1730                             Joint Resolutions

facilities and labor personnel required for the protection of this
country in the event of even a limited emergency.

(5) The Government of the United States should set up a major

maritime research center to insure that U.S. shipyards shall have
the benefit of technological advice and consultation, which almost
every other country in the world provides to its nationals, and which
we lack. The program for research should receive strong and im-
mediate support so that its findings may be used to maximum ad-
vantage in the replacement of our present merchant marine;

(6) Transportation of all Government aid cargoes should be on
American-flag ships, because of the failure of previous administra-
tions to implement the 50-50 cargo preference law, and the necessity
of conserving our dollar balances.

(7) Our coastwise and intercostal shipping, the backbone of our
country in case of a national emergency, should be strengthened.
The American flag tramp fleet should be restored, whether by means
of Government cargo, trade in for newer and more efficient vessels

in the reserve fleet at low interest rates with longer years to pay,

or some other form of Government subsidization which will enable
this fleet to stay in business.

(8) A policy should be adopted in the interests of constructing
the most advanced design vessels in American yards to keep the
technology of American shipyard workers at a peak, and construc-
tion for Government commercially practical prototype vessels
of advanced design as a means of determining the feasibility of new
developments.

(9) A second nuclear power propelled merchant vessel should be
constructed after development of new improved nuclear propulsion
machinery.

(10) The group of six cargo vessels called for by the Walrus Re-

port recommendations should be constructed, incorporating speeds
in excess of 20 knots, unitized cargo handling and partial automa-
tion of operation.

(11) The 87th Congress should repeal the extension of the re-
placement life of vessels beyond their designed 20 year life. This
practice accelerates the cost of of maintenance and repair, and fre-
quently overcomes the apparent savings and capital costs.

(12)  Above all, this Administration must recognize the necessity
for an adequate American flag merchant fleet on a soundly planned
long range basis which will minimize the cost of ever recurrent in-
dustry crises, and maximize the productivity and initiative of our
skilled labor force and management; and, be it further

Resolved, That fee Maryland Representatives and Senators in the
United States Congress use their good offices to propose the neces-
sary legislation to implement this program; and be it further

WHEREAS, THIS INDUSTRY IS PRESENTLY DEPRESSED,
AND IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL NEW CONSTRUCTION AS
WELL AS SHIP REPAIR WORK; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, THAT THE MARYLAND REPRESENTATIVES