Now you are about to consider an "Emancipation Proclamation" for the American merchant marine. A measure so crucial that the health, indeed the lifeblood of the Nation's fourth arm of defense hangs in the balance. Twenty-three thousand commanders and officers of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots and the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (AFL-CIO) urge you to free the maritime industry from its stepchild status and create an independent Federal maritime agency in accordance with H.R. 15567 so that our Nation may have a viable and enduring merchant marine for America's trade, travel, and defense. The maritime industry would unquestionably suffer otherwise and become submerged in a Department of Transportation dominated by power blocs of the air and land transport interests. This, gentlemen, is your call to greatness in the atomic age. LLOYD W. SHELDON, International President, I.O.M.M. & P. NEW JERSEY STATE AFL-CIO, Newark, N.J., July 11, 1966. Hon. PETER W. RODINO, DEAR SIR: The New Jersey State AFL-CIO would greatly appreciate whatever you can do to see that immediate hearings are held on a measure H.R. 15567 entitled "The Federal Maritime Act of 1966". H.R. 15567 would establish the Federal Maritime Administration as independent Federal Agency. As you know, the American Merchant Marine is dying of neglect by its being buried in the Department of Commerce. Because of the low state of this country's maritime industry, we urge your support for hearings on H.R. 15567 which will provide the proper attention the industry so desperately needs. Trusting to hear from you and with all best wishes, I am Very truly yours, VINCENT J. MURPHY, President. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Hon. EDWARD A. GARMATZ, Chairman, House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, DEAR CHAIRMAN GARMATZ: I want to take this opportunity of thanking the Committee for its scheduled hearings on legislation that would establish the Federal Maritime Administration. The merchant marine strength is one of the vital segments of our nation's economy both in its impact on domestic and international commerce. Therefore, I am pleased to note your Committee's action and wish to urge favorable disposition of H.R. 15567. With best wishes, I remain PAUL J. KREBS, Member of Congress. Hon. EDWARD GARMATZ, TRI-COUNTY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, A.F.L.-C.I.O., Chairman, House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN: Would you please use your influence to promote hearings as soon as possible on measures H.R. 15567 and S. 3530. Our American Merchant Marine should be the finest in the world. We urge your support to help make this a reality. Very truly yours, JOSEPH J. O'LEARY, President. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MASTERS, MATES, AND PILOTS, DEAR CONGRESSMAN: On June 28 the Nation will mark the 30th anniversary of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936-a measure which, if properly implemented and interpreted, would insure that the American merchant marine is the finest on the face of the earth. Regrettably, the 30th Anniversary of this Act will not be a particularly joyous occasion. Indeed, it is a moment in the history of our American merchant marine for deep reflection . . . and a change of course away from our present sixth-rate position in the maritime world. Now more than ever before our Nation must commit itself to a bold and progressive maritime program to insure that we have the ships and shipyards and skilled Officers, seamen and shipbuilders to predominate in trade, travel and defense in peace and war. As a direct result of neglect, our Nation at this very moment faces the prospect of the bloc obsolescence of its merchant fleet due to its dependence on World War II built Liberty and Victory type ships to carry the major portion of its cargoes: tired iron so used and abused that shipowners can no longer effectively compete for cargoes on the world market against newer, faster and larger ships of the foreign flags. Two measures before the Congress should be heard as soon as possible as a start on this leg of a new course for the American merchant marine: in the Senate, S. 3530; and in the House, HR 15567, entitled the "Federal Maritime Act of 1966." These pending bills would insure that the maritime industry would not be submerged into any new Department of Transportation by establishing the Federal Maritime Administration as an independent Federal Agency-free from any domination or suppression. On behalf of the 11,000 Commanders and Officers of our Nation's Fourth Arm of Defense, I urge you to request immediate hearings on S. 3530 and H.R. 15567 from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Warren G. Magnuson and House Merchant Marine Committee Chairman Edward A. Garmatz, respectively. There is every real and present danger that when the 31st anniversary of the Merchant Marine Act is logged in 1967, there may well be little left of a once viable industry. DEAR CONGRESSMAN FEIGHAN: This letter is an appeal by all Unions affiliated with the M.T.D. Port Council, in the Celevland area, asking help to keep the American Merchant Marines from dying of neglect. There is a move on now to absorb the Merchant Marines into a new proposed department of transportation. To counter-act this move, we urge you to contact Congressman Edward Garmatz, Chairman of the House Merchant Marines and Fisheries Committee, to ask for an immediate hearing on H.R. 15567, known as the Federal Maritime Act of 1966, making the Maritime Administration an independent agency. Thanking you in this matter, I remain, Sincerely yours, STANLEY WARES, Secretary, Port Council. [Telegram] Hon. EDWARD A. GARMATZ, ALBANY, N.Y., June 29, 1966. Chairman, House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Most respectfully urge hearings at earliest possible date leading to affirmative action on H.R. 15567 to reestablish the Federal Maritime Administration as an independent Federal agency, an important means of promoting efforts to strengthen the American merchant marine in line with its preservation for national defense and to promote the economy of our Nation. This measure has the approval of the national AFL-CIO given at its 1965 convention and the full support of the more than 2 million members of the New York State AFL-CIO. RAYMOND R. CORBETT, President, New York State AFL-CIO. BALTIMORE, MD., June 29, 1966. EDWARD