Evening star., 1928-02-01
JONES' BILL VOTE
|SA|D T0FARMER
Growers Convinced Ship
Board Has Done Much to
Market Surplus.
BY J. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February 1.-The farm
ers Of the Middle West, the Northwest
the intermountain country and the
South were indirectly responsible for
the passage Of the Jones mercantile
marine bill. which retains the Shipping
Board. contrary to President Coolidge's
wishes. according to the opinion ex-
pressed by prominent shipping men
here today.
Recent surveys of the country, the
shipping men added. showed that the
farmers were convinced the board had
done much to assist In the marketing
of the exportable surplus crops and In
the holding down Of ocean freight rates.
Moreover. 1t Is freely asserted by busi-
ness men Of some Of the Gulf and
South Atlantic cities that ports had
ments OF Shipping Board vessels which
otherwise would have been neglected by
private shipping interests.
Holds Costs Down.
Strong emphasis is placed not only on
the amount OF freight carried IN Ship
ping Board vessels. but on the effect
which the reserve feet has had on
ocean freights. But for the competi-
tlVC UtCUdCC Vi tklC 1d4SC IluLlUEk Va
Shipping Board vessels that could he
board say, ocean freights would have
rocketed and costs Of exports would
have risen until the profits Of American
farmers would have been cut TO the
bone.
Commissioning of but few addition
al vessels In world trade Is sufficient to
overset the balance and affect rates.
This was pointed out today by one large
shipping man, who himself operates two
routes OF Shipping Board vessels The
Shipping Board. under q congression-
al appropriation. is expected to put into
commission 10 additional vessels to help
the soft coal men dispose OF their sur
plus coal abroad.
These vessels. he continued will carry
coal abroad but will seek other cargo
lease additional tonnage from other
lines, which will then compete In other
directions until the entire United States
Mediterranean-Tr Transatlantic trade /; af-
fected.
Fast Growing Obsolete.
The old ships built during the war
are fast growing obsolete, but the Jones
bill Is passed, 1t should be noted, pro-
vides for requirements and the con-
struction Of new up-to-date shipping.
The farmers. 1t Il asserted. feel that
such replacementS are necessary If the
effect Of the Big Stick on world ship
ping Is not TO be lost.
The Shipping Board now has at Its
disposal some $s5.000. 200. which can
be loaned to American concerns TO aid
In building new ships. The board can
not itself build ships from this fund.
but must make special petition TO
Congress TO be allowed to build How
ever. the restrictions under which this
sum might be used would make II pos
sible to provide for the most important
requirements In Shipping Board ves-
sells.
sSe.eoo. .eoe Is Sought.
The sum Of 500. .oo0. 900 now is being
sought as O loan by one concern con-
templating transatlantic service.
This has aroused opposition in some
quarters, since 1t would wipe out the
Shipping Board surplus without secur-
ing any heavy additions to freight
carrying capacity. Some OF the con-
Germs now operating Shipping Board
freight routes, however. are understood
to be willing to build additional vessels
under direction Of the board.
In the meantime. ehartertng in the
ocean freight market at present Is Inn
tied. and while IL probably win increase
In the Spring. the severe competition
which exists under present conditions
probably win prevent any startling
hardening Of rates. World tonnage now
aggregates 3,ii8.72l tons. with I .200. 600
gross tons In process Of construction.
American tonnage under construction.
however. Is IS per cent less than a
year ago, and its total Is the smallest
reported at any time since the war.