The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-01
U. s. BOYS MAKE
 GOOD SEAMEN, : BOARD REPORTS
1ermanency Of Merchant Marine Is Urged By
 Shipping Body
(By Associated PresS)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30. - A .strong reaffimation'' by Congress that the United States is determined to maintain permanently q merchant ma rine Commensurate with the needs of the country from the standpoint of commerce and national defense" was recommended today in the annual report of the shipping board.
 Such a declaration of policy was de- clared by the board to be desirable de- spite improvements in the American shipping situation brought about dur ing the past year by route consolida- tions. stabilization of rates, and other measures.
 The board also recommended that a joint committee be created, composed of representatives of the board and the interstate commerce commission, to CO., ordinate rail and water transportation prohibition by law of preferential ar rangements between American railroads and foreign shipping lines, and exemp- tion from taxation of all earnings from American shipping in foreign trade.
 Expenses Reduced
 Discussing the accomplishments of the year, the board declared that re- gently effected consultations of gener- al ocean trade routes, involving de- creases in the number of government freight and passenger ships and in the number of operating agents, were said in the report to have reduced overlap ping and duplicate services and to have cut expenses, making it possible at the same time to obtain greater flexibility with the tonnage in service.
 Inauguration last June of a system for training inexperienced American horn boys who seek employment on ships had assisted tremendously in the boards policy of Americanization' of crews on government vessels. the report declared. During the year 3S3 officers and S4,227 unlicensed men were placed on American vessels, and of these totals, the board points out. 77.5 percent were American citizens. This, however. was a decrease in total placements of IT, 200 men from the year 1923, and also d decrease of 3.9 per cent in the pre- centage of Americans employed. The reduction was attributed to the lower average number of American vessels in active service during the year, and the decline was said to have been due prin- cipally to improved economic condi- tions ashore.
 American Boys Used
 'sThe door has been opened to Amer ican boys who have no sea tralnlng by substituting two American-born deck boys for one ordinary seaman at nominal wage and without material increase in operating cost. No report of actual results is available for the fis- cal year, but it can be said that it will assist tremendously in the boards poli- cy of Americanization:"
 Qualification of the navigation laws should be pushed to an early conclu- sion and the necessary steps taken to simplify them and remove any con- flict.
 "The United States should pay q naval reserve retainer to American citizens during such times as they are serri~s 0n board Amerfossn sii1Ro er- gagged in foreign trade, such retainer to be conditioned upon their being willing to serve in the naval forces in time of war.
 "An earnings from American ship ping in foreign trade and all profits derived from the sale of American yes sels should be exempt from taxation. provided the amount of tax exempted is expended in new vessels constructed in American shipyards.
 "All transportation of an official na- ture which is paid for by the govern ment, wether of property or person, should be done by American vessels, unless the exigencies of the public ser vice clearly require otherwise.
 Coordination Urged
 "A joint transportation body com posed of representatives of the inter state commerce commission and the United States shipping board should be authorized to coordinate all activi ties involving through transportation by both rail. and water. Preferential arrangements and contracts between American railroads and foreign lines should be prohibited by law.
 "A strong reaffirmation of policy should be made by the Congress to the effect that the United States is de- termined, either publicly or privately, to maintain permanently a merchant marine commensurate with the needs of the country from the standpoint of commerce and national defense, and that strategic trade routes will not un- der any circumstances be bandoned."