Evening star., 1927-10-08
TRADE FLEET WAR
ON BEHIND SCENES
Proposal to Turn Merchant
Marine Over to Private
Owners Brings Fight.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Getting the Government out of bust.
ness is one thing and keeping the
Government out when once it has let
90 is quite another. This has been
demonstrated in the very significant
argument that now is going on with
respect to the merchant marine.
President Coolidge has said fatty he
wanted the ships turned over to
private owners. Many members OF
Congress are fearful of such a policy.
Yet the Jones law specifically com.
mits Congress to ultimate private
ownership"
Between now and the time private
owners'take over the merchant marine
requirements are necessary. Congress
is to be asked for money to build GER
tain cargo carriers needed in foreign
trade.
War Behind Scenes.
Behind the scenes merry war is
going on between the advocates of
temporary Government control and
those who would have the Government
sell the ships at almost any prices so
as to get them into private hands.
The request for more money to build
GUS opposition from the school which
believes in getting the Government
out Of business at once.
Now there has been a new turn in
the argument. Chairman O'Connor
of the Shipping Board is out with
statement that it isn't enough merely
to sell ships to private owners, but
that they must be protected against
the ruinous competition of foreign
steamship lines, which enjoy certain
advantages from their governments.
Mr.. O'Connor favors some form of
Government aid. There are various
ways in which the private steamship
lines can be helped. One Is by sub
stantial subsidies for carrying the
mail. Other methods consist of spe.
ried in quantity in American bottoms.
Third Plan Cited.
Another is by Government encour-
agement of cargoes for the American
merchant marine in cooperation with
the railroads. Indeed, the plan ad-
vanced by Edward N. Hurley of Chi
cago. former chairman OF the Ship
ping Board. that the railroads buy the
Government feet and operate them in
conjunction with the railroad systems.
implies that certain amount Of busi-
ness would go into these railroad
owned ships which they would not 9TH
erwise get.
"Some people" SAYS Mr.. O'Conner,
"seem to have an idea that when the
Shipping Board has sold line to
private operator that the respOnsi.
bility of the board has ceased with
respect to the operation of that par
ticular line. This is not the case at
all. The responsibility of the board
for the welfare of the line which Is
sold TO a private operator does not
cease. 1t is incumbent upon us to
develop and encourage to the extent
Of our ability line of ships operated
by private American capital.
1.-THE owners of foreign ships will
attempt the destruction of private op-
orators as fast as ocean lines are
taken over for private operation. EN-.
blowing tactics which they would not
dare to use against the same lines
while being operated by the Govern
ment."
Final Say Up to Congress.
When Congress begins to inquire
into the connective situation that has
developed there will be many mem
hers who will insist that the time is
not ripe to end Government ownership
or control. No member of the board
likes to say that openely, but that is
the general impression of how the
board feels about it, though the Execu.
tive, Of course. is committed in the
opposite direction, which means that
Congress will have final say and that
the issue may be decided at the next
session. when money for requirements
is sought.
(Copyrieht 1927