The San Francisco call., 1904-10-29
MAKE THIS A FREER PORT.

THE eyes commercial upon Pacific
either greater interest in the
pected expansion of than San Francisco We listen
by public public enthusiastic expe
aon will San Francisco the lead that she has,
maintain ii against rivals in the future
This city needs only ships for deep trade but she
needs eer opportunity ship owning port to the end that she
may get 1ul credit Tor her position as maritime CITY Inc laws
of State unrendy this ambition of its chief city The
xacon of State and municipal from ships owned and
stered here relic of primitive times that should be abolished
The equities taxation that benefits should with bur
to discharge and take cargo They are not like buildings which
the benefit of police and fire protection for they
possible ae water S "e "ns's sue" p'0'ee0n mn
The subject of coming California
with which politicians and the Legislature reckon When
ready for consideration the Legislature will be in order
propose the relief of deep shipping from the
and unrequied exaction imposed by local taxation
Ships have pay for wharf dock privileges These
have built the build of upon
which the people the coming election OF this
home port compelled pay municipal other
municipal purposes of which the of things they make
USE exacton is restraint trade and an burden upon
If tables turned the buildings realty
and personally of the city taxed build the seawa and ships
given the berths wharves
there would up protest from the city taxpayers that would
in the Legislature Yet system
be unjust than that to which ships subjected for mun
cpal needs of which they make
Other maritime States far advance of this in the
OF taxation for they ships while them The
result that but few of the ships that trade make this their
their home port American ships under flag They have to
compete with foreign ships which State municipal
all lhe American ships
their while foreign ships do the OF this
They ship cheaper elsewhere from cabin boy AT
their home port they pay the local that American ships
pay here In these facts may found of the for the
decline of American shipping The local imposed
heavy fine and penalty for flying the American flag While
the blameworty this of taxation also
that Federal burdens imposed upon American shipping San
imposed New York and other ports
the Atlantic seaboard
There lack of cooperation in facilitating be-
the Federal here and ship Notably is this
dispatch of mails Ships detained beyond sailing
hours by this failure the need of getting
of port In New York mail clerk detailed for service
the dock mall order that the sacks be closed in
This enables banks and commission and exporters
get follow bills of ladng the
merchandise without delaying beyond
sailing hour.
There other respects IN which the touch OF the Fed
eal authority with shipping interests be improved but the
should the correction of these
should make this
relieving them OF the heavy State and local by
which they punished for flying the American flag If this
the ships that make this their home port will be
fewer number for they pay their and with
foreign ships that have ALL
We ask the attention of the merchants of this city and the
business of this State this condition The prosperous and
successful maritime States do impose these burdens Can
seagong trade be expected prosper it be compelled
them?