Evening star., 1921-10-16

June, 1918. it was 5.s14,000 tons. In
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1919,
o.241 ships were built in 178 yards
operated by the government, employ
American tonnage was 11,OT7.00O-
twice as much as in 1911.
When the books were balanced. ap-
parently. on the 30th of June. 1921. 1t
was found that Congress had appro-
priated sS,e1S,e17.oe0 for the building
ranged from $150.000,000 to $780,
ooo. 900. Congress appropriated $780,
$4,000 for the Shipping Board for
1921 and $4s.o00.000 for 1922.
The complete story of the operation.
Of the old Shipping Board and Fleet
Corporation did not reach the public
until July, 1921. when Chairman Las
ker and other officials came before
the House committee on appropria-
tions asking for $1e5.ooe.oo0. These
% The Shipping Board and Fleet
Corporation had cost the people s3.-
900 100000. .(2) the annual salaries 60
Shipping Board employees lin the
United States te July Is. 1921; amounted
United States to S ssss. % .oSoma tota, OF 'os of
! more than $15,700.000: that the legal
department salaries amounted , to
$357.000, June 80, to which mas been
added salary list Of about $216, 900
for special attorneys; that the total
loss in the operations department for
that various claims against the board
amounted to approximately $780,
100000: that the wooden ships were
a total loss; that about half the steel
ships were tied up. unemployed and
awaiting purchasers.
CO.
the American merchant marine. What
shall 1t be?
In his recent New York address Of
October 5, 1921. Chairman Lasker of
the Shipping Board said that "in an
established merchant marine lies our
prosperity and happiness for Amer
ica"; that mo American merchant
marine can be created with ships
operated under the American flag bat
built in foreign yards"
1t is important to notice that Mr..
Lasker, who doubtless spoke the
thoughts Of the President. said: who
will question that American living
standards should be maintained on
the seas as on the land, but to be
and the difference between American
and foreign standards must somehow
be met"
There etwo possible programe to
De OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DISCRIMINATING
import duties, the other direct subsi-
dies Either plan VIII meet the diff
ference between the cost Of building,
operation and maintenance of Amer
ican and foreign ships: =, g
Section "a Of the merchant marine
act of 1920, commonly known as the
Jones act. directs the President to
give notice to the several govern
ments with which the United States
has commercial treaties which pre-.
vent discriminating duties, that $50
much thereof as imposes any such
restriction will terminate" on. due
The The tariff laws Of 1852. 1880. 1897.
1903 and 1913 all provided for ad-
ditional import duties on, goods
brought in foreign, vessels providing
that "the provisions Of the law will
not apply to goods imported In ves-
sells from foreign countries entitled
by treaty or act OF Congress to. the
same privileges as vessels OF the
United States in American ports" In
other words, the Imposition Of an adj
ditional duty in favor OF American
vessels was nullified by long-stand-
ing treaties.
X X X y
AS long ago as 1894 an effort was
made by Senator Frye to have these
commercial treaties abroEated. An
other effort was made by senator EI-
kfns in 1897. Both failed. The hands
of the United states were tied. In
1916 this same provision <eubstan-
tally in, the tariff Of 1913 was. taken