Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-31
The Merchant Marine.

The Jones bill Ito further develop
an American merchant marine" may
come 10 a vote in the Senate today and
Is expected 10 pass. There are also IN
d,cations that the House will pass the
measure and that the President will
veto It. While there is little argument
over the chief aim of the bill. Ito fur
ther develop an American merchant
marine" there is all the difference in
the world in respect TO the manner III
which this is to be accomplished. The
Jones bill places the Government in
definitely In the shipping business, not
only in the matter Of operating ships.
but In reconditioning old ones IS they
deteriorate and building new ones. The
administration has dedicated itself to
the principle Of private ownership and
operation. with the Government with
drawing from an improbable venture
rs soon as it can. The fundamental
issue at stake is to help the American
merchant marine. But the issue threat
ems 70 = lost because of inability to
agree how best to do it.
The opponents as well as the pro-
ponents Of the Jones bill are agreed that
without governmental assistance private
capital cannot be expected 10 develop an
American merchant marine. COMPETE
ton is not only keen, but it is unfair
competition. 1t costs fifty per cent
more to build ship in American yards
than it does to build the same ship
abroad. The differential in operation
Is almost as much. Unless the Govern
ment makes up the deficit. Americans
cannot operate their ships because the
loss is too great. And this deficit can
be met In only two ways. One is by
Government subsidy. In both building
and operating ships. the other is active
participation by Uncle Sam in the ship
ping business. The question OF subsi-
dining private ownership and operation
Of the merchant marine is not new. It
was proposed and favored by President
Harding. with his administration in
control Of both houses Of Congress, but
Il failed II was passed by slim mar
gin In the House and never reached
vote In the Senate.
The same alternatives confronted
Congress this year. Senator Jones
asked the Shipping Board TO draw up
measure which. In Its opinion. would
give TO the merchant marine In private
hands governmental support and at the
same time would meet the views OF the
administration. This measure was
studied by the Senate commerce COM
raittee. but the Jones bill was reported
after q decision By the committee that
q ship subsidy measure could never be
put through Congress. Senator Jones
and other proponents Of his bill have
stated that they would supper. a sub
Edy bill. Bu. with the merchan: ma
rine at stake, they were unwilling TO
trust Il TO the none too tender mercies
Of Congress and TO a public opinion
which is opposed TO the general theory
Of Government subsidy.
The Jones bill. therefore. which VIZ
tually guarantees continued govern
mental participation In the shipping
business by making the sale Of Govern
naent-owned vessels dependent upon a
unanimous vote Of the Shipping Board
such unanimity being highly improb-
sble-!s the result Of decision that IT
affords the best means available for
bolstering up the merchant marine.
That Government operation Of ships
has been improbable is admitted. But.
On the other hand. there is pointed out
the continued failure OF private capital
and enterprise 70 develop the merchant
naarine-A failure which Ia responsible
for the very issue a. stake today.
The Jones bill Is better than nothing
In the lack u practical substitute II
should be passed while continued
thought is applied 70 the probiem Of
Developing the American merchant ma
r.ne until there is sufscien, sentiment
10 support another policy. The only
alternative seems " De a surrender "
the belief that America is Incapable Of
supporting an adequate merchant
marine.