"Right Sort of Sentiment"

Month ago in Manhattan, idle seamen complained to the municipal employment bureau that certain U. S. yacht owners were importing foreign seamen under bond to run their boats, instead of employing U. S. hands. The bureau took the names of the yachtsmen complained against, sent them to Secretary of Labor Doak. Last week in Manhattan the sport of tycoons was again mentioned in connection with unemployment. Explained Broker Edward F. Button, owner of Hussar I:

"It is the intention of many owners of yachts not to put them into commission this year lest they give offence to some of their friends who have been hard hit by the industrial depression, and also for fear it might offend in times like these. I have three friends who intend to keep their yachts at their docks this year for these reasons.

"I believe the newspapers could create the right sort of sentiment so that nearly every yacht would be placed in commission this year, thus creating more work all around. We would not have sailors looking for work, there would be more paint, oil and gasoline, food and other ship's supplies purchased. If yachtsmen could only be assured that it is their duty at this time to keep their yachts in commission, it would help the general situation which all of us are trying to relieve."

Yachtsman Hutton said that the average 200-ft. pleasure craft placed in commission for five months required the expenditure of $100,000 in wages and supplies.

Although seamen might be grateful for Mr. Hutton's propagating the right sort of sentiment toward keeping sailors employed, U. S. shipbuilders view with alarm the fact that Mr. Hutton, like many another U. S. millionaire, has his pleasure craft built abroad. Mr. Hutton's Hussar I, now in use, was built at Kiel in 1923. Now abuilding, also at Kiel, is Hussar II. It will cost $1,250,000. Since labor is the largest cost in yacht building (80%), and since German shipyard labor costs 22-c- an hour--48-c- less than the U. S. scale-- Mr. Hutton will save himself $500,000 by having his boat constructed abroad. From this saving, however, must be deducted a 30% import duty ($375,000 on Hussar II) in effect since 1928.

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