Evening star., 1934-03-06
ROPER DRAWS NEW
SHIP SUBSIDY PLAN
Granting Specific Sums for
Maintaining Services
Urged in Forum.
(Continued From Eighth Page.)

safeguard to Government eXpendi-
lures. In respect to the latter re-
ouirement the Government should
have authority to examine books at
frequent intervals of the creditor
companies, establish uniform account
ing, and scrutinize carefully all items
Of cost. On such data readjustmentS
Of the direct subsidies or cost differ
entails can and should be made at
annual intervals.
In special study of shipping
trends conducted by the transporta-
ton division, Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce. in connection
with its economic survey of a pro-
posed ship canal, the following facts
were developed:
The feet of seagoing steamers
under American registry IN the
World War era was expanded from
100000 gross tons in 1914 to l3,-
100000 gross tons in 1921. Most Of
this additional tonnage was con-
structed during that period, part Of
it was acquired by purchase of Amer
lean and foreign ships and part OF
it through seizure of interned enemy
vessels. Not all of the tonnage ac-
ouired was suitable for commercial
use. and a considerable portion of
1t was never SC employed A consid
cradle amount is either laid up or
sold Even at the time it was built,
this war time tonnage was not up to
date in type. At the time, quantity
of production was the primary con-
sideratlon.
This wartime fleet. far from mod
ern at the time it was acquired, Is
still the backbone of our American
merchant marine and constitutes the
great bulk of our seagoing tonnage.
Since the war period there have
been additions to the American
tanker fleet and number of Amer
ican combination type vessels have
been built, largely with Government
assistance. Eut. with only one or
two exceptions the American freight
er feet was built during the war
construction period.
Since the war rapid strides have
been made in ship construction, par
ticularly with regard to more eco
nomic propulsion, coupled with a
definite trend toward increased speed.
For instance, when compared with the
general run of machinery installed
during the war period, modern high
pressure. super-heated steam engine
installation would operate. if at the
same speed, on IS to 40 per cent
less fuel.
Tonnage acquired in the war period
cannot be estimated to last more than
8 to 10 years more, and may be re-
tired much faster if faced with COM
petition of many ships of the newer
types.
Progressive Replacement.
Unless provision is made for pro-
gressive replacement of most of our
concurrently operated vessels, the
passing of American shipping from
foreign trade appears certain from
one or both of the following causes:
The end of the present economic
depression and attendant world trade
revival will see the construction of a
number of modern type vessels under
foreign flags, with which our ton
mage cannot compete on equal terms.
Also. at the end of or 10 years our
war-built tonnage will be so obsolete
that it will be retired very rapidly
and its business pass into foreign
hands.
1t seems clear to me that the sub
sidy is only part of the problem of
developing an adequate merchant
marine. The shipping acts reflect the
intent of Congress that the shipping
industry should be properly regulated.
Without such regulation, no subsidy,
however we'll administered, can ac-
complish its intended purpose. The
subsidy must not be used to cloak
inefhciency. The communities served
by American shipping lines must sup
plement governmental aid and sup
port by doing everything within their
power to encourage and promote busi-
ness on these American lines. In the
past, many of our seaport communi-
ties have failed to do their rightful
share in supporting and maintaining
the merchant marine.
The United States can expect to
attain the highest degree Of efficiency
and progress in our merchant marine
activities only if the ship operators
and the communities served by our
shipping lines fulfill in every sense
their responsibilities, which are fully
as great as those of the Government.
What is needed here as elsewhere
is complete cooperation among the
agencies affected in attaining results
for the common good. Our shipping
bottoms are entitled to have proper
consideration in transporting goods
made possible through the new
agencies for the development of trade
with Russia and other countries
where our Government is providing
special credit assistance.
From these facts, We can readily
determine the scope of the merchant
marine problem which faces the
United States today. At the same
time, the United States, as a member
OF the world family of nations, is
eager to fulfill its responsibility for
the development and maintenance of
desired international trade and COM
merce. We approach, therefore. the
solution of these problems on the
broadest possible basis, determined
to meet our national responsibility
while bringing our best efforts to
bear upon cooperative international
aspects as we'll. To these ends I
solicit the cooperative thinking and
cooperative action of all concerned,
particularly those definitely related
to shipping and marine activities. in
promoting our commerce and thus
helping to build greater United
States.