Evening star., 1941-01-04

Navy May Take Over
Merchant Marine 10
Insure Discipline
Maritime Commission
Already Hos Power to
Select Crews

Select Crews
Maritime Commission sources dis
closed today that the Navy, as part
Of its war plans, has been studying
the advisability of taking over the
majority of merchant ships so that
seamen would be subject to Navy
discipline.
Among the problems being con-
sidered, it was reported, is the fact
that the Maritime Commission, by
the Maritime Marine Act of 1886
already has the power to requisition
American-oWned vessels, and could
select crews without regard to
whether the crewmen are members
of c. l. o. or A. F. of L. unions,
This privilege of crew selection
would enable the Government TO
refuse employment to seamen con-
sidered to be Communists, Nazis or
FaScists.
Army Also Makes Probe.
The Navy was reliably reported to
have been investigating for some
time creWmen who might, because
OF obedience to the orders of totali-
tartan nations, be responsible for
sabotage aboard ships. The Army
has been making its own investiga-
ton, 1T was reported on good au-
thorlty, since it operates a large
fleet OF transpirts and other vessels
on which crews are composed chiefly
of civilians.
An official of the Maritime Com
mission declared that in event of
war, when Section 9O2 of the Mer-
chant Marine Act is invoked. it
would be possible to assign the ships
TO the Army. the Navy and to pri-
Vate owners acting as agents for
the commission, or acting directly
under the Maritime Commission
flag.
Only in the case of operation Of
the ships by private firms acting
as agents for the commission would
the commission have no control
over the crews employed. since in
most instances the private shipping
companies have contracts for en-
ployment only of union members.
However, since the Government
does not enter directly into labor
contracts. the commission. the Army
and Navy would have the privilege
OF selecting creWmen of their own
choice rather than take those sent
by the union, 1t was explained.
Few Seamen in Reserve.
Shipping organizations in Wash
lngton declared that last spring
a Merchant Marine Association was
incorporated in California for the
purpose of obtaining greater dis
Cipline from creWmen on board
ships. One of the objects studied
by the organization. it was reported
was the possibility of subjecting
crews to Navy discipline.
Cognlzant of the tremendous bur-
den which would be placed on
American shipping in the event of
war and the need for trusted crew
men, the Navy four years age
started to build a merchant marine
naval reserve and the goal was set
at about 10000 men.
Thus far only 339 seamen have
enrolled, although 418O merchant
marine officers have enrolled in the
reserve.
Union Wants Better Wages.
The National Maritime Union, af-
fliated with the c. I. O.. has been
urging its members 10 refrain from
joining the Naval Reserve until il
starts paying union wages. over
time. and in general improves its
Standards" according TO an editorial
in the unions magazine. The Pilot
issued last week The article de-
clared in part: The time has not
arrived-yet-when a merchant sea
man must join up with the Naval
Reserve to get JOB, although a lot
OF people seem TO think it won't be
long. AS for us. We think it will be
necessary for the Navy to first try
improving its living conditions be-
fore asking unionized seamen tc
change their status of free men Just
for the sake of wearing a monkey
jacket"
In 1887 the Maritime Commission
issued report declaring that the
American seaman had been subject
to bad living conditions on all mer-
chant ships and had good cause for
many grievances. but at the same
time it declared there was notable
lack Of discipline among the men.
Since then. especially with the ad-
vent of war. many seamen have lost
jobs because of the closing of
European trade routes to American
shipping.
The Navy personnel plans for war,
before the tWo-ocean Navy was
projected, was disclosed by Capt.
w. o. Speers, at that time director
of personnel, to the House Merchant
Marine Committee.
He said in event of major emer-
gency the Navy would require ap-
proXimately 1,200 vessels as naval
auxiliaries. at least 5000 officers and
$4,000 seamen to operate these YES
sells. Capt. Speers said he expected
that the personnel would have to
come from reserves.