POINTS OUT GREAT NEED FOR MERCHANT MARINE

"It is imperative in the interest of national welfare that the United States create and maintain a merchant marine capable of carrying not less than one-half its foreign commerce", said Senator Joseph E. Ransdell to a CRIMSON reporter in a recent interview in which he emphasized not only the value of a merchant marine, but the value of securing it through means of a subsidy.

"Any limitation through international agreement in the future construction of naval vessels will render the necessity of a merchant marine and its personnel of even greater importance than it has been in the past in determining naval and military effectiveness; and without an adequate merchant marine the safety of our country might easily be imperiled".

Senator Ransdell went on to point out that he felt an increase in our merchant marine could be accomplished at this time. "Let us discontinue so far as practicable the expensive government transport service of the army and navy, and make our cargo-passenger ships the agencies of such communications, as do all other maritime nations of the world. Such a provision should increase the net carvings to those private owners engaging in such a trade, and be an impelling inducement to private owners to purchase at a fair valuation the Shipping Board's passenger-cargo vessels adapted for this purpose".

Would Create Great Loan

To encourage the construction of the higher type of vessel suitable for naval auxiliaries of which we are so sorely in need, Senator Ransdell proposes "to allow the Shipping Board to create within the shortest period possible, out of the sale of its assets, at the world's market prices, a fund of $125,000,000, and to loan this money to American shipbuilders at not less than two per cent interest".

He continued by emphasizing the fact that if the Government does not extend direct aid to shipping, and so encourage men to enter into the business, thereby creating a market for the ships of the Shipping Board, that a vast number of ships will remain in the Board's hands with a colossal ultimate loss to the nation.

"The ship is to the sea--which covers 73 per cent of the earth's surface--what the steamboat is to canal and river, the truck and automobile to the highways. It is the means of transporting freight and passengers from place to place; and just as Americans own and operate the agencies of transportation on their interior waters, highways, and railroads, so should they own and operate enough ships to carry their commerce on the seas"