Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-02
PRESIDENT HARDING
URGES BIC SUBSIDY
FOR j. S. SHIPPING

1
| congress for ship susidies were:
Direct Aid
/ !. Creation of merchant marine fund
by diverting 10 per cent of all GUS
toms receipts, netting about $32,o00,-
600 year.
All tonnage taxes collected on
both foreign and American ships to
be added to the merchant marine
| fund.
| Doubling tonnage taxes to yield
about $4,000,000 annually.
Indirect
/ One-half all profits over 10S per
cent to be added to merchant ma
rine fund.
Creation Of $125,000,O00 construc-.
ton loan fund, to be loaned at 2
per cent for Shipbuilding.
| Deductions from income taxes of
shippers equal to 5 per cent Of
freight paid on goods imported in
American ships to stimulate use OF
i American bottoms.
| More liberal depreciation allowance
| Income Tax Waiver
| Z ALI income taxes to be waived
when the amount of such taxes is
applied to half the cost of new ship
| construction.
Fifty per cent of all immigrants
must be carried in American ships.
| Creation of a merchant marine ma.
val reserve to the maximum number
| of 5000 officers and 10000 men en-
ployed on merchantmen receiving
maximum total of pay from the navy
1 of $3,000,000 a year.
All government freight and pas
senger traffic to be on American
ships where possible.
| Army transport service to be turn
/ ed over to shipping board.
| CoaStwise trade laws to be extend
ed to the Philippine Island, requiring
| that all trade with the islands and
the United States be by American
| ships.
Preferential rail rates on through
shipments on American ships.
Coordination of rail and water
4 transportation and development OF
railroad-owned steamship lines.
Appeals for Program
A great American merchant ma
rine is necessary as the second line
of the nations naval defense, Pfesi-
dent Harding told congress today in
appealing for approval Of his ship
subsidy program.
Such merchant marine is also.
he added, the highest agency of,
peace and it bears no threat and in
licites no suspicion, he added esf'sa
1 President Harding Incorporated in
his speech almost bodily the recon-
mendations of the United States
shipping board for a direct subsidy
amounting to about $30,000000 a
year and calling for various indirect
aids. All these, he asked congress
to approve.
| Recognizing the widespread oppo-
sition to agricultural interests to
ship subsidy which has been po-
litica1 "bug bear" for many years,
| President Harding emphasized that
| shipping is no more sectional in
terest than agriculture or manufac-
| turing and that all sections of the
country stodo to gain by a thriving
| ocean commerce under the Ameri-
! can flag.
He commended the Great Lakes
st. Lawrence waterway project as
| broad-visioned enterprise.
The term subsidy has long been
hateful to the American public,
he admitted, but the desire to build
UP merchant marine has outlived
all defeats.
Conflict of Ideas
"The conflict between two schools
of political thought heretofore has
defeated all efforts to employ the
| governmental aid which other ma
tons found advantageous while we
| held aloof," he continued.
The president asserted that Amer
! lean Indifference to the vital neces-
| sity of q merchant marine as part
| of the national defense resulted In
waste and extravaganza during the
war, costing at the time he came
into office $16,000,000 a month and
the added humiliation on ships lib
eled in foreign ports"
Nevertheless, he added, it was
American tonnage that was mainly
responsible for Americas stability
to share in the world trade imme-
| diately following the war.
In all probability he losses we
have sustained in ourBhipping activ.
tiles were fully compensated to the
American people in the saving of
ocean freights in that period" he
said.
| Only by means of subsidies can
the merchant marine of the United
| States be made great and the ma
ton take the place on the sea. which
1t held in the early days of the re-
| public, he said.
Second Line of Defense
Apparently fearless of the oppo-
s1t1on to subsidies the president
strongly recommended the shipping
boards program.
The president spoke in the hall
OF the house. The galleries and the
| floor were jammed.
Inc merchant marine is uni
versally recognized as the second
me OF naval Defense" he declared,
1t is indispensable in the time
OF great national emergency. IT is
commendable to upbuild and main
tam because it is the highest agency
OIL peace and amity, and bears no
threat and 1ncites no suspicion.
ana yet, it is a supreme assur.
ance without which we should be
un1nlndful of our safety and unheed
ing OF our need to continue growth
ana maintained influence"
america cannot hope to compete
IN world trade unless it is equipped
10 carry It's own good, the president
emphasized.
Inc presidents recommendations
were embodied in bills introduced in
Ine mouse by Representative Greene.
massachusetts, and in the senate by |
senator Jones, Washington.
He concluded his speech at 1.o9
lie was warmly applauded a numb
perkof times during the reading of
the message, particularly when he |
declared that the administration is
determined to establish a merchant
marine commensurate with our com
merce.
Midwest senator's, and congressman
gave Mr.. Harding a hand when he |
declared his support of the nronosed |