Evening star., 1938-11-01

chased $s 600, 900 of stores and equip
ment annually and spent more than
$1,000,000 per year for repairs.
It can be seen from these figures,
that not only shipping, but mer-
chants, banks and workers were di-
rectly and deeply involved in the
welfare of this organization. Failure
would bring disaster to many ashore
and afloat. But, so far as shipping
itself Is concerned, it is also Of vital
Importance that such an operation
as this be continued both IN the in
terests of foreign trade in the
Pacific area and for national de-
fense purposes. It is the merchant
fleet which is the life line of the
Navy. 1t is the merchant fleet which
carries supplies and stores for the
Navy. It is the merchant fleet which
transports troops for the Army. It
is merchant tankers which fuel the
ships of the Navy in time of emer-
gency.
Faced with all these considera-
tions, the commission decided to
acquire a majority Of the voting
stock of the company to protect it.
self and the mortgages it holds on
the companys ships. Under the
agreement by which this was done,
the commission is advancing $2,00O,-
600 for repairs to the company's
ships upon which it holds mortgages;
it also has approved an operating
differential. subsidy for the entire
fleet of approximately 100000 per
year, and the reconstruction
Finance Corp. has agreed to loan the
company up to $2,500,000 for work.
ing capital
Success Now Virtually Certain.
Upon this basis, the commission
is confident that this important
shipping service can be revived with
success. Already sailings have been
scheduled for resumption of its
round the world voyages.
I have touched upon this situation
in some detail because it points with
emphasis one aspect of the duties
laid upon the commission by the
Congress.
Thus far, have talked principally
of ships and not of men. 1t may
may be strictly said that a ship is
no better than her crew. She may
be the most luxurious, modern liner
af1oat but without a competent, dis
ciplined and efficient crew, her op-
Grafton cannot be a success. For
fhoro hos hoov1 t,oo
ing interest in establishment by the
Federal Government of an adequate
system of training merchant per-
sonnel. Consequently, Congress in
the act creating the Maritime Com
mission authorized us to establish
training system. This has been
done.
There recently opened at Hoffman
Island, in New York Harbor, the first
of these schools under what is called
the United States Maritime Service
Another is scheduled for the Gulf
and third has already been insti-
tuted on the Pacific Coast. The
training at these schools is under
the direction of the United States
Coast Guard. To be eligible for
membership in the United States
Maritime Service, a man must have
served at least two years at sea. For
the present, only unemployed per-
sonnel, both licensed and unlicensed
is enrolled. These men will be given
three months intensive training and
then return to the sea. If, during
the next II months they have worked
eight, they can return to the training
schools for an additional three
months of instruction, during which
time they receive pay, subsistence
and clothing. They are given an
opportunity to increase their knowl-
edge and skill and so enhance the
likelihood of promotion aboard ship
The commission has also jnjtia tad