New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-28

member of the board of directors
each company shall be~na med by. tI
government. This director should
draw no salary, either from the
steamship corporation or from the
government. He should receive only
the customary directors fee for each
meeting he attends .. ..#.E
The same Legislation. should pro-
vide for periodical meetings of these
goVernm e7t-named directors in the
city. Of Washington. where they will
constitute an official BODY which will
confer with and advise the shippine
board, or other designated govern
mept agency, upon problems arising
in, or questions Affecting the welfare
of, the Am ericans m erchant marine.
including the administration of the
merchant marine. development fund.
This fund, drawn from the sources
previously indicated, should be used
to relieve such financial difficulties as
may be encountered in the develop
ment of an adequate and well-bal-
anced American merchant marine
For instance: t.''
1t is foreseen that number of
trade routes important to the imme-
commerce must be esta blished and
developed. Some of these routes may
not yield sfca ship opera ting profits
until their existence shall have at
tracted an increased volume or better.
balance of trade. Revenue derived
from the carriage of mail, and posi-
bic fees for the training of se1men
and cadet officers may partly com
pensate losses incurred on these
routes. Still in cases where the gov
eminent sells a ship upon condition
that 1t be operated in a route which
may not prove profitable at once. il
will be necessary to provide for the
payment of defaulted interest from
the merchant marine development
fund, III the discretion of the shipping
board or other government agency.
upon recommendation of the board of
government directors, until such time
as the route may begin to yield profit.
When the ships in the route earn
their annual interest rate and a profit.
one half the profit earned each year |
should be paid into the merchant ma !
rine developn ent fund until all mon |
eys drawn from the fund on account |
of the vessel in question shall have |
been replaced. The other half should |
go annually TO the steamship stock |
holders.
Such vessels cruising in routes |
which fail to prove susceptible of |
prof1ta BILE DEVELOPMENT and which do |
not serve any purpose of the govern |
ment of the United States, may be !
transferred by the government to {
other routes. However, should the i
government become convinced that
any vessel has failed to make ex- /
penses solely or chiefly because of in
capable mana cement it may fore |
close its mortgage on that vessel
On the basis of one billion dollars
worth of ships the merchant marine |
development fund would be fifteen /,
million dollars This. amount, inves !
tigation conSinces me, would be moro ,
than sufficient to care for all def |
ciencies likely to develop during this /
period.
Until sold under the terms just |
stated, all vessels should remain the I
property OF. and should be operated |,
by the government of the United |,
States.
Control Of Rates
In order TO make sure that the /
American merchant marine will. be I
operated with due regard for the i'll
forests OF American Industry and
conn erce, II is necessary to exercise |
control over the II aXimuln freight /
rates which may be charged in resu-
lar trade routes. 49,. ...
Sections I 6 and Il Of the act ap- /
proved September !. 1915. provide
remedies for un just discrimination by |
American shipoWners against any~t =
American shipper or port. and they
also forbid the collection by common |
carriers in foreign commerce Of any
rate .unjustly -rrejudicial to. American |,
exporters as con pared with foreign
exporters. Section IS Of the same act
authorizes the f1Xation of maximum
freight rates charged by common car
riers by water in interstate commerce.
There remains to be provided
means for preventing the impartial II
imposition of unjustly high rates upon
all ComnercG moving into or out of
the United States. This is paanifestly
pCyOnd the power OF legislation itl the
moment, and ii is pIoluaed to secure
such control bA agree n1cnt deserted in !
the bin, o. snl0 under Nhicn the ships
Il; I Released, aud by ul4kijie SlI n con !
troll a condition of participating in /