The Cordova daily times., 1920-03-30
SHIPPING TAX
 WILL LBEBORNE
 BY CONSUMERS

According to copy of the latest bill introduced in congress by delegate Grigsby in an effort to perpctuate the Alaska territorial shipping board, that body is given powers far in excess of any intended to be conferred upon 1t by the last legislature and also is shorn of the very powers for which it was ostensibly created.
 The bill as it is offered for passage gives the territorial shipping board sntire control of the fund to be creat- ed by the imposition of a tax of three dollars per ton on every vessel operat- ing in Alaskan waters, and it also provides that no part of this fund shall be used directly or indirectly, in the purchase charter. construction or operation of any vessels.
 The amount of money which would be under the control of the Alaskan territorial shipping board. were the present bill to pass would run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, The Admiral Line alone would pay about s275OO. the Alaska Steamship company $5O.o00, and the Standard Oil company $34,oOo. Tn addition all the cannery vessels would be forced to pay tribute to the shipping board.
 Some citizens are wondering how it is expected that the Alaska Steam ~Ship company. after paying 1000 in additional taxes. is going to be able to cut down the freight rates, whNh is the object of the shipping boards latest law. It generally is conceded that the Admiral Line. all so. would be unwilling to reduce it's charges after paying into the hands of Gov. Riggs more than S27,oOo.
 Many of the citizens of Alaska are wondering just where this shipping board craze is leading the territory. Thus far all the results they have seen is complete change of front on the plans of the board and an obvious desire of that body to create perma- nent jobs for its members and large fund with which to make trips to Washington and hire Seattle lawyers and alleged traffic experts the cost of which eventually comes out of the pockets of the people of Alaska.
 FytroctS of tho hill u-I,;ob ;c as H. R. 12a009. are as follows:
 Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, that the Alaska territorial shipping board, as composed of the Vsovernor, the treasurer. and the sec retary of the territory of Alaska. is hereby. constituted and empowered to execute the provisions of this act in the name and on behalf of the ter ritory of Alaska.
 Section 2. That the Alaska terri torial shipping board is hereby au- thorized 10 require all carriers. who shall have transports, cargo or nas- sengers to or from any place in the territory of Alaska. to file verified re- ports or statements in the office of such board. showing in detail the places where such cargo and Dasson- gers were received and delivered. the number of passengers. the quantity of cargo by tons. the rates of charges and the revenue received therefor. and such other facts as may be neces- sary to compile and maintain a com plete statistical record of the trade and commerce of the territory.
 Section 4. That a license shall be ,&equired for each vessel of more than twenty net tons which shall receive or discharge cargo or passengers upon or across the tide or shore lands of the territory of Alaska. *Such license shall issue upon the payment to the collector of customs of a li- cense tax of S3 per ton annus on the
 
 measurement, upon the first entrance of such vessel in Alaska in each cal endar year and the official receipt issued therefor shall constitute and be accepted thereafter during such year as the license of such vessel to receive and discharge cargo and pas sengers over such tide and shore lands at all places in the territory No vessel shall be allowed to make entry until such license tax has been paid. Vessels engaged only in the taking of fish shall not be sub- ject to this requirement in order to deliver catches, and in no case shall $any vessel be subject to this require