New-York tribune., 1921-12-03
Harding to Ask
Ship Subsidy in
Extra Message
To Call on Congress Within
8 Weeks for Legislation
Giving Fixed Federal Aid
To u. S. Merchant Marine
Would Alter Jones Act
May Require so p. C. of
All Immigrants to Come
i'm American Vessels

From The Trtbunes Washington Burcnu
WASHINGTON. Dec 2.-President
Harding vii. follow up his regular
message to Congress next Tuesday
with a second, devoted to steps that
the United States must take to keep
her merchant marine in the fore in
trade competition. Within six weeks
the President will recommend that
Congress pass legislation granting a
fixed subsidy to operators of vessels
under American registry engaged in
foreign commerce.
The Presidents regular message will
touch on the merchant marine, but the
second will go into the subject ex-
haustively.
The program to be outlined to Con-
gress will be based on recommends
tions for relief to American shipping
now being formulated by the Shipping
Board and special corps Of experts
who are investigating the needs for a
ship subsidy. The proposals to be
outlined by the President will call for
amendments to the Jones shipping act
made necessary by the presence OF
Section %, regarding commercial
treaties, which the Administration has
found unworkable, and possibly alter
ations of other legislation which will
have the effect of increasing the finan-
clal return of American ship operators.
Confers With Lasker
The groundwork for the Presidents
message was gone over yesterday in a
conference Chairman A. D. Lasker had
with the Executive. Within the next
ten days the complete draft of legisla-
ton will be ready for submission TO
the President for his approval.
The special committee of experts
which is cooperating with the Shipping
BOARD on the subsidy proposition is
giving special consideration to all
forms of ship subsidies, both direct and
indirect. One Of the Indirect methods
Of relief to the American operators may
immigration act which will require at
least so per cent of aliens coming to
American shores to be carried in ships
under United States registry. Con
| sideration also is being given to the
differences in wages paid to American
crews and those employed by foreign
! bottoms.
Lissner Directs Inquiry
Commissioner Lissner is directing
the inquiry being made by the Ship,
ping Board The experts assisting him
include Professor Emery R. Johnson
dean of the School of Finance of she
University Of Pennsylvania; Winthrop
L. Marvin, vice president and genera
manager Of the American STEAMSHIP
Owners Association; Rear Admirals II
H. Rousseau and Clarence Williams, ot
the United States Navy; Daniel H. Cox
naval architect and secretary Of the So
ciety of Naval Architects; Gresvenor NJ
Jones, formerly of the Department o.
Commerce and author of monograph
on government aid to merchant ship
ping, and Norman Beecher, admiralty
counsel of the Shipping Board.
On the insurance feature of the pro
gram Professor William Leslie, profes
sor of insurance of the University Of
California;; DR.. S. S. Huebner, profes
sor of insurance of the University Of
Pennsylvania; W. C. RAIDER, who is ir
charge of the marine insurance divi.
sion of the Standard Oil Company; B
X. Ogden, of the insurance division OF
! the Shipping Board, and w. ]. Love
vice president in charge of traffic Of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, are
making the survey.