is only one thing and that is for the govern
nent to operate the ships and expend money to place
them in good condition, or become absolutely dependent
on foreign ships to carry American products. There
liz no longer any question as to the situation. II ap-
pears that the government must operate the ships or
see the American merchant marine disappear as a fac
tor in commerce"