The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-24
PLAN FOR PUTTING US.
 MERCHANT MARINE ON A FIRM BASISIS EXPLAINED
'tDirect Benefit to Shippers, and Will
 Bring CargOeS.'

! Direct Benefit to Shippers, and Will Bring Cargoes.''
 On the income tax that one must pay now a credit is allowed of five ports and exports if the same are carried in American ships. This is 8 | direct benefit to shippers and will | bring cargoes to our ships.
 1 Tonnage taxes are doubled and are put into the Marine Fund created by tthe act. As long as foreign ships predominate in our trade they will pay more of these dues.
 Fifty per cent. of the immigrants that come to our shores must come in our ships.
 A naval reserve is created out of American seamen who will be paid 1 not to exceed S3,000,000 in any one year, thus encouraging genuine Americans to work on our ships. Army and Navy supplies are to be l carried on our merchant ships. This will be done cheaper than it is now and will aid in saving us from the humiliation of a few years ago, when we had to get foreign ships to supply our battle fleet on it's trip around the world.
 All Government officials must, when travelling at the expense of the Gov available, and Government supplies of all kinds must be carried on Amer ican ships.
 Provision for Coordination of Rail and Water Lines." Provision is made for bringing about close cooperation and co-ordin- aticn of rail and water lines in foreign 1 trade. Instead of having American railroads tied up with and working for foreign ships, we want them tied up to and working with American ships.
 These are all indirect aids which we hope will encourage American ships. They do not, however, cover the difference in the actual cost of operating the ships growing out of higher wages, better subsistence and larger crews required for running American ships. This has been work ed out very carefully and to cover it as nearly as may be 8 certain sum is paid to the ship owner based on the tonnage, speed and distance travelled To insure that the seamen shall get the benefit of this authority is given the Shipping Board to diminish the amount to be paid if the difference in wages is not maintained, and to make sure that the operators do not make big profit and still get the Govern profits exceed 10 per cent. they must pay half the excess to the United states up to the amount paid them.
 Keep It There.''
 This is brief outline of the plan proposed l have tried to state it in a concise but not conclusive way Those who urge it believe that, with
  the Act of 1920. it will put our ships on the high seas in private hands and maintain It there; that what it costs us in actual outlay from the Treasury VIII De more than repaid in the greater returns we will get from the sale of the ships; that our people will have lower transportation charges; that they will be insured against such ex- orbltant charges as they had to pay in 1914, and that the nation will be guar anteed fleet that will aid in it's de- rense In time of need without the ex- pendfture of billions of dollars.
 NO great merchant fleet in the his tory of the world has been built up without Government aid. Our ship ping is entitled to the indirect aids proposed as a matter of right and the direct aid given is a small price to pay for the preparedness it will be in case of danger should Have Fleet to Garry Half of l
 Commerce.
 We believe that the United States | should have a merchant fleet large enough to carry at least half of it's 1 foreign commerce
 If we would have it in the face Of | the competition of fleets long estab- | liShed, with agencies and business con nections all over the world and aided | and favored in many ways by their own governments, we must give th.. help necessary to put our people upon a parity with their competitors. If | we will do this their energy. aptitude. | determination and skill will do the rest and after while and when they | are firmly established they will hold | their own on the sea as we'll as on tho | land.
 If there is better and cheaper way to get Merchant Marine let us have It. but let everyone who wan11 an1