Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-03

the trans-oceanic trades; little Of
was built for speed which gives tn
coveted class to outstanding service
But here was vast tonnage for carg'
service; and the government, in th'
exceptional call of commerce which
Immediately followed the war, sough
the establishment of shipping lines IL
every direction calculated to enhance
our foreign trade and further cemen
our friendly relations.
Individual Initiative.
1.-THE movement lacked in most case!
that inherent essential to success which
Is found in individual initiative. It was
rather government experiment, where
lines were established in high hope and
little assurance, because the public
treasury was to bear the burden. There
was the mere suggestion Of private en-
terprise, in as much as ALLEGATIONS and
charters were made under which pri-
vate management was to share in the
profits an private interests were paid
to make t'.e experiment, though the
government was to bear all the losses
1 forbear the detailed recital. The mis-
adventure was so unfortunate that
when the present administration came
into responsibility the losses were ap-
proximately s16,OOO,OOO month, and to
the cost Of failure was added the hu-
initiation of ships libeled in foreign
ports.
I'm spite of all the later losses in op-
Grafton. however. 1t Is quite beyond
question that our abundance Of Ameri-
can tonnage was mainly responsible
for our ability to share in the good for
tunes Of world trade during the two
years Immediately following the war
In all probability the losses we have
sustained in our shipping activities
were fully compensated to the Ameri-
can people in the saving Of ocean
freight rates in that period. o..
'. What We Now Have.
To-day we are possessed Of vast ton
mage, large and very costly experience,
and the conviction Of failure. =. 1t.
"But we have our ships, the second
largest tonnage in the world, and we
have aspirations, aye, let me say, the
determination, to establish a merchant
marine commensurate with our eom-
mercial Importance. Our problem is to
turn the ships and our experience and
aspirations into the effective develop
ment Of an ocean going shipping ser
vice without which there can be no as
surance Of maintained commercial emil
nence, without which any future con-
flict at arms will send up building
again, wildly and extrayagantly. when
| the proper concern for this necessary
agency of commerce in peace will be
our guaranty Of defense in case that
peace Is disturbed. =.
II bring you the suggestions which
have resulted from a comprehensive
study which are recommended to me
by every member Of the United States
shipping board. 1t Is program OF d.
rect aid in shipping to be conducted by
private enterprise. 1t is proposed to
apply generally the benefits which 1t
was designed to derive from discrimi-
mating duties to all ships engaged in
foreign commerce, with such limitation
on remuneration as will challenge ey-
cry charge of promoting special inter-
ests at public cost.
IN lieu Of discriminating duties on
imports brought to US in American
bottoms it Is proposed to take 10 per
cent of all duties collected on imports
brought to us in American or foreign
bottoms, and create therefrom mer-
chant marine fund To this fund shall
be added the tonnage charges, taxes
and fees imposed on vessels entering
the ports Of continental United States.
also such sums as are payable to
American vessels by the postoffice de-
partment for the transportation by wa
ter Of foreign mails, parcel posts ex-
cepted.
Basis of Compensation.
"Out of this fund shall be'paid the
direct aid in the development and
maintenance Of an American merchant
marine. The compensation shall be
based on one half Of one per cent for
each gross ton of any vessel, regardless
Of speed, for each 100 miles Travelled.
When the speed is 13 knots or over, but
less than IA, two-tenths Of a cent on
each gross ton shall be added; for IA
knots, three -tenths Of a cent; for Is
knots, four-tenths of cent; for Is
knots, fiye-tenths; for II knots, seven
tenths; for IS knots, nine -tenths; for
10 knots, eleven tenths; for 20 knots,
thirteen -tenths shall be added to the
basic rate. For 23 knots the maximum
is reached at &c cents for each gross
ton per 100 miles travelled.
II will not attempt the details Of re-
quirements, or limitations, save to say
that all vessels thus remunerated shall
carry the United States mails, except
parcel posts, free Of cost, and that all
such remuneration must end whenever
the owner of any vessel or vessels shall
have derived a net operating income in
excess Of 10 per cent per annum upon
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