Evening star., 1948-12-04
Domestic Shipping Needs

To the Editor OF The Star:
Current news items announcing the liqulda-
ton of the Norfolk & Washington Steam
boat Co. have carried expressions OF re-
gret at the passing OF a picturesque service
which, for more than half q century, brought
satisfaction to the thousands who patronzed it.
Far more serious than its loss in terms of
convenience, usefulness and pleasure, however,
Is the trend that it reflects in the decline OF
domestic shipping generally. The late world
conflict found our Nation woefully lacking in
water transportation. Vessels of inland steam
ship companies, such as the Old Bay Line, the
Colonial Line and the Norfolk q Washington
Steamboat Co. rapidly were requisitioned by
the Government to assist in carrying on
the war abroad. With only one OF its three
vessels remaining, the Norfolk & Washington
line continued to move substantial quantities OF
war materials and hundreds Of service and
civilian passengers nightly So important to
the war effort was this service that, in order
to expedite the placing OF additional tonnage
on this route, the line was taken over and
operated by the War Shipping Administration
until eight months after hostilities ceased.
However fair the compensation may have
been which was awarded for the vessels req
,lisitioned by the Government, in the light OF
original cost and depreciation it was hopelessly
inadequate in returning the owners to status
quo. AS forcibly stated by Mr.. Kennedy in his
article in The Sunday Star OF November %,
the inflated ship construction costs OF today
make it impossible for the Norfolk line to re-
place its tonnage losses and operate at
profit.
The Merchant Marine Act Of 1896, as
amended, declares it to be the policy of the
United States to foster the development and
encourage the maintenance OF merchant
marine sufficient to carry its domestic water
borne commerce, as well as its foreign water
borne commerce; yet the benefits Of this Act
are devoted almost exclusively to shipping that
completes in foreign trade.
Witness the fate of the Merchants &
Miners Transportation Co., which operated
coastwise freight and passenger vessels
until the war; as we'll as the fates OF the Nor
folk & Washington line and the Hudson
River Day Line, together with >the present
plight of the Old Bay Line, and we may well
ask ourselves if the time is not near when there
will be no domestic water-borne commerce. yet
we need only note that the vessels and ship
ping facilities fostered by a vigorous domestic
commerce were utilized to the utmost by our
Nation in prosecuting the war to realize that
this shipping is as vital to our defense as ever
The Maritime Commission is authorized and
directed to recommend to Congress such FUR
ther legislation as it deems necessary to et-
fectuate the purpose and policy of the Mer-
chant Marine Act. Whether it makes recon-
mendation or not, Congress and the admins
tration must recognize that If this important
arm of our national defense, which serves mil
lions Of grateful users in peace and in war, is
to survive the act must provide assistance to
domestic shipping, comparable to that which
it renders to shipping in the foreign trade
La Plata, Md. ROBERT T. BARBOUR.