Evening star., 1937-09-05
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

MEN1SAN SIlpplliR, AL tlllel-
n prise of romance and tradi-
~ ton for those who participate
4 in it only casually, but one OF
livelihood and profits for its workers
and operators is undergoing an ex-
haustive exploratory operation.
Under the direction of Joseph P.
Kennedy, one Of the Nations fore
most practitioners at the art OF curing
sick industries, the new Maritime Com
mission is authorized to give the slog-
ging American merchant marine
TRANSMISSION of cash and ships and
working standards designed to restore
it to its rank of pre-Civll War days as
world wide leader on the seas.
True to the best standards OF the
healing profession, however, DR.. Ken
nedy is prescribing only temporary
cures until such time as he has be-
fore him all the symptoms necessary
for complete and accurate diagno-
sis. From such diagnosis. it is hoped,
rejuvenatlon may be effected.
Authorities Aid Enlisted.
Deciding, after the commission
found itself faced with mass of un-
proved data and contradictory opin
ions, that it would be better to do
pend on information gathered by its
own agents, the commission a few
weeks ago enlisted the aid of such au-
thorites as H. L. Seward, professor of
mechanical and marine engineering
at Yale University: Thomas H. Healy,
dean of the School of Foreign Serv-
ice at Georgetown, and Prof. Grover G.
Huebner. specialist in commence and
transportation of the Wharton School
of Finance. With these distinguished
aides and advisers, the commissions
own experts were set at work imme-
diately to make comprehensive sur
vey Of the shipping problem.
Because the present temporary oper-
ating subsidy contracts are due to ex-
pire at the end of this year and nego-
tiations of long-term agreements are
expected to get under way by Novem-
Der l at the latest, Chairman Kennedy
has impressed upon his survey group
the necessity for speed as we'll as COM
prehensiveness. Results, he empha-
sizes, must be apparent within a few
weeks and the study should be pretty
we'll completed by the end of October.
The magnitude of this task as we'll
as picture of how much information
Is necessary before the ailments of
our merchant marine may properly be
diagnosed probably could be presented
by no better means than skeletonizing
the lines of inquiry now being pur-
sued. Grouped into seven related sub
jects. an outline of the survey follows:
Foreign Trade:
l. Are ships subject to our own con-
troll necessary to insure uninterrupted
movement of our exports and i'm
ports?
2. Do American vessels protect our
traders against exorbitant rates or as
sure them Of better service?
3. Does the merchant marine itself
tend to develop new markets; in other
words, does trade follow the flag?
4. Does the expectation of ship
services Gin other words the actual
selling of water transportation at
which we are at disadvantage be-
cause of higher operating COSTS re-
duce our exports of other commodities
which we can produce at an assured
profit?
National Defense:
l. What does the Navy require in
the uav Of ouyi1iorv toprooop IJou,
much of this tonnage Is now available
In protected trades?
2. What does the Army require in
the way of troop and supply ships?
3. What is the relationship between
merchant shipping and the air service?
4. Is merchant shipping necessary
to preserve the shipyards and the art
of building ships?
S. How important is commercial