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Show IKte Chairman Hurley Opposed Op-posed to Federal Ownership Own-ership Plan; Rigid Control Is Desired. Outlines His Views at Meeting in New York; Takes Optimistic View of Future of Shipping. i'jVEVV YORK, March 27. Private ot-n-cr'ship of tlie great merchant marine whtch has been built by America under the stimulus of war, with such governmental govern-mental regulations as would prevent watered wa-tered stoclc and assure the use of the v cssula on trade routes promoting the goneral welfare of the nation, was put forward here tonight, by Chairman' Hurley Hur-ley of the shipping board as his plan for the peacetime operation of the government-built fleet. He was speaking before the National Marine "league. Knunciating the most important reconstruction recon-struction decision so far reached by any government department, Mr. Hurley said lie would havo the government sell the new ships at market prices, so tire op-orators op-orators could compete with foreign tonnage, ton-nage, and would have the bottoms insured jointly by the government and American companies until the latter developed sufficiently suf-ficiently to carry alone the enormous risk on more than one billion dollars worth of property. . WOULD BAR ALIEN OWNERSHIP OF STOCK. Wo alien ould be permitted to own any etoclc in any American vessel, and the transfer of vessels to foreign flags would t6 permitted only by express consent of T.Ite government. "American ships, for American trade,' is- the central thought of tho plan, which will be submitted to congress con-gress as a basis for .legislation. . "We want tho Initiative and skill of American ship operators, but we w&nt no watered stock," said Air. Hurley. -!'We wpnt to avoid the stagnation that sometimes some-times comes from red tape and bureaucracy, bureau-cracy, but we want no profiteering or exploitation. ex-ploitation. 'We want the new fleet used, for tho benefit of the people of the United States and not against their larger interest. We want It used for the development of the nation's commerce, not merely for the development de-velopment of the private fortunes of ship operators." GOVERNMENT CONTROL IS WARMLY OPPOSED. Several plans were discussed as possible pos-sible for operation of the fleet, varying from government ownership and government govern-ment operation to private ownership and operation. .Mr. Hurley announced flat opposition op-position to (he former, which would entail en-tail permanent establishment of a government gov-ernment operating force with branch offices of-fices and agencies in every part of the world,- and he also opposed intermediate plans such as government ownership with the governmnet guaranteeing a fixed return re-turn on the stock. He outlined the two -eat arguments in favor of government ownership, that government-built ships should be the servants of the nation and that in- times of emergency a government-owned government-owned fleet could be more readily converted con-verted to the national defense. SHIFTING CONDITIONS MUST BE CARED FOR. The impossibility of providing rules for tio operation of traniD steamers, which TiiuFt carry return cargoes to. be profitable, profit-able, and which may have to make triangular tri-angular or polygon voyages in order to keep under loud, was said to be another argument for private ownership. v No "rule can be laid down whlcli a i-'overnment employee could follow, for rift conditions are constantly shifting," M Hurley said. "A careful consideration! considera-tion! of these arguments ha3 led me to the conclusion thnt the Miirs should be sold to and operated by American citizens, under no restrictions other than the terms of the bill of sale and the fixation of my ximum freight ra tea. Jt Is understood that no transfer of a vc;o! to foreign registry should bo per-mittM per-mittM -without express permission of tho government. NEW TRADE ROUTES DECLARED NECESSARY. "Jr is forc.fii thyt number of trade "nutcf- important to the immediate or fu-wwc fu-wwc welfare of American commerce must In- -.rst'ibll shed and di'V-'"p d. .Some of these routes may not yield Hcjimship operating op-erating profit until their existence shall '.avc attracted tm increased volume or better balance of trade. Revenue derived from the carriage of mall, and possible I fees for the (raining of seamen and cadet officers, may partly compensate losi.es incurred on these routes. When the yhlps in the route earn their annual interest inter-est rate and a profit, one-half tlie profit earned each year should bo paid into the merchant marine development fund until all moneys dry wn from tho fund on account ac-count of the cbfl in question shall have been replaced. The other half should go annually to the uteanmhip stockholders. Development Fund Ample "Puch vessels cruising in routes which fall to prove susceptible of profitable development, de-velopment, and which do not servo any purpose of the government or the United States, may be transferred by rho gov- ! eminent to olhor routes. However. 1 should the government become convinced ; that any vessel h;m failed to make ex-pen.scH ex-pen.scH solely or chiefly because of in-c;;pable in-c;;pable management, It may foreclose Its rnort.KH.tr ci on that v ousel." The dcvcl'-pin nt fund would amount to 514.000,000 the first year and $.$o.."i3.'t. 1 TO In ten years, which Mr. Hurley said he deemed tufflcient to care for all deficiencies. defi-ciencies. Ho Hutd this fund would take the plar.e of provernmnt burking for the development of new tradfi rontey. one of (he strone arfrimiepfs broncht forward by government ownership advocates. |