Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-28

less provincial than we once were; hap.
PLY. we have come to know how inscp-
arabic are our varied interests.
Nobody pretends any longer ship
ping In a matter of concern only to the
ports involved. Commerce on the seas
Is quite as vital to the great interior
ns 1t Is to our coast territory, East.
South or West. Shipping is no more
sectional interest than Is agriculture
or manufacturing. No one OF them
can be prosperous alone.
1--WE have had n new manifestation
Of this broadened vision in the cnthusi-
asm Of the great Middle West for the
proposed Great Lakcs-St Lawrence
waterway. by which II is intended to
connect the Great Lakes ports with
the marts Of the world. There is far
seetng vision.
Far Seeing Vision in Proposal
"There IL far seeing vision in the
proposal, and this great and commend
| able enterprise, deserving Of your ia
vorable considerat ton. is insepnrable
from n great merchant marine.
"What, then. IL our problem? ]
| bring to you the suggestions whicl,
have resulted from comprehensive
! study and arc recommended to me by
! every member Of the United States
! Shipping Board. It is a program OF
| direct and indirect aid to shipping to
be conducted by private enterprise. 1t
Is proposed to apply generally the benc.
| fits which it was designed TO derive
from discriminating duties TO all ships
engaged in foreign commerce. with such
limitation on remuneration as will
challenge every charge Of promoting
special interests at public cost.
"In lieu Of discriminating duties on
imports brought to us in American bot
toms. 1t is proposed to take 10 per cent
Of all duties collected on imports
bottoms and create thercfrom NOR
chant marine fund To this fund shall
be added the tonnage charges. taxes ant
fees imposed on vessels entering the
ports Of continental United States, ais,
such sums az are payable to American
vessels by the P0stoflicc Department
for the transportation by water of for.
eign mails parcel posts excepted.
BASIS Of Compensation
"Out of this fund shall be paid Ia,
direct aid in the development and main
tpnance Of an American merchant ma
rinc. The compensation shall be baset
on one half of one cent for each gros
. ton of any vessel. regardless of speed
for each 100 miles Travelled. When tn
speed is thirteen knots or over, bu
less than fourteen. two .tenths of q cen
on each gross ton shall be added 70
fourteen knots. thrcetanths Of cent
for fifteen knots. four tcnths Of cent
. for sixteen knots, five -tenths: for sev
Cn.ccn knots. seven tenthS; for eight
cen knots. nine tcnths: for nnctec
knots, eleven tpnths: for twenty knots
thirteen trnths shall be nddCd to tn
basic rate. For twenty three knots tn
maximum is reached mt 2.G cents f.
, each gross ton per 100 miles Travelled
II will not attempt the details Of re
Guircmcnts or limitations. save TO Sa
, that all vessels thus remuneratcd sha
, carry the United States mails, eycep
!. Earcel post. free Of cost, and that a
such remuneration must end whencve
| the owner of any vessel or vessels sha
have derived net operating income /
I, excess of 10 per cent per annum upo
, his actual investment: and thereafte
the owner shall pay 80 per cent Of sue
: excess earnings 10 Tie merchant marin
t, fund until the full amount Of subsid
previously received is returned to il
source.
: 'In othrr words. & Is proposed I
encourage the shipping in foreign trad
until the enterprise may earn 10 pc
& cent on actual Investment. whereupO
the direct aid extended il to cease an
tho amoun; advanced IS TO be returne
out of a division with the Govcrnmer
Of profits IN excess Of that 10 per cen
. The provision makes impossible the rn
p richment OF any spcc:a! interest at pub
, lic expense. puts an end ~ the Govern
. mcnt's assumption Of all losses. an
leaves to private enterprise the pros
pr"tive profits Of successful manage
!, mCnt.