Evening star., 1928-03-25
U. 5. LINES In BID FOR Tourist
CLASS PASSENGERS TO EUROPE
ACT 10 Meet swift Changes in Ship Design and Travel.
ers Tastes-Competition on With
Foreign Companies.

( ships and touriSt-claSS ships There Is
some duplication OF traffic in some NJ
these vessels. as the big liners also
carry tourist and second class passen-
gers, but the broad classification is
essentially as stated.
The United States Lines have kept
up with the styles in shipping so far
as having tourist and cabin class ships
Is involved, but are not able now 10
set aside ships for exclusive tourist class
travel. The Leviathan Is now the only
flrst-class liner in the group, as the
George Washington has been made into
cabin class ship along with the
America, and the President Harding.
President Roosevelt and Republic are
not in the big liner class, although ad-
mirable ships in every way.
Record Traffic Seen.
Those who have seen the America
describe her as the last word in cabin
class ships and the expectation at the
Shipping Board is that the ship will
set a record IN volume of passenger
traffic this season There is a possi-
bility that Congress may authorize the
reconditioning OF the Agamemnon and
Mount Vernon, now tied up. and II SO
they also would be converted into the
finest type OF cabin class ships. But
the legislative situation as regards the
Government-owned feet Is chaotic at
present with no clear indication OF the
| final decision. A compromise bill Is
generally expected, to embody some OF
the ideas of the two groups who want
| on the one hand aggressive Govern
ment building OF ships or. on the other
hand. want the existing vessels sold 70
n
ment operation.
II Is apparent that the United States
Lines are making a good fight with the
| resources at hand against foreign COM
| petition for the American tourist busi-
ness. The competitors, however, have
the advantage of being able TO nuild
and To convert on quicker notice and
on larger scale. They are not In q
| pool against the American vessels SC
| far as indications go, for British. French
and Italian lines particularly are flght-
| ing one another keenly. The Italians
scored the latest point by Offering Ia
waive the $40 visa fee TO Americans
going TO Europe on Italian ships, Since
| France and Great Britain derive a
great revenue from the $40 visa fee
| they are reluctant TO meet this offer
| but likely will do so IN one way OF an
otiNis ~ 10 9bIilStuillk buc OAitcu
/ States Lines also have 10 consider.
War Mothers May sail
| One advantage this year To the
! United States Lines win come II the
| bill 10 give free trips to the mothers
| Of American soldiers buried In Europe
becomes law. II is specified In the bill
that American ships shall be preferred
In engaging passage for the mothers
! whose expenses will be paid out Of the
| Treasury.
! Along with the Improvement In &C.
! eomm0datiuns for travellers Of moder-
ate incomes Is the improvement In ac.
comm0dations tor immigrants. The
old day OF herding as many into the
steerage as possible and letting them
survive the best they could from the
distTesseh OF rough seas, poor ventila-
| ton, Indifferent food aud other draw
backs Is passing. On the America the
Immigrant quarters are notably attrae.
tive. Other lines are making better
conditions tor immigrants because they
are limited In numbers under the Law
and the temptation To crowd them In Ia
the last inch Is absent
During the last few years the changes
have been made largely by converting
| old ships, The tendency now Ia &c
/ build new ships specially designed i0l
| all grades 0f travellers and 10 give them
| the maximum accommodations IN space
| and luxury. Thus within q few years
tourist class will have It's own new
| ships, aud 80 will cabin and Other
classes Faf af-sightsd Companies aiready
] are anticipating this trend,