New Britain herald., 1927-02-10
MERCHANT MARINE
 PLANS UNF0LDED
Govt. Ownership or Govt. Sub
 Sidy Advocated

Washington. Feb. 10 P-Two proposals locking to the develop ment and maintenance of a mer- chant marine adequate to the needs of the nation were presented today 10 congress.
 Both are sponsored by Chairman Jones of the senate commerce com mittee. One provides for govern ment ownership and operation and the other for private ownership and operation under a federal subsidy.
 Stating his own firm conviction that congress would not provide the aid by subsidy or otherwise that would induce private capital and en- ergy to give the country merchant fleet, Senator Jones said there was only one way to keep the American flag on the seven seas and that was through the government.
 The government must furnish the money, build the ships and di- rectly or indirectly operate them he said. That being the only way open to us I am in favor of adopting 1t. We can do it, once we decide to do it other peoples and other govern ments will know that it will be done. Then will uncertainty give way to certainty. Then will our com petitors know that they have a rival that they cannot defeat or destroy.
 "One of the greatest handicaps cur shipping has today in getting business is the uncertainty of the continuance of the service. In every port In South America the mer- chants and business men are warned not to give their business to us. Our failure in the past and our failure now to follow a policy to give us permanent merchant marine is pointed out and the merchants Tn those ports are warned of the con- seuuences to them when we cease the service.
 "A few days ago we passed a bill carrying over $500, 100000 for our navy. Merchant ships are just as essential to our security In time Of danger as naval vessels. With one years naval appropriations we would carry out a program that would give us up-to-date ships to serve adequately the services now under way, with such new ones as may be deemed necessary, and re- placement and maintenance pro- gram carried out at an annual eX- pense not exceeding fifty millions of dollars.
 "In my judgment over period Of years this fleet would replace eX- pand and maintain itself. The bene- fits to commerce, the benefits to every line of industry in the country affected by ocean rates, would every year far exceed any annual nam tenance expenditure. Not only would we get the commercial benefits but our essential ship yards would be maintained against great national need. This in itself would be a most substantial benefit to the country in time of peace as well as in war.
 "The farmer needs an American merchant marine. He needs it moiv than any great industry because or his need of markets that can be reached only by ships. His condl- tion today is in no small degree due to the consequences coming from the lack of ships when the war be- gan. His products rotted at the dock and in the bin because there were no ships to carry them to the markets crying out for them.
 '.It seems to me that of all our people the farmer should be the most earnest and insistent upon having an American merchant marine and be the most earnest Tn supporting any measure than can be gotten through that will offer a req sonable hope of merchant marine. It would be fitting compliment to the pending McNary-Haugen Dill 1T we would pass bill that would i've us a merchant marine commensh' rate with our wealth, power, co1h- merce and position among the na- lions of the world"