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| TMT TAN mT nnn VOL. 49 CLEVELAND MAY, 1919 NEW YORK See Marine Authorities Gain Confidence in America's Strength on the Seas Under Policy Outlined by Head of Shipping Board HAIRMAN HURLEY by the terms of his newly announced merchant marine policy has rallied to his support a proportion of American shipping authorities which is surprisingly high. Be , certain in some cases of the personal views of Hurley, critical in many instances of the bce dealing policies of the administration which he repre- sents, and quite generally discouraged by the tribu- lations through which our weakened merchant marine had passed for years, shipowners and _ shipbuilders have found his announced policy a pleasant and stim- ulating surprise. Confidence in the future of the United States on the high seas jumped almost imme- diately. Extremists on both sides find little encouragement in the plan. To some our present condition of ships without a shipping policy will be reversed in a few years when we shall have a shipping policy without ships. To. those favoring government ownership-- generally politicians and not shipbuilders and oper- ators--the vigorous advocacy by Mr. Hurley of the government retiring from the shipbuilding and ship- ping business is a severe blow. The majority of American marine experts, however, find in the Hur- ley suggestions, a sagt aes basis for permanent growth. Private Ownership as F irst Essential Mr. Hurley places at the. top of the list the ques- tion of private ownership. He cuts through the barriers raised by advocates of government owner- ship and uncovers the real, essential factor which will determine America's marine future. tor is the development of an increasing number of American firms and individuals interested in shipping. The country's concentration on the development of its internal resources furnishes the answer to our years of shipping weakness. The war has given the country a broader viewpoint, has opened new trades © and has developed a manufacturing capacity now in. need of export trade. These new conditions promise a revival of American interest in shipping and Mr. This' fac- 217 Hurley wisely decided that this interest could best be fostered by private initiative. ' The approval given the Hurley proposals ranges from the almost unanimous verdict in favor of private ownership to a bare majority supporting the plan for government directors. The proposal to sell the ships at a price reflecting the world market, is strongly indorsed while the terms of deferred pay- ment are similarly approved. His plan to eliminate foreign insurance companies is generally sanctioned' on the assumption that American firms can develop" more quickly.. The provision for federal control of a transfer of registry is generally supported, a condition true also of the suggestion for federal incor- poration. The relative disfavor which meets his plan for government directors reflects largely the doubt felt over the government's ability to find: sufficient men of experience to qualify for these posts. The method suggested for raising the merchant marine development fund is new and Mr. Hurley is given ae . credit freely for having developed an ingemious plan. This fund, if it operates along the lines Mr. Hurley predicts, will answer many of the arguments of advo-_ cates of ship subsidies as well as those upholding gov- ernment ownership as the one method of developing new trade routes. What to Do With the Hurley Plan The United States now has for the first time in years a merchant marine policy widely approved and -- officially supported. The President's general support can be assumed from Mr. Hurley's freedom in advo- cating his program. The test of national sentiment carried out by THE Marine Review and présented on the following pages, shows the approving attitude of those interested in shipping. The test reflects at the same time the great increase in confidence held in our marine future. target, the growing number of advocates of an Amer-_ ican merchant marine should actively urge all. necessary improvement to the plan and secure its early adoption by congress. Provided now with a definite _ ia