Milford chronicle., 1954-04-02
YoU AND THE MERCHANT MARINE

YOU AND THE MERCHANT MARINE
What interest have you, as representa-
tive citizen, in the Ameican merchant ma
rine-and in governmental policies which
are necessary to its vitality and even it's sur
vival?
That question was well answered by Ra-
mond MOley in one of his recent syndicated
columns. He wrote: 1.-TWO world wars
should have brought home with undeniable
force the realization that we were wOefuly
lacking in anything like an adequate mer-
chant fleet and that we couldn't rely upon
our allies to fill the breach. We found that
it was up to America to meet the problem not
only by providing itself with a great mer-
chant marine but also by delivering hun
dreds of vessels to our allies We must not
allow the Importance of our merchant ma
rine to be overshadOwed. The subsidies
granted our shipping under the 1886 act
and considerations given in foreign-aid leg
islatiOn, must be continued"
Another important observation recently
came from top uthOrity-Chairman Roth
schild of the Federal Maritime Board. He
pointed out that the welfare of the merchant
marine was of great moment to the whole
eountry-nOt just the seabOaTd states Then
he said, "The maritime industry has had a
long history of association with the federal
government and each shares in the respOn-
sibility of maintaining our Merchant Marine
to adequate standards. There are two major
reasons for this: the first is, of course, its
basic role in national security; and the Sec
ond is the fact that our higher costs put Am
erican operators at a great disadvantage
compared to their foreign competition" The
goal is to keep our flag on the high seas.
ENCOURAGE PRIVATE SPENDING
Business activity has dropped somewhat
from the extremely high levels Of recent
years,
One way to stimulate industry lies in re-
ducing the taxes individuals pay, and thus
s leaving them more money to buy the pro-
ducts that keep our farms and factories go
ing.
A second, and equally important but Of
ten overlooked way lies in measures and
reforms that will encourage men to take
risks, and invest their money in jOb-making
productive enterprise.
AS an example, two kinds of taxes, both
manifestly unfair in character, are serious
barriers to incentive. One is the capital
gains tax. The other is the double taxation
OF corporation dividends. And this last, as
one authority has pointed out, strikes di-
rectly at the corporate form of business own
ership, the one form of ownership offering
the greatest opportunity for small savers to
share in Americas growth.
1t is argued that the government needs
the revenues these taxes provide. But it can
also be argued, and past experience supports
1t, that any losses would soon be made up by
increases in normal tax revenues resulting
from increased business activity And cer-
tainly, at time when government spending
is being cut we should take every logical
step to spur private spending and invest
ment
BUILD FAITH IN OUR CHILDREN
The 10th annual observance of National
Sunday School Week will be celebarted April
II through Is this year. Sunday School
Week is a week of great significance for the
nation. No one can minimize the Importance
of Sunday Schools in fostering among the
youth of the country a faith in God and an
ability to recognize what is fundamentally
right and just National Sunday School
Week and National Bible Week are staged
annually by hard-hitting organization, the
Laymen's National Committee. The slogan
for Sunday School Week this year is: 'TO
Build Faith in Our Children-Take Them to
Sunday School"
Perhaps now more than ever before our
natlon IS beginning to respond to those
simple beliefs of our forefathers, those same
terets and principals that made this great
country of ours what it is
$500
ACROSS THE COUNTERS
It would be hard to exaggerate the inn
p0rtance OF retailing in the nations economic
life.
In the last year for which figures are
available, for instance, distribution of food
alone accounted for the employment of over
nv1fo In i4r,I a1- -