SUBCOMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES SEVENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS A RESOLUTION SECOND SESSION ON H. Res. 52 AUTHORIZING INVESTIGATION OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE PROGRAM AS IT RELATES TO 63626 SEPTEMBER 11, 12, AND 13, 1944 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1944 TL 521 .A52 1944 COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES SCHUYLER OTIS BLAND, Virginia, Chairman ROBERT RAMSPECK, Georgia HERBERT C. BONNER, North Carolina RICHARD J. WELCH, California GORDON CANFIELD, New Jersey LAWRENCE H. SMITH, Wisconsin ALVIN F. WEICHEL, Ohio CHRISTIAN A. HERTER, Massachusetts RALPH E. CHURCH, Illinois ELLSWORTH B. BUCK, New York ANTHONY J. DIMOND, Alaska J. R. FARRINGTON, Hawaii ELSIE N. KEEFER, Clerk ELIZABETH N. BELL, Assistant Clerk SUBCOMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE IN OVERSEAS AVIATION Mr. MANSFIELD Mr. PETERSON Mr. BONNER Mr. CAPOZZOLI Mr. WELCH Mr. O'BRIEN Mr. CANFIELD Mr. HERTER IRVING G. MCCANN, Special assistant to the chairman of the full committee II UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Barber, Col. Alvin B., manager, Transportation Division, United States Chamber of Commerce_ 138 Land, Vice Admiral Emory S., United States Maritime Commission... 7 135 THE MERCHANT MARINE IN OVERSEAS AVIATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1944 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10:30 a. m., Hon. Schuyler O. Bland (chairman) presiding. Present: Representatives Schuyler Otis Bland, Joseph J. Mansfield, J. Hardin Peterson, Louis J. Capozzoli, Joseph J. O'Brien, Gordon Canfield, Lawrence H. Smith, Daniel Ellison, Christian A. Herter, Ralph E. Church, and Ellsworth B. Buck. Also present: Irving G. McCann, special assistant to the Chairman of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. The CHAIRMAN. Admiral, I think this is a very fine letter you sent to us on September 8, 1944. It very clearly presents your views, but what we can do about it I do not know. Who is your first witness, Mr. McCann? Mr. MCCANN. Mr. Chairman, at the beginning of this public session, I would like to offer for the record the opening statement of Hon. Schuyler Otis Bland, chairman of the Subcommittee on Merchant Marine in Overseas Aviation. The CHAIRMAN. That will be incorporated. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SCHUYLER OTIS BLAND, CHAIRMAN OF THE SUB- For almost a decade the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries has sought to give to American-flag steamship companies the right to protect their passenger business by engaging in overseas aviation along the trade routes they established many years ago. Through the efforts of this committee, the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 was passed by the Congress. In section 212 of that act the Maritime Commission was authorized and directed to study and to cooperate with shipowners in devising means by which there could be constructed superliner vessels and the use, in connection with or in lieu of such vessels, of tiansoceanic aircraft. The purpose of this hearing is to provide an opportunity to American-flag steamship companies who are applicants for overseas air routes to fully present to the Congress the latest factual developments which they believe necessitate their participation in overseas air commerce. A strong merchant marine is essential to national defense. The offensive and successful actions which are now being carried on by our Army and Navy could not have been attempted without the aid of a merchant marine capable of transporting troops and supplies to the four corners of the earth. The merchant marine is now wholly engaged in the war effort. It is not free to carry a single 1 |