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struction of facilities used by shallow-draft vessels on inland and intracoastal waterways of the United States. Current pro- posals would also greatly increase fuel taxes effective October 1, 1981, before consideration can be given to a study on the impact of waterway user taxes required by the 1978 legislation (Public Law 95-502) for report to the Congress by September 30, 1981. The Club notes that, except for the 1978 inland waterway legis- lation, U.S. Army Corps of En- gineers services have been ren- dered without user taxes or other charges for the benefit of all the public, serving boating, fishing, recreation, flood control, water supply, erosion containment, pol- lution prevention, and environ- mental control purposes. Impos- ing such costs exclusively on one specific user to the exclusion of other modes of transportation which also benefit therefrom is grossly unfair, this Position states. The Propeller Club considers that cost-recovery proposals now being advanced by the Adminis- tration discriminate against the most effective commodity trans- port service offered to the Amer- ican consumer. The applicability of such a process to U.S. Coast Guard cost-recovery schemes would be equally discriminatory in nature. Any transfer of taxing authority to local port authori- ties for cost-recovery purposes for port "improvements" would raise important questions of con- stitutionality, according to this Position. The 10th and final Position con- cerns sustaining the provisions of the Jones Act and our other cabotage laws. The Propeller Club fully supports Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, (pop- ularly called the Jones Act) and all other existing cabotage pro- visions of U.S. law which man- date the exclusive construction and operation of U.S.-flag ships in our domestic commerce and op- poses any attempt to abandon or weaken the full effect of such laws upon our domestic welfare and national security. The Club does not oppose the traditionally conservative granting of waivers from our cabotage laws but con- siders that such waivers, whether granted in the form of adminis- trative actions, or as legislative exemptions, should be allowed only on a temporary basis and onlv upon a clear showing- that such action is necessary in the interest of national defense. CALENDAR OF EVENTS The Propeller Club of the United States Milton H. Leubecker, President, Pro- peller Club of Baltimore 9:45 a.m. First Convention Business Meeting Presiding: National President Wolter 10:30 a.m. Conference Opening Presiding: Thomas J. Murphy Jr., Con ference Chairman Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Walter B. Jones, Chairman, Com- mittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, U.S. House of Repre- sentatives 12:00 noon Port of Baltimore Luncheon Presiding: Milton H. Leubecker, Pres- ident, Propeller Club of Baltimore Introduction: The Honorable Barbara A. Mikulski, Committee on Mer- chant Marine and Fisheries, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker: Edwin M. Hood, President, Shipbuilders Council of America 2:00 p.m. First Conference Session Presiding: Conference Chairman Murphy Conference Panel: "The U.S. Mer- chant Marine—Essential Compo- nent of Military Requirements" Moderator: Adm. James L. Holloway III, USN (Ret.), president, Council of American-Flag Ship Operators Panelists: "Our Merchant Fleet — Inadequate Lifeline For Our Rapid Deployment Force," Adm. James D. Watkins, USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet "What Is The Merchant Marine's Role In National Seapower Expansion?," Vice Adm. Kent J. Carroll, USN. Commander, Military Sealift Com- mHnd "Merchant Marine Manpower — A Shrinking National Asset," Capt. Robert J. Lowen, president, Inter- national Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (continued on page 32) No bank knows marine financing like Continental. The Shipping Bank. Whatever your marine business—inland shipping, intercoastal, ocean-going or offshore supply—Continental Bank has the resources to finance your equipment needs. Our ability to commit these resources, along with our industry experience, puts us in a special position to serve. We offer every type of financing, including interim construction, intermediate term, leasing, as well as cash management and the placement of Title XI bonds. For more information, call Mel Marini at (312)828-8184. CONTINENTAL BANK Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago Argentina - Australia - Austria • Bahamas • Bahrain • Belgium - Brazil - Canada • Chile - Colombia • France - Greece Hong Kong - Indonesia • Italy • Japan - Kenya • Korea - Lebanon • Mexico • The Netherlands • Nigeria The Philippines - Puerto Rico - Singapore • Spain • Switzerland • Taiwan • Thailand • United Kingdom • Venezuela • West Germany United States • Chicago • Cleveland • Dallas - Denver • Houston - Los Angeles Miami • New York - San Francisco • Seattle PROPELLER CLUB 1981 CONVENTION AND CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14 9:00 a.m. Convening of the Convention Presiding: William J. Detweiler, Gen- eral Convention Chairman Welcomes: The Honorable William D. Schaefer Jr., Mayor of Baltimore William J. Wolter, National President, September 15, 1981 Write 292 on Reader Service Card 31