Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-19
FIRMS TO FEEL
| IT SHOULD u. S.
SCRAP VESSELS
More Than 1000 American
Manufacturers Directly At
fected Through Contracts.
NO COMPLAINTS HEARD
By RALPH F. COUCH.

WASHINGTON, Dec. ia Govern
ment market worth more than 81 100000
900 to American manufacturers and build
ers alone during the next ten years will
be blotted out If Great Britain and Japan
accept Secretary of State Hughes pro-
posal for a naval holiday. Estimates
by some Government officials are much
higher.
That American manufacturers and
business men generally would cheerfully
submit to the destruction of this market
to benefit the great majority Of people
of the United States and throughout the
world is regarded by Government of
ficials as a foregone conclusion. In here
laying out the potential loss to one group
Of American business men from the adop
ton of the American proposal there is no
intention to 'nveigh against the adoption
of that PR osal. Rather, it is intended
to line out The extent of the sacrifice that
business men would be called to make
and call attention to the fact that they
stand ready as one element of the Ameri-
can citizenship to Join the Nation in
making the common secrifce for the well
fare Of humanity.
Upward of 900 concerns now have con-
tracts with the Government in connection
with the construction, begun or projected,
of war vessels and arms. The Govern
men last year dispensed more than $780,
600, 900 in connection with its naval build
ing program.
The number OF men who would be en-
ployed in the United States during the
next three or four years in connection
with the naval building program cannot
be estimated.
- LoNk
quires enormous quantities Of steel. II
cannot be denied that the steel industry
would feel the effects of any interna-
tional naval holiday. Some other lines of
manufacturing that would be affected are
electrical, wood furnishing. upholstering,
scientific instrument manufacturers, and
manufacturers of steel cables, anchors,
tools and naval engines.
There is no attempt on the part of
official Washington to minimize the cost
to business of the proposed naval holi-
day. But, on the other hand, it is de-
sired that the real facts be made known
so that these facts cannot be distorted
POINT TO
BRIGHT SIDE.
American economic experts are ready
to point out a bright side to the picture.
4
men resourceful enough to find a new
market Naval appropriations could be
reduced from % to 40 per cent IN the
United States alone, It is estimated
This means a big slash in tax collec-
lions. 1t also makes more nearly pos
sible the long desired elimination OF
taxes on business. With the naval holi-
day actually an international policy, II
would mean for the United States the
removal Of all remaining justification for
the existence Of the excess profits tax
Reduced tax collections, Of course, mean
more money in tie average American
pocketbook and more spending. The
American Navy last year cost more than
Sc for each resident of the United
States
Tighten the burden OF the individual
Staxpayer in Europe and the Far East
and the principal nations of the world
will come again into the world markets
for goods, IN the opinion of American
delegates TO the limitation Of armament
conference This IS their answer to
the complaint that American business
will suffer a big loss. Worldwide
economic depression Will disappear, II
is urged.
ANY setback which business and
manufacturing might feel us the result
of n stoppage of war orders would be
but temporary The period Of readjust-
ment would be short. And business
men and manufacturers would reap o
harvest Of peace orders which now are
being held back by the need of great
navies.-Copyright 1921, by Public Led
ger Company.