The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Name Committee to Study Shipping Problems The organization of an inter-de- partmental committee to study in co- operation with nationally-known shipping authorities broad questions relating to government shipping pol- icy was announced on June 20 by Daniel C. Roper, secretary of com- merce, This is in conformity with the rec- ommendation of a cabinet sub-com- committee which has been studying the shipping code. The study of the proposed code revealed the necessity for a study of the entire merchant marine and shipping policy for the government, including the shipping code. This study will be pursued this summer in order to have the report available by early fall. Presi- dent Roosevelt approved of the pro- gram and of the personnel of the committee selected by Secretary Roper. Without defining the complete scope of the committee’s studies, the secretary recommended that it give its consideration to the administra- tion’s future policy in the develop- ment of a strong merchant marine. This topic will involve such issues as the question of subsidies. consol- idation of shipping lines in the in- terest of establishing our merchant marine on a more self-sustaining basis, the plans to be followed in disposing of water craft which is in excess of present needs, and plans for sound financing for new craft under the Jones-White act. In line with the secretary’s rec- ommendation, the committee will also confer with the war and navy departments with regard to the for- mer department’s army transport procedure and the vessels of the navy which are now laid up. In addi- tion, the objectives of the proposed shipping code, its application and re- lation to the shipping board bureau, will also be considered, At the present time, the shipping board bureau is analyzing the tes- timony secured by the senate com- mittee to investigate air and ocean mail contracts under Senator Black of Alabama. It is expected that the new committee will review this in- formation with a view to seeing to what extent it may be of assistance in reorganizing the shipping board bureau and shaping its policies for the future, The members of this committee are as follows Turner Battle, execu- tive assistant to secretary of labor; Harllee Branch, second assistant post master general; L. R. Edminster, ag- ricultural adjustment administra- tion; Henry H. Heimann, chairman, sub-committee on shipping board of business advisory and planning coun- cil; Thomas Hewes, special assistant (16 to secretary of state; South Trimble Jr., solicitor, department of com- merce; J. B. Weaver, national re- covery administration. South Trim- ble Jr. was elected chairman of the committee. Record Passenger List When the Italian liner Rex sailed from New York on June 23, she car- ried a record passenger list of a to- tal of 1920 in all classes. It is be- lieved by officials of the Italian line that this is an indication of a return to the heavy tourist business of the years before the depression, along with a return to better business in general. This large passenger list of the Rex, which set a record for the year 1933 and so far in 1934 for all ships entering or leaving New York, is but one of many capacity bookings of the early summer tourist season, not only for the Italian, but also for oth- er leading steamship lines, Following the sailing of the Rex, the SaATuRNIA, Roma, Contre pI Sa- vota and the VuLcaANtrA of the Italian line will sail with every cabin oc- cupied, The tourist rush eastbound, which will continue until the end of July, will be followed by a similar west- bound rush lasting from the middle of August until late September. If the bookings of the Italian line are a criterion this promises to be the biggest tourist season since 1929. In her sailing on June 23, accom- modations on the Rex in all classes were filled, as follows 366. first, 325 special; 478 tourist and 759 in third class. This is the first time since 1929 that the Italian line has had the bookings on _ eastbound steamers in all classes, except third, closed two weeks before sailing dates. Election of Officers At the annual meeting of the board of directors of the Todd Shipyards Corp., held at its offices, 25 Broad- way, New York city on June 21, John D. Reilly was again elected president of the corporation. The following officers were re- elected George Dawe, executive vice president, in charge of operations; J. Herbert Todd, vice president and chairman of the executive commit- tee; George G. Raymond, vice presi- dent; Sanford S. Cox, secretary and treasurer; E. P. Enfer, assistant sec- retary and assistant treasurer, In addition to the above officers Clarence W. Wiley, president of Todd Drydocks Ine., Seattle, was appoint- ed vice president of the parent cor- poration. MARINE REVIEw—July, 1934 President Returns Code Without Signature The general shipping code after final revision received the approval of Administrator Johnson and was sent by him to the President. The President, however, returned the code without his approval, and with comment attached from other de- partments of the government, General Johnson at once an- nounced that he would try to iron out the difficulties promptly because he felt that a general shipping code is very necessary, especially at the present time, as it might help in set- tling the labor troubles which have disturbed the industry during the last several weeks. It is now believed that objection to the code among groups of shipping men has been largely overcome, and that it will ultimately be approved when the objections of various oth- er government departments have been satisfied, Houston Traffic Up While the tonnage passing through the port of Houston, Tex., during the month of May was slightly less than in April, due principally to the unsettled condition of the labor sit- uation and stevedore strike, the rec- ord of 1,413,793 tons valued at $27,- 393,595 made a very satisfactory showing when compared with previ- ous years. For the period from Jan. 1 to May 31, a total of 7,582,808 short tons valued at $161,331,801 was handled over Houston terminal fa- cilities. Oil constitutes the major item of export. Crude, fuel, gas oil, gasoline, kerosene and various grades of lubricating oils in thousands of barrels were shipped coastwise and to foreign ports, Cotton to the extent of 797,120 bales went to the ports of Europe and the Far Bast during the period Jan, 1 to May 31, or a total of 2,- 160,708 bales since the beginning of the season Aug, 1, 1933. Serap iron, from stove lifters to locomotives, has been handled by the shipload to such ports as Bremen, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Havre, Bar- celona, Gdynia, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and to our own North At- lantic ports, <A total of 83,702 tons was loaded from Jan. 1 to May 81. The U. S. Engineer office at Louis- ville, Ky., will receive bids until July 24 for furnishing one 1600 horsepower diesel engine for dredge pump. Further information will be supplied prospective bidders by ap- plication to the United States engi- neer office at Louisville, Ky.