Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10
PRESIDENT OPPOSES
MORE TRADE SHIPS
Favors Merchant Marine, but
Considers Present American
Fleet Is Adequate.

While President Coolidge ardently
favors maintaining an American mer'
chant marine, he iS bitterly opposed
to spending any more public money
TO build new merchant ships, he made
it known today.
The President considers the Aineri'
can fleet as adequate for the pres
ent. and, moreover. he contends
that, instead of starting a building
program for the Shipping Board
every effort should lie made To sell
the ships TO private owners. In his
opinion II is not a matter OF obtain.
ing more ships. but matter Of OBJ.
tanning more business for the mer
chant ships flying the American flag.
The discussion today was brought
about by an inquiry as In the Presi.
dents opinion OF the proposal for
purchase OF large number of Ship.
ping Board vessels by the Brown Il
Boveri group of operators. In max.
ing known his objection TO further
construction. the President indicated
he will use his influence TO defea /
legisla ton which would allow such q
program,
Fav0rs Subsidy.
AT the same time, the President
was represented as making IL very
clear that he favored subsidy, To
private merchant ship operators The
President POINTS out that other coun-
tries give liberal assista nee TO private
operators az well as granting certain
attractions TO ship masters and sea.
men.
II WAS said the Presidents insist.
ence on the disposal of the American
fleet To private owners has been based
principally on several Investigations
during the past three or four wears.
Besides this the President recognizes
that the merchant marine act provides
for disposal Of the American feet,
and regards as unfortunate the diff.
cuities met in efforts at sales. In this
connection the President recalled that
one Shipping Board member IL known
10 have a perfect record for opposing
every sale Of a ship that has come
up sine" the World War. The Presl.
dent was represented as considering
the board too clumsy body to
bring about the best results.
O'COnnor Opens Meet.
Opening conference today with
representatives OF American steam.
ship owners and allied interests,
Chairman OConnor III the Shipping
Board declared thar every one is I'm
favor Of an American merchant
marine. but that while W. are fussing
about who will hold the reigns. the
horse is starving
In calling the attention Of the zoo
representatives of the private steam
ship companies 10 the fact that a
number OF bills for establishment OF
II merchant marine were pending he.
fore Congress, Mr.. O'Connor asked
the steamship interests 10 express Ia
the board their views on the different
bills and suggest to Congress through
the board methods by which the Gov
ernment might aid In the establish
ins permanent privately owned
merchant marine.
The American Steamship owners
Association, through lts president. III.
II Walker of New York, declared
that the problem Of replacing obsolete
ships was the first Ia he considered
In program for an American
merchant marine.
He said the meeting of cost dif.
ferentials with foreign operators
should he considered In plans Tor ii
priVhtely'"wned merchant marine.