A. GARMATZ, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: As one of your constituents I would appreciate you doing everything possible to have H.R. 15567 entitled "The Maritime Act of 1966" passed in the Senate. With best regards, I remain, BERNARD JAKIMOWSKI. Hon. EDWARD A. GARMATZ, BALTIMORE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION No. 12, DEAR CONGRESSMAN GARMATZ: In behalf of the 1,200 members of this union I am requesting you to see that immediate hearings are held by the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee on measure H.R. 15567, "Federal Maritime Act of 1966." This would establish the Federal Maritime Administration as an independent Federal Agency free from departmental domination and suppression. Our members urge your support of the above named proposal which we believe will help preserve the American Merchant Marine for national defense and further promote the economic growth of our country. Sincerely, CHARLES F. MILLER, President. BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS, DECORATORS AND Washington, D.C., July 5, 1966. Hon. EDWARD GARMATZ, Chairman, House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN GARMATZ: On behalf of the 205,000 members of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, AFL-CIO, I herewith extend our Brotherhood's full endorsement to the pending Bill, H.R. 15567, entitled "Federal Maritime Act of 1966." The time has long since passed when the Federal Maritime Administration should be an independent Federal Agency free from departmental domination and suppression, therefore, we strongly support enactment of H.R. 15567. It is my understanding, all National and International Unions affiliated with the Maritime Trades Department of AFL-CIO, have given endorsement to the pending Bill, actually in the form of a Convention Resolution No. 217. It is to be hoped that when the Bill is before the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee for consideration, that our endorsement and expressions will be made known to your House Committee. Thank you in advance for your kindness in this matter. Very truly yours, S. FRANK RAFTERY, General President. SHEET METAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Hon. EDWARD A. GARMATZ, LOCAL UNION NO. 122, Baltimore, Md., June 30, 1966. HONORABLE SIR: The membership of Sheet Metal Worker's Local Union No. 122 urges you to ask for hearings on Bill H.R. 15567 entitled "The Maritime Act of 1966" and also to give your utmost support to this measure when it comes before the House for a vote as we believe this Bill is vitally needed to keep our American Merchant Marine up to the highest standards at which they should be as it is flying the flag of the greatest nation in the world. Hoping you will strongly support our views and wishing you every possible success, I remain Chairman, Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. GARMATZ: I have noted that on or about June 21, your committee adopted a resolution strongly favoring the establishment of a Federal Maritime Administration as an independent agency, and that the resolution was transmitted to the Committee on Government Operations with the request that early hearings be held on pending legislation to create such an independent agency. I am addressing you because I notice that a number of bills to that end have been introduced, one of them as late as June 23, and referred to your committee. These bills include H.R. 11704, H.R. 15567, H.R. 15838, H.R. 15910, and H.R. 16079. It is not clear, therefore, whether hearings on these bills, if any are held, will be before your committee or the Committee on Government Operations. In the event hearings are scheduled before your committee, I would appreciate being advised thereof, since it is possible that the North Atlantic Ports Association may wish me to present a statement in support of the legislation. Sincerely yours, CHAS. R. SEAL, Chairman, Committee on Federal Legislation, (Whereupon, at 12:10 p.m., the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene Thursday, July 21, 1966, at 10 a.m.) INDEPENDENT FEDERAL MARITIME ADMINISTRATION THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1966 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10:15 a.m., pursuant to recess, in room 1334, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., Hon. Edward A. Garmatz (chairman of the committee) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The meeting will come to order. We will continue the hearings on the bills to amend title II of the Merchant Marine Act to create the Federal Maritime Administration, and for other purposes. Our first witness is our colleague on the committee, the gentleman from New York, Congressman Jacob Gilbert. STATEMENT OF HON. JACOB H. GILBERT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK Mr. GILBERT. Mr. Chairman and fellow members of my committee, I am pleased to offer my testimony in behalf of my bill and similar bills to create the Federal Maritime Board-Administration. We have listened to sound arguments in support of this proposal and I am glad to add my own support for the establishment of an independent Federal maritime agency, which I believe will give the leadership and status needed to assure a stronger and more progressive merchant marine fleet. I opposed the plan to include the Maritime Administration in the proposed Department of Transportation. It is my belief that the responsibilities under our U.S. shipping laws should be vested in and administered by an independent agency responsive to policy determination, and subject to review, by the Congress. Especially important at this time is the creation of an independent Maritime Subsidy Board whose decisions would be unbiased and based on sound judgment of act. As presently organized, the Maritime Subsidy Board cannot provide this, for members of the Board are employees of the Maritime Administration and subject to the pressures of the Maritime Administrator who serves as Chairman of this Board. The bill I have introduced creating an independent Federal Maritime Administration and an independent Maritime Subsidy Board can be a first step in restoring the administration of maritime affairs to the level to which it properly belongs. The history of departmental reorganization shows that our merchant marine made greater progress when its administration had the most independence. Our maritime industry, which directly employs 250,000 persons and in |