Evening star., 1922-02-17
SUBSIDIES TO BACK
MERCHANT MARINE
G. o. P. Leaders Adopt Plan
for UpbuiIding Ameri-
can Industry.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press. e.,
Both direct and indirect ship SUBJ
sides for the upbuilding and MAIN
tenance OF the American merchant
marine have been agreed upon by ad-
mtnistration leaders, 1t was said yes
terday in Official quarters.
The merchant marine program, it
was added. has been virtually de-
termined and today was In the draft
ing stage, with Chairman Lasker
and experts Of the Shipping Board
engaged in the preparation OF a ten
tative bill for introduction in both
branches Of Congress late next week.
when President Harding plans to
submit the administration recon-
mendations.
Details Of Program.
A direct subsidy amounting to
about S30,o00,00o annually was said
to have been agreed upon by the
President, Chairman Lasker and 9TH
or republican leaders. The basic rate.
1t was added, would be one-half Of l
per cent per ton per 100 miles. This
would be paid to operators Of Amer
ican ships. to aid in their operation
and the extension of their trade
be given to vessels of low speed, and
a sliding scale, it was said, would
increase the rate to as high as 1$4
per cent per ton per 100 miles for
the speediest American vessels.
The direct subsidy. 1t was stated,
would be the principal charge upon
the treasury. while more benefits, Of
ficials believe, would be received by
the merchant marine from the in
direct subsidies. These would in
elude special rates for carrying the
railroad rates. The latter, under the
tentative administration bill now
being prepared. technically would be
In the form Of reduced cargo rates
on American vessels. but actually
would amount to reduced railroad
rates.
Under the plan said to have been
agreed to. shippers would be given a
reduced cargo rate on American ves-
sells when shipping merchandise to an
American port for export vessels
operated by the Emergency Fleet
Corporation.
Senator Jones' Proposal.
Another suggestion. said to have
lican. Washington. chairman Of the
Senate commerce committee, to be in
corporated in the administration bill.
would require that a certain and
substantial percentage of immigrants
would be required to come to this
CouutEy Iu NcSbclS tuS <AiAcEl~
can flag. The definite percentage has
not been finally agreed upon. but was
said to range from so to 60 per cent
of the total number Of immigrants
coming to this country.
These major principles Of the ad-
ministration merchant marine pro-
gram were said to have been worked
out in conferences between President
Harding. Chairman Lasker and re-
publican members Of the Senate COM
merce and House merchant marine
committees.
The President. it was stated. de-
sired to frame the new program with
the consent and approval Of repub-
lican committee members before pre-
senting it formally to Congress. The
administration bill. 1t was said. would
be introduced simultaneously in the
Senate and House. and, according to
administration leaders, pressed to
passage next spring. Strong opposi-
ton from democrats against the direct
subsidy contemplated was accepted
by the republican leaders as a GER
tainty. but with general republican
support assured in advance the pros
pect for the legislation was said to be
favorable. ~