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May, 1919 did 78.6 per cent of the shipbuilders. On the question of vessel mortgages to be made superior liens 88.6 per cent of the shipowners voted favorably as did 81.3 per cent of the shipbuilders. Ballot on Hurley Merchant Marine Plan for YOUR VOTE is outa to give represent- ative composite information on what the leading marine companies want. YOUR VOTE will be of real value in furnishing definite guidance to congress when legis- lating a few weeks from now on the American merchant marine policy. We offer you this opportunity of voting on a definite merchant marine policy. Kindly check each item to indicate your approval or disapproval. Your name will NOT be published as only the total vote on each item is desired. A stamped envelope is enclosed for reply. An immediate answer is necessary to make this plan of testing American sentiment of maximum value. =SLUNANAUAUUTUATAEAEAEUTATAEAEA TAT NES Do you favor-- Proposal No. 1--Ownership--private ........ Ai. 2--Sale price of ships--world market; ..5 32 re ee xX. ae 3--Payment--10-year period.... |... x 4--Insurance-- Part American firms .s...... xX Yes| No Part government, .....01.. 2 Solan 5--Transfer to foreign registry --government permission re- Quineds 223 Bea ae. AE Bes X. 6--Charter--federal .....:..... x ae 7--Director--one government.. |....|X. X 8--Directors to form permanent advisory committee ........ Bae i 9--Merchant marine development fund (derived from: interest and premium payments--to meet interest charges on un- X profitable trade routes en- gaged in at government PCQUESU)= ner es ee Pe 10--Vessel mortgages--to be made superior liens......... cas x. We suggest these changes-- ae il No. EET CANAAN Srl UUULLNNNUUNNNUALSQQNUOOOUUUGNQQN0O000UUUUSSQNUUOOOOOUGEOOONEEOOUOUOUGEOOOQUREEUUOGESOOQQOUEOSTOUOUOGOGOOGQOOAEEOOOOUOOGOOOOAEET OOOO EH REPRODUCTION OF FIRST BALLOT RETURNED THE MARINE REVIEW the Hurley merchant marine plan is evidenced not only by the number of ballots returned but by the individual opinions expressed on the ballots in the numbered spaces devoted to this purpose. These opinions point out graphically just what individuals, vitally interested in the merchant marine question, wish to see accomplished. Some of these personal opinions, taken from the ballots, follow: Merchant marine development fund should be liberal to the ship- owner. Admiralty lien on vessel mortgages should be continued. Free trading of vessels should be permitted. Insurance should be in the open market. Steamers should not be sold to large corporations engaged in merchandising as this procedure would create monopolies. Removal of all government restrictions on vessel building and operation should be made. Believe in no government ownership, management or control. Advocate lower wages or a subsidy to offset foreign competition. The sooner vessels are returned to private ownership, the better. Directors of advisory committee should be men of the highest standard. Insurance should be divided to proportion the risk. Transfer to foreign registry should be optional with the owner-- if he finds it impossible to operate under our laws and obstacles, transfer to a flag encouraging shipping should be allowed. Payment for vessels should be divided into equal amounts for a period of 20 years with bond against lien. Least possible amount of government restriction should be 'in- volved in charters. Suggest $125 per deadweight ton as a fair sale price. All vessel insurance should be carried by the government if pos- sible. Trade secrets must not be made public. Merchant marine development fund is poor policy as it opens the way to graft. All vessel insurance should be carried by private companies. No vessels should be used on lines that do not pay operating expenses. Ten-year payment plan seems to be the most feasible that could be devised. Vessels should be sold for cash. Charter rates should be governed by the law of supply and demand. All ships should be operated and decotad by private owners. Advisory committee should be composed of shipping men. Unless the limits of the functions of the proposed government directors are clearly defined and their powers restricted to a minimum, it might otherwise lead to abuses or favoritism, or unnecessarily hamper business with red tape. Any connections with the government must be free of political control. Transfer to foicied registry should be through the enactment of Ww IDE interest taken in THE Marine Review's ballot on 'a law and not by special government permission.. Believe American shipowners engaged in foreign trade should be permitted to hire foreign crews to compete with foreign business. Keep our merchant marine at all costs--anything that will keep our flag on the seas,is advocated. Private ownership should be under government control. Politics should be eliminated. Politics make government owner-. ship unprofitable and disastrous in every way. The United States shipping board should be disséived and the LaFollette act repealed. Let shipowners operate without seid other than maritime laws. Time of payment of vessels should depend on the trade routes in which they are engaged. Government-owned vessels citizens. Pass laws so we can sail our ships as do other nations. The federal government has legislated against the shipping interests for the past 50 years. A business policy carried out by capable and experienced business men is favored. Present laws relative to liens aré satisfactory and they should should be sold only to American not be changed. Make American registry as attractive as foreign.