Evening star., 1939-11-10
Roosevelt Gives
Plan 10 Solve
Maritime SnarI
Would Extend Social
Security and Open
Training Schools
BY JOHN C. HENRY.


three-point program for relief Of
the war-disturbed American mer.
chant marine, particularly for the
men who man the ships.
In brief, the three propositions
follow:
/. Extension of the Social Security
Act to cover seamen.
2. Establishment of Govern.
ment-administered training pro-
gram for unemployed sailors and
officers.
3. Use of some of the ships thrown
out OF European trade for Govern
ment transport purposes.
Disclosing this broad plan first at
his press conference, the President
later took it up with the leaders Of
organized maritime labor. Called to
the White House were President
Joseph E. Curran of the National
Maritime Union, President Joseph p.
Ryan Of the International Long,
shoremens' Association, and Chair.
man Matthew Dushane of the Sea-
ferers' International Union. The
N. M. U. is an affiliate of the 10,
while the other two are afnliated
with the A. F. of L.
Express Satisfaction.
Leaving their conference with
the President, both Mr.. Curran end
Mr.. Ryan expressed satisfaction with
the administrations program.
Mr.. Curran explained that the
training plan will provide for about
1000 unemployed seamen for three
month periods, with another 1000
being taken at the end of each
three-month term. The N. M. U.
leader also disclosed that the w.
P. A. is preparing some emergency
projects for the unemployed sea-
men, saying he understood their
recommendations would be submit
ted to the White House later to-
day.
Mr.. Curran said he still has the
impression that the administration
will approve the transfer of eight
United States Lines ships to foreign
registry, device which his union
has condemned strongly.
Mr.. Ryan was even more positive
in his impression to this effect, say
ing:
I'm convinced that the Presi-
dent thinks this transfer Is the
right thing to do and that the plan
will not be violation of the spirit
of the Neutrality Act. We do not
favor destruction of the business
which American lines have built up
and which would be preserved by a
change in registry Of the ships"
Concerned With Human Aspects.
In revealing his plan for solving,
in part at least, the tangled mari
time situation precipitated by Neu-
trality Act restrictions against en-
trance of American ships into war
zones, the President emphasized
that he was concerned not only with
the property angle but with the hui
man aspects. The latter, he added,
have been overlooked by many who
have discussed the problem.
Estimating that between Is and
IS American flag ships have been
operating regularly on routes now
closed to them by statutes, the Chief
Executive pointed out that the ships
not only are now tied up or about
to be, but that their crews are on
the beach. Accordingly, he said, the
three-point plan has been devised.
First, there will be an effort made
to extend the social security law to
seamen as it now applies to indus
trial workers.
1t was explained at the White
House and Social Security Board
that actually new legislation will be
necessary only to extend unemploy-
ment insurance benefits to seamen.
Social security amendments enacted
early this year will bring seamen
under the social security's old-age
provisions next January /.
Discl0ses Training Plan.
Pointing out that this part of his
program would be of no immediate
value, Mr.. Roosevelt then disclosed
the plan for training project to be
administered by the Maritime Com
mission and to be open to a substan-
tial number of the sailors and officers
thrown on the beach by retirement
of American ships. The trainees
would be paid while participating in
the program, he explained, with the
work being devoted to commercial
seamanship, not naval training.
AS for the third feature, transfer
OF some of the ships to Government
operation, the President mentioned
two initial purposes to which the
vessels might be applied.
First would be the transport Of
(see MARITIME, Page A-3)