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Show SALE OF SHIPS - BEING OPPOSED Senator Fletcher Against Hurley Hur-ley Plan of Disposing of U. S. Merchant Ships. WILL CAUSE LOSS Can Be Operated With Much Profit by United States Government. WASHINGTON. Jeun 25 Sale of government merchant ships to private Interests, recommended to consress recently by Chairman Hurley of th- shipping board, was opposed bv Sen ator Fletcher of Florida, ranking Democrat, and former chairman of the penate commerce committee, in an address ad-dress to the senate today on shipping legislation. An indeterminate policy of government govern-ment operation of the new merchant fleet either by the government itSeir or through private corporations chartered, chart-ered, or controlled by the government, was advocated by Mr Fletcher a.z a means of preserving he government's m great shipping enterprises established n at great expense and now showing j life large profits in operations. Cancellation of shipbuilding contracts, con-tracts, Mr. Fl-tcher said, will cause a loss of about $50 per ton, while the ;same bottoms can be operated with much profit; and, -he added, rates will (jT continue high for a considerable time although lower than the war-time rates. Sale of the government's ships to private persons, Senator Fletcher pre- dieted, would mean transfer of many to foreign registry. "It would seem entirely feasible.' he declared, "to form responsible op- it orating companies to become the oper- Ji ating agents for the government. If tj( this is not feasible, I would rather charter the ships to private operating companies." Ifjfj Mr Fletcher deplored tie alleged 1 prejudice against wooden ships and declared many built by the govern- m ment are operating profitably. He Iso declared that concrete built ships arc proving successful. ffr |