Evening star., 1927-11-10
Hurley and the Ships.

Constructive measures for the up
building Of an American overseas mer'
chant marine are submitted to the
Shipping Board by Edward n. Hurley.
wartime chairman of the board. The
comprehensive plan presented by Mr..
Hurley is evidently the result OF
careful and thorough analysis OF
the situation confronting the United
States. 1t takes into consideration the
needs of this country in the trade COM
petition with the other nations of the
world a competition which Mr.. Hurley
sees constantly increasing. 1t gives at
s. tention to the undoubted value of
mercha mt marine for national defense
Surely Mr.. Hurley's recommendations
are worthy OF the most earnest con.
sideration by the board and by the
President and Congress.
Wisely Mr.. Hurley has turned his
to shipping. A subsidy would be far
better than no merchant marine. But
Government subsidies stick in the craw
of the American people. The Congress
ball<ed at a subsidy when 1t was
strongly urged by the late President
Harding 1t has baked many times in
the past at such a plan. The Hur-
lev plan contemplates a revolving fund
of half billion dollars. to be loaned
at low rates of interest to construct
ships in this country. 1t is estimated
that by this plan the interest charges
on the construction of a merchant YES.
sci would be reduced thirty-nine per
cent real saving to the ship owner.
and such as to make more possible the
ownership and operation of American
nag ships by private American in.
terests. Government subsidies. Mr..
Hurley contends. destroy initiative
and breed ineffic.ency. They are, In
deed. contrary to the American idea.
The former chairman of the Ship.
ping Board believes that this country
should take a leaf out of the Canadian
book. He has gone thoroughly into
the ownership of shipping lines by the
Canadian railroads and has found it
an element of success. in both rail-
reading and shipping. He finds that
many costs of transportation, now
duplicated in this country because of
the separate ownership of railroads
and ships. have been eliminated
through the consolidation of land and
Sea transportation facilities in Canada.
The Hurley plan goes to the root of
the American shipping problem. the
replacement of merchant vessels and
the absorption of the present Govern.
msnt-owned vessels. The day is ap-
preaching when the American fleet,
purchased and constructed during the
war at enormous costs. must be re-
placed The requirements must be
modern vessels. capable of meeting
the competition of the newer and
swifter vessels OF the foreign maritime
nations. Unless this problem of re.
placement is efficiently solved. the
time will come when old age will take
the American merchant fleet off the
seas.
In addition to the proposed revolving
fund for the construction of vessels
In this country. Mr.. Hurley advances
the suggestion that selected ships be
enrolled i'm the United States Naval
Reserve and that ions-term mail con-
tracts be granted shipping lines as
further aid toward their successful
operation.
Congress will soon be faced with the
problem. The President and the Ship
ping Board are studying the matter
carefully. and their recommendations
will go to Congress early in the COM
ing session. Merchant shipping is so
vitally important to America and its
seapower that nothing should permit
II to be held up longer.