The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-07-01
HAS NEW SHIP
SUBSIDY BILL
SUPPORT HUMPHREY BILL
FOR FREE SHIPS AND NEW
SYSTEM OF TONNAGE.
Party in Turn Promised Support in
Next Campaign by Leagus
Members.


was inaugurated at din
ner given at the New Willard Hotel
"Wednesday night. A new bill has
been prepared and was introduced in
the House Thursday by Representa-
tive Humphrey of Washington and
will be introduced in the Senate by
some friends of ship Subsidy, prob
ably Senator Callinger
Speaker Cannon was the guest OF
honor at the dinner and President
Taft gave encouragement to the pro-
motors OF the measure by dropping
in upon the diners shortly after 3
O'Clock and remaining for a short
time. Tire hosts were officials and
members of the Merchant Marine
League, with headquarters at Cleve-
land, 0.
President Taft declared ne would
do all in his power to assist in She
rehabilitation of the American mer-
chant marine. He said that something
must be done, and that Immediately
TO establish an American merchant
marine, and that he would do every
thing he could to bring this about.
He remained ait the dinner but
snort time.
? The awowed purpose of the dinner
wtas to purspIade President Taft.
Speaker Cannon and the Republican
leaders that the new Humphrey bill
should be made part of the Repub-
lican Legislative program of next win
ter Officers OF the league explained
to their guests the details OF re-
marxable organization with members
in 200 of the 391 congressional dis
tricts to create sentiment in behalf OF
the Humphrey bill.
Willing to Reciprocate.
They offered to turn this organiza-
ton TO the advantage OF the Republi
can party in the next campaign. The
two novel features of the Humphrey
tin are free ships and new system
of tonnage taxes. AT present Ameri-
cans owning foreign-buils ships are
rot permitted to fly the American
flag over themF or have them ad-
united to American registry unless
they are more than half rebuilt in
American shipyards.
The bin proposes to admit to Amer
lean registry foreign-buils ships OF
5000 gross tons or mere, wholly
owned by Americans. These ships are
to be restricted to foreign trade or
trade with the Philippine and Hawai-
ian Islands and are TO be barred from
the ccastwise trade and fQm mail
compensation undo the act of 1891
or the Humphrey act.
The tonnage taxes IN waters Of this
hemisphere are to be reduced wfai1e
tonnage taxes in the transatlantic
trade and in tine Eastern trade are TO
Oc ufdlcIad1ty aifSfcdsS0
Reciprocal Law Repealed
The reciprocal law relating to tom
mage taxes IS repealed by this bin.
This win mean an increase estimated
At 81 600, 900 an tonnage taxes to be
paid by foreign ship owners, and it
is expected to decrease the tonnage
taxes now paid by American ships
which trade chiefly in local waters.
Further than shis, rebate OF so
per cent on all tonnage taxes VIII be
allowed American ships which carry
American boys or apprentices to be
trained in seaman ship.
The other features of the bill are
the same as those OF the last two
or three mail subsidy billy to be in
toduced This bill seeks, as those did.
to establish new mail lines TO South
and Central America. Japan, China.
the Philippines and Australia, the
compensation OF these lines being
paid out pf the mail receipts.
The organization OF the Merchant
Marine League to promote sentiment
for this bill is based on an elaborate
card index system covering each of
the 200 congressional districts whose
members are opposed or iukewarm
to the ship subsidy proposition
Use Cards in Camapign.
The card devoted TO epch congress
sionhl district contains the names of
from fifty to seventy-ive men, These
men are being bonbarded with pub
licity material Through them. an this
fashion, sentiment is expected 20
be developed whxal will reach the
members in each case.
The card index system has been
offered TO Republican leaders for use
in the neNt election.
The dinner given was a private
affair Among the hosts who were
officers and members II the Mer-
chant Marine League were: President
Joseph c. Butler of Youngstown, O..
Vice President MyroD T. -Herick OF
Cleveland, Treasurer J. J. Sullivan Of
Cleveland and Secretary John A.
Penton of Cleveland Besides Speak-
er Cannon the guests were: Repre-
sentative Pa ne OF New York, Nc
Kinaey of Illinois, Dwight of New
York and Burke OF Pennsylvania,
Senator Calinger, Postmaster Cen
eral Hitchcock, John Barrett, director
of the Bureau of American Repub-
lies; Assistant Secretary of State
Wilson; General Clarence R. Ed
wards, chief of the Bureau of Irsu-
lar Affairs; fonmer Senator Hemen-
way. former Representative Charles
B. Lands of Indiana, former Second
Assistant postmaster General Nc
Clearly and many others interested in