The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1920-1982, 1922-10-11
PROF|TEERING
NOT POSSIBLE
SAYS LASKER
SHIPPING BOARD CHAIRMAN DE.
cLARES MERCHANT MARINE
AID MEASURE NOW BEFORE
CONGRESS ELIMINATES ANY
CHANCE OF EXCESSIVE PROF.
ITS; SAYS MUST ACCEPT PLAN
OR PROPOSE ALTERNATIVE.
Note: This is the last of series
Of articles on the American Merchant
Marine by Albert D. Lasker. Chairman
Of the Shipping Board.
ARTICLE 6.

One OF the greatest problems the
present Administration faced, at it's
inception, was the necessity, as Gov
cred by previous articles, for liquidat-
ing the aforementioned fleet SO
that it would pass into private hands,
end the loss OF Government operation,
cause the creation of a privately
owned feet that would be rightly bal
anced FOR war and peace-time needs,
and insure at the same time that the
art of shipbuilding in America be
kept alive In face of the ten-year naval
holiday.
The President has proposed to the
Congress the enactment of series of
aids that will put American shippers
on the same basis with Great Britain,
whose costs are next highest to ours;
feeling that if we put ourselves on a
parity with Britain, the ingenuity of
America will conquer all other oh.
tacles.
The bill proposes direct aids to
ships in the form Of cash subsidy,
which, it is estimated, II we should
ultimately develop the 100000 gross
tons needed to carry half of the over.
seas trade of America, will cost the
national Treasury approximately $780,
100000 Should. we reach that point,
the losses of $50,000,000 per anaum
now incurred in the operation of the
Shipping Board would long before
have ended.
Could Sell Present Fleet.
In addition, the bill proposes certain
indirect aids, one Of the chief being
a deduction from income tax equal to
ave per cent. Of the moneys paid In
treights. The purpose of this prov1.
sion is to insure fuller cargoes.
The bill proposes . loan fund Of
$125 ZOO, 900 at two per cent. minimum
interest to aid those who would build
types OF ships we still need. Without
the passage Of the proposed bill and
this feature, the art OF shipbuilding in
America will wither and die.
The desirable tonnage owned by the
Shipping Board under the proposed
bill will be disposed OF at world mar
ket prices to American buyers, thus
aiding the buyers to escape the handi
cap of initial high cost.
The Government believes that IN
addition to the vast Sums that will
come to the Treasury through the
sale of the ships (Which 1t feels can
not be sold without this Llegislation),
the curtailment Of operating loss will
more than Offset the subsidy charge.
It il proposed that nfty per cent. Of all
Immigrant traffic como in American nag
ships This provision alone will insure q
volume Of business In the North Atlantic
that should give " a large growth In our
third class passenger business.
Aid Ba~sd On Dinerential.
The bill proposes that when proper ia
ciliuss exist, the President may end the
Army and Navy transport, contracting for
our military transportation with privately
owned ships.
Looking forward to closer coordination
between rail and water transportation-a
very basic essential toward the expansion
Of our trade-the bill proposes scheme
for bringing nearer together the interstate
Commerce Commission and the Shipping
Board on subjects Of mutual interest.
The subsidy to be paid our ships is COM
putsd on a diTerent1al based on a comb
nation Of speed, size and distance covered
thereby encouraging the building Of fleet
that shall be balanced for peace and war
time purposes alike. The basic subsidy
provides that every vessel Of the United
States entitled to direct aid shall receive q
for each hundred miles covered, and in.
creases with each knot, until at twenty.
three knots and over the ship shall receive
2.8 cents per gross ton. In the discretion
of the Shipping Board, where essential
lines ars needed and the Subsidy proposed
In the bill Is not sufficient, subsidy ur
to double the amount provided for in the
law may be allowed.
No ships getting the subsidy are to be
paid for carrying the malls: the compen
sation they would customarily receive will
go to the subsidy fund.
The subsidy fund is to be derived By re-
serving ten per cent. Of the moneys col
lected in duties as a revolving fund.
No ProateerinE Possible.
limitation Of profits is proposed b.
the Government which while on the on
hand forbidding protteering, on the othel
hand insures no diminution in the insplra
ton Of initiative and the consequent attrac
ton Of the necessary capital. This 10 &C
compl1Shed by prov1so that after sbtl
has carried ten per cent. on its capital, hal
Of the earnings shall be returned to tn
merchant ma rins fund until the full amour
Of the subsidy shall have been repaid.
In these articles I have briefly under
taken to sketch the history of America
rise and decline on the sea and the admin
istraton's plan to restore our mefehan
marine.
II any have better program to o1ei
The Government with an open mind vii
be glad to consider It. II no one has
better program to offer, then there are blu
two alternatives: Either adopt the Presi
dents proposals or continue the inem
cheney and loss Of Government operation
No, there is still another alternative; an
the Governments operation and make ar
rangements to sell the feet abroad or scra
it. II this latter alternative were ordsre
by Congress. there Is no doubt, to m
mind, that within only a few weeks al
America would realize the utter necessit
| OF Its merchant marine for Its needs an
! unanimous cry wosld go up Throughout
the country demanding OF the Congress
that the ships be put back into servic,
The farmer, the manufacturer. the mine
alike, would find freishts higher. deliver
! i0R mora uu,nrt nd II siupSS SITS