Speech #640194267

One of its branches represents the merchant marine of Great Britain. it is noticeable that this bureau has no power over tile merchant marine which is of a restrictive character. especially in the case of rates. but devotes its activities to those policies which will develop the efliciency and the profits obtained by the merchant marine. We should have a board of that general claracter. We have now a Bureau of Navigation. we have a StelmboatInspection Service. we have certain functions conniected with the Treasury Department that would come within the province of this board. as well its the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the State Department. the Immigration Service. or some features of it. and some of the work connected with the Department of Justice. All of those activities might properly. at least to some degree. be put under the coiilrol of a board of this character. Furthermore. if the board will study the questions involved in shipping. and will submit to Congress its recomnlendations as to wlat shoult be done about our nlvigation laws. if It will devote the expert knowledge which its members should have to a study of the real fundamental reasons. if they exist. on which a law of this kind. or any other kind. should be based. then such a board will have amlple opportunity to perform good service. avoiding the kind of duty which some of the features of this bill provide. which I think will be inimical to tile best interests of our merchant service.