SUBSIDIES FOR AMERICAN SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12833, 5 April 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUBSIDIES FOR AMERICAN SHIPS.

WILL THEY AFFECT THE BRITISH , ' , MARINE? Five American Senators and five member? ■■■■ .•• \-l' of the House of Representatives have submilled, a. report to Congress, in thei. caps-- '■•- city as a. Joint Merchant Marine Commission. • Their recommendations, intended , to retrieve tho lost trade of tho United States, urge prompt action, with a. view.. to revive shipping, and to provide for the , needs of the American navy. Immediate ', „ ,' £■» action by Congress, the Commission, deems,,..' , ■ is necessary to prevent a, complete paralysis of American shipping interests. •,,,.. ,-,,_ * The estimated cost of the proposed legislation amounts-to a total of over two mil- : lion dollars. This include.- , £50,000 for the naval volunteers. ' •. , v, ;/;3

The Commission proposes, ~ ail" tho first '■'■ [■" essential of the rehabilitation.of merchant.-V *' shipping, to enlist a force of naval volun-:.:..,,. teers from amongst the best officers and . - men of American merchant ships and deep-'■"'/. sea fishing vessels. Substantial retaining . fees are to, be paid as an inducement. to enrol. Officers and men will receive their .■■■■•'■ seamen's pay, .besides the - - *' retainer," ■ • during their period of naval drill and in- ; struction. ' , ....',. -..>.,.. The funtU will be arranged for by sub-' '"" ventions from the United States Treasury': of five dollars—£1 —per gross ton annually. ] This will be largely compensated for by-tip " stiff tonnage tax on foreign vessels enter-"<" '. ing United States ports. J ; ■.. The recommendation!* of the Commission have not yet become- lawindeed, // there is grave doubt ac to whether their" finding? will be ratified by- the. America'-*-"-"' * Government—but they make provision in the third section of their report that vessels receiving the subvention may be taken by.., the United States at a fair- compensation ~ for national defence or any public purpose. • '• Thus, when the Postmaster-GeneraJ of. the. "'■. United States requires it, the report -provides that subventioued vessels shall carry mails free of charge. Mr. Frank T. Bullen, author of the famous "Cruise of the Cacholot," takes, n': - grave view of the American. .Shipping Sub- - '' sidies Bill. "To put it colloquially," he " says, '"lite tax upon all foreign—i.e.", rirmUnited States owned vessels—entering ports v under the Stars ami Stripes is to be- nearly .' trebled, raised from threepence to eight- , ; v pone© per ton, while for.; United Stales- ' : .'"" owned vcscls the tax is to bo fourpcn.es"nominally. i .