Evening star., 1928-02-08

The passage by the Senate Of the
Jones shipping bill. which would pro-
vide for retention OF the Government
owned feet and for requirements. Is
accepted rs important BY the Amcri-
can public, but the controversy over
public ownership continues to be rs
bitter as in the past. Both SIDES In
the debate which has developed
throughout the country believe that
the subject Will continue to b" a source
OF friction.
In It's appraisal Of the matter the
Worcester Evening Gazette nndepend-
ent) says. Overwhelming support III
the Senate for the Jones merchant ma
rine bill on It's final passage seems
pretty well To commit the United
States 10 the policy OF a Government
owned and operated merchant marine.
II 1t Is 10 have any at all. The size OF
the Senate majority makes IL seem
likely that no measure originating III
the House can pass that body !! IL docS
not conform. And even II passage OF
The Jones bill or similar bill over
veto proved impossible, there seem 10 pc
enough firm friends OF Government
operation In the Senate To assure tnn'
no other bill could be approved.
with greater compexity OF eco,
nomic life" according 10 the st. Paul
Pioneer Press independently the ilie
between strictly public and private
business becomes more difficult to draw.
IL Is not enough to say that the Gov
ernment should keep out OF business.
Each case raises new questions. new
complications that must be considered
on merits. In any given situation u
must be decided whether the well
known disadvantages Of Government
operation arc outweighed by The need
for some otherwise unobtainable pubic
| service or.pr~ection
Assuming that Senator Jones and
the entire commerce committee of the
Senate take the position that thoSe
who want II privately owned merchant
fleet for lise In foreign trade are sim"
ply crying for the moon" and that
They believe private capital Will not
build Americnn~ilng ships unless II sets
subsidy. and "A ship subsidy Is po~
| llIically dead issue" the Rochester
| Times Union remarks THAT seema 10
be II correct conclusion. The choice
Hes between Government owned
merchant marine and none at all"
t.
"The opening Of the trade routes Ia
| American shipping" In the opinion ~
| Tie Charleston Evening Post lndepend~
ent Democfatiti, rs al much the hilsi~
| nehh af The Government as was the cut =
| ting III the Panama Canal. This view
ot the shipping question Il. We believe
| gradually making It's way into The con-
! aciOusneas at the American people" Tie
| Omaha Whrld- Herald tlndependenib
asks. why did the Middle Weal want
| the bin passed when II was opposed by
the industrial East?" and replies To its
| own question Because the Middle West
| believes that the Government vehhels
are Keeping down ocean transportation
ratea, and lower hea freights help dih7
| tribute Middle Western wheat and meat
| To the markets. nf the world"
"'Ihe Denatnfa who voted agailiat the
Presidents advice" declares the Water
| lpD Tribune iindependent Pinlttahittl
| "Mant merchant marine Ia carry tie
trade Of the United States and are ia
VorahIe 10 Govefninent nWheihhin aud
| pueintim II competent merchant
marine can he had IN no other way"
Iu unlHlaiti6u to these views II That
which holds that efficiency IL imroasi
bic under Hntttninfnl oWnetshlp
There have been ipiinatihns hf vett
II thls message shall reach the ENrcu
| tive desk " states the Philadelphia Eve
ming H,lleilu tindependenl Hepubii
CAM, and II is Ia he hoped that there
viii be ~ lsapimlntnient Tor the sia
! tlnn, which has never th.'..ts ai the
! vision of u 'fl.iwihnent fleet except ~
an ..l.Ncicone necessity Vi wsAE' ..ie