The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-22
SHIP OWNERS
WANT A BOUNTY
Talk of Extending Coasiwise
Laws to the Philippines.
SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING
SHIPPERS FEAR INCREASE IN
FREIGHT RATES.

Washington, Jan, H,-The senate CON-
mittee on Philippines gave a hearing to-
day on Senator Frye's bill extending the
coastwise laws Of the United States TO
the trade with the Philippine islands 50
that all commerce between the islands
and the United states shall be carried by
American vessels,
A. p LOTing, president of the Plymouth
COrdage company. OF Plymouth. Mass.
said American vessels should be given
the business between the United States
and the Philippine islands as soon as
they are prepared TO take care Of IT, he
asked thst the time the bill take effect
be extended to April H. 1903, when the
Spanish ships lose their right, under the
treaty with Spain. to engage in ne Philip
pine trade on a par with American steam
ships. He thought by that time compe-
titi0n between American vessels would
be sufficient 10 carry on the TRACE WITH
out resulting in material advance IN
freight rates. He said he was Willing the
bill should pass If it did not result IN an
increase Of more than . per cent over
the present freight rates.
Effect on Irvine Industry.
It was brought out that the eastern
cOFdage manufa ctuTers fear the passage
OF the bill would build up the Irvine man
ufacturing on the coast and wreck eastern
industries. 1t developed that the present
freight rates on Manila hemp amount 10
about 46 cents per 100 pounds, and It was
estimated by manufacturers that the
would be advanced fully 81 per 1oG pounds
Under these conditions they represented
that the trade IN hemp would return TO
London, where 1t centered prior to the
opening of the Philippine ports
Mr.. JOring and Edwin Metcalf of Au-
burn, y. Y, president Of the Columbian
Rope company, both declared that they
did not believe there were enough Amerl-
can vessels plying between Atlantic
coast ports and the Philippines to take
care of the cOrdage business.
Would Not Help Manufacturers.
G. f. Holmes, treasurer and general
manager of the Plymouth COTdage COM
pany, explained the expectation of bind
ing Irvine and declared the duty on i'm
DOrtatiOns does not in any way assist the
manufacturers. as they export to the only
countries that could in any way enter
into competition with them.
The Plymouth and Columbian COrdage
companies through their representatives.
told the committee they would agree to
enter into contracts with American snip
ping companies 10 pay 10 per cent IN
crease over the present freight rates paid
TO foreign shippers for 10000 tons OF
Manila hemp per year. The Plymouth
be contribution of $l25o0 a year from
their company alone as subsidy 10
American ships.
Shipping Interests Heard.
Mr.. Lodge announced that the shipping
interests would be heard next
When the committee recOnvened Mr..
Built of Philadelphia said the shipping
between the United States and the Phil
ippines was now confined almost exciu-
siVeiy TO tramp steamers. The cost of
operating foreign vessels was so much
less than operating American vessels that
he believed il would be necessary to pay
a bounty to American vessels engaged in
the Philippine trade.
Winthrop T. Marvin Of Boston. repre-
senting the combined shipping interests,
said there were enough American ShipS
to transact the Philippine business he
said the French subsidy was responsible
for the low rate made by French vessels
between Hawaii and San Francisco.
Monopoly Feature.
Senator CuIbersOn asked what restraint
there would be on American vessels if
this law was passed and a monopoly Gre
ated.
Mr Sewau of Maine thought the com
petition between American vessels and
American vessels operated in connection
with trans-Anerican railroads would pre-
vent excessive rates under any possible
American shipping monopoly.
James Jerome and Edgar = Lucken-
bach Of New York spoke Of the number
cIaring that American vesssis were lying
idle because of inability to compete with
foreign ships. George s. Dearborn, pres
ident of the AmericaR-Hawsiian Steam
shin company, said his vessels were ready
for either the Atlantic or the Pacific
business.
Henry W. Peabody of Boston said that
the bill menaced the existing commerce
Of the Atlantic coast.