Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-04-06
Thursday. April g. 1922.
THE MATTER OF SHIPPING

American marine to fall back INTO
the condition in which the war found
IL. We were told and shown what
appeared to be excellent proof that
the country in order to be prosperous
must seek and obtain larger foreign
trade and as requirement a larger
and better equipped number of Amer
lean vessels flying the flag would be
absolutely necessary. Indeed there
was no one to dispute this. Then the
Government was left with lot Of
shipping on it's hands and was find
ing il difficult to find the money with
which to pay the enormous bills in
cident thereto. difficult. in fact, to
learn where the money went to.
The administration went about the
correction of these evils in the sane
and sensible manner which has char
soterized its unceasing efforts to
clean up conditions. But the task
proved a huge one. Postwar con-
dltions were dscouraging to all ship
ping ventures. Government owner
ship and management were found to
he wholly unsatisfactory, but we had
the ships, and in view of the need of
establishing a marine worthy of the
country felt that something might
better be done with them than taking
them out to sea as targets for our air
craft. But meanwhile the public, of
which no large portion has in peace
times been interested n shipping, was
50 busily engaged n, looking after it's
immediate affairs as to give little
heed 10 this problem, however much
II might unconsciously be affected
hy II.
II is now more than a month since
the President made known his plan,
carefully matured, we believe, and as
yet not successfully controverted. OF
this the current issue Of the Marine
Engineering and Shipping Age de-
Cares that few il any cases Of pro-
nosed legislation have been so admir-
ably framed to disarm criticism.
THE reason for this lies in the
provisions that are made in the Pres
ident's plan to benefit the exporter
ard importer. as well as the ship
owner. to encourage the construction
Of ships as well as their operation,
and TO build up a naval reserve, thus
snsuring an efficient support for our
warships as well as a highly trained
hetter paid class of seamen. In fact,
the Presidents message is more than
plan, IL is the greatest Selling ar
Eument for an American merchant
marine that has ever been presented
to the American people.
TT is a selling argument TO the
shipper. the manufacturer or the pro-
ducer. whether he exports or imports
finished or raw materials, for it is
plain even to the man on the street
that whosoever routes his traffic un-
der this plan in American bottoms
may make a straight deduction of
per cent Of the freight money that he
pays from his income tax.
IT Is a selling argument TO- the
shfpowner and the prospective Ship
owner for 1t guarantees him, in the
direct subsidy, the same kind of pro-
lection against cheap foreign labor
that has built up our other indus
tries. Strange as it may seem, the
shipowner, or the prospective Shin
owner. Is the most important man to
be convinced that the merchant ma
rine can be made profitable busi-
ness. for otherwise he will neither
buy nor build the slips that are
needed to adequately represent us on
the Seven Seas.
1T Is a selling argument to the
shipbuilder. for It provides for a
large construction loan fund ak
cheap rate of interest, making it pos-
sfole for responsible parties to bor-
row the money to construct the most
modern and efficient vessels of the
types that we lack, such as fast pas
senger and mail liners, motorships
and refrigerator ships. It provides
exemptions from taxes. IL the money
Is spent in new construction in Amer
lean yards. But most of all IL speci-
feP that except in very special cases
no benefits under this plan will go to
vessels other than those built in our
own shipyards.
1T is good selling argument TO
gocd American seamen for il as
sures them an American standard of
wages through the creation of a naval
reserve. Their uniform will bring
them a certain glory and a certain re-
spect' that only those who stand ever
ready TO serve their country in time
pf need can ever expect. 1t is due
more to this practice Of England than
anything else that has caused her
bes. type OF citizens to follow the sea.
1T Is selling argument to all pa
tfiotic Americans, for they cannot
have forgotten how the cry went out
for ships and more ships when the
deadly submarines were at their ne
fArtous work. They know right down
- the bottom Of their hearts that an
adequate naval reserve of merchant
ships Ia absolutely necessary for the
very safety OF their country.
1T Is selling argument to the tax
payer. for 1t provides close check
on the profits OF tine shipowner and
Tor the return to tho treasury of ex-
lesss earnings. Not only this. It pro.
rless an opportunity for the Govern.