The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-29
SHPDlN GRS
 PLAN ADVANCE

New York, March 29>-Snipbuild- CTS representing all sections of the United States held 9 special meeting under the auspices, of the Atlantic Coast Shipbuilders Association, held at the Hotel Pennsylvania recently for the purpose of discussing plans for the advancement of the AIneri- can merchant marine. Resolutions were adopted endorsing a system of legislation through the medium of preferential duties whereby, it is he4d, American shipping can be en- abFed to meet successfully the com- petition of any other natfon-
 F, P. Patten, vice president of the Newport News Sfipbui1ding & Dry Dock Company, presided over the meeting, which was attended by rep- ggSentatdTes of such shspbudldlng con- cerns as the Bethlehem Shipbuiadins Corporation, Pusey &s Jones, the Os- car Daniels Co, Tampa Fla; the Submarine Boat Corporation, the Globe Salipb94i1ding Co, the Downey SfipDullding Corporation, the Pacific Coast Shipbuildfng CO, the South western Shipbzllding Co., of Calffor- nfa, the Newburgh Sh1pyard, Inc, the Croton Iron Works, the Merchant S91ipbufESfng Corporation, the Staten Island Shipbui1dins Go, the Norway Pacific Coast S5 Dry Dock Co., Ev- erSett. Wash; the McDougsu Duluth Go. of Duluth, Minn-s the Stsndard Shinb11ils ils1ing Corporation, the Con so4idIated S91ipbuiid1ng O., the Doul- Iut Williams Company of New Or leans, the Baltimore Dry Dock X Sb jnhu ufkadns Go and William Cranp x Sous-
 Judge R. G. Backford explained to the meeting the Ferguson plan of leg isHation providang for discriminating ->tYuties in favor of American ship njnr. as laid before the Senate Com raittee on Commerce by Homer L. Ferguson, president of the Newpord News sa,fpbuilddng & Dry Dock Com pany, and previously detailed in The Journal Of Commerce Judge Rick ford also called attention to the re vision of the Greene bill, recently in trDduced in the Senate by Senator Jones of the Committee on Com 1nerre, which he characterized as g long step in the direction taken b5 the Ferguson plan, especially in re gnru to section 30, which provides
 -~Tsaat in the judgment of Congress articles or provisions in treaties o1 conventions to which the United s4atas is a party, which restrict thu
 
 discriminating duties on products car rie.d in vessels docz1nnented under thu laws of the United States, ought to bt determined, and the President hereby authorized and directed with in 90 days after this act becomes law to give notice to the several Gov ernnae1ats, respectively, parties to s0cl treaties or conventions, that so mucl tfaereof as imposes any such restric tion on the United States will ter 1Ya1ratee on the expiration Of sIEcl periods as may be required for tn giving of such notice by the pro visions of such treaties or conEen tionS
 adopted endorsing the Ferguson plal and inc general principles of tn measure introduced by Senator lone: and s committee will be appointe consisting of representatives of snip building concerns in the Atant coast and Gulf, Great Lakes and Pa ci47e coast districts to work for tn advancement of the American meE chan. rnarSne along lines benefieia not only to the shipbsIi1ding industT but to shipping and commercial fr +e-eSts- labor and the public