Evening journal., 1905-11-09
CONTEST BETWEEN
TAFT AND SHIPPING
Maritime Interests Want
Coastwise Laws Extended
to the Philippines
PLAN 70 POSTPONE is OPPOSED
Rr william WoIH smlth.

After years OF struggle for recognition
the American ship-owners finally
secured from Congress an act extend-
tng the coastwise shipping laws 20
the Philippines This was bitterly con-
tested by a combination of cordage
manufacturers, who. not content with
rebate of $3.50 per ton on hemp which
is charged as an export duty on all
hemp exported from the Philippines to
other countries. the United states alone
being exempt. maintained that they
could not compete with foreign manu-
facturers unless they were able TO Inn
port their hemp ia tramp steamers
operated under a foreign flag.
Secretary Taft adopted their view Of
the case and finally obtained a post
ponement OF the date ON which the law
should take eject from July I. 1905 until
July /, 1905. Now the plea is advanced
that American shipping Will not be
available IN sufficient tonnage TO handle
the Philippine export trade on July lst
Of next year. and therefore the time
should be extended from July 1, 1905.
to July /. 1909
Mr.. Alexander r. Smith Of New
York, formerly superintendent OF the
Maritime Exchange Of that city, and
now commissioner OF the Merchant
Marine League OF the United States,
with headquarters IN Cleveland, ohio,
is in Washington, and takes issue with
Secretary Taft and predicts that his
efforts TO have the time extended will
be bitterly opposed by the maritime in
terests Of this country. Mr.. Smith has
just returned from an extensive trip
through the New England states and
win make a tour Of the South before
Congress opens, In the interest Of his
organization.
T COMMISSIONER SMITHS FEARS.
American vessel owners" said Mr..
Smith, "are keenly alive to the danger
to their interests which is threatened
by Secretary OF War Tafts announced
intention TO secure postponement
until 1909 OF the extension of our coast
wise laws to the Philippines "Secre-
tary Taft continued Mr.. Smith. who
Is an expert on American shipping af-
fairs, claims that there are not enough
American vessels available TO do oui
carrying to the Philippines. Doubtless
he believes this; nevertheless it is not
so. as there are many more vessels now
available for that carrying than there
is business for them to do. Secretary
Taft, or any other person who mas
seek the proof OF this assertion from
the only source that proof is possible
American vessel owners-can readily
obtain it in convincing abundance. Blu
the trouble is, Secretary Taft gets hi
information through sources that ar
, hostile to American shipping and a.
believes it.
All of the foreign business of the Phil
ippines is today controlled by foreigner
chiefly BOrlishmen. They have thei
agencies. their banks, their ships AM
every accessory to trade and they ar
determined to hold IT. They have way
Of having the matter so presented t.
the secretary that he believes what hl
Is told. American vessel owners arr
not IN his confidence and have no wa,
of getting him to realize facts as they
; exist But an American Congress stands
between these hostile foreign influences
and American vessel owners and tbs
latter are content to present their fact.
before that tribunal and then they viii
be glad to have those who are insid
iousyl opposing them forced to th'
open
4 personally know Of American cor
{ ready and eager to establish Americas
lines of steamships TO run from ou
Atlantic posts to the Philippines. A
a matter of fact, there is now enough
, trade at present between the United
b states and the Philippines to keep evel
a single American line busy. But thes
Americans who want to establisl
American lines In trade do not conside
! so much the immediate trade as tn
: future and greater trade that will fol
low the establishment of free trad
between the United states and thos
distant possessions the same as nov
T exist between the United States am
+ all of its other insular possessions
5 Such lines would be powerful factor
, In bringing about free trade betweei
the Philippines and the United States
T a fact that Secretary Taft seems t
have quite overlooked. The foreigner
1 now have that carrying and they wan
J to keep it. 1t remains to be seen," n
] continued. whether Congress wi
D legislate for foreign or for America
ships in respect to our Philippine trade
5 For my part 1 believe It viii legislat
for Americans.
BLAAIES SECRETARY TAFT
Secretary Taft IS also quoted a
saying that no new American vessel
s have been built for this trade since tn
: lave was passed last year. But who
to blame for that? Not Americans VIII
=, are anxious and ready to establish line
TO the Philippines. nor American ship
builders most of whose shipyards ar
idle. Secretary Taft himself is the caus
of it. He has, ever since the law ne
serving our trade with the Philippine
e to American vessels first passed. thre
p years ago. persistently. advocated it
pOstponement till 1909. He has sue
n ceeded in having it postponed once an
is quoted as threatening to do so agair
v if he can. In the face of this threa
are Americans going to put millions q
. dollars into ships, only to face los
IL Secretary Taft succeeds in his ei
forts? What would have happened
a line Of American steamships bull
and ready for our Philippine trade /
% 1904 Its owners would have bee
=. ruined.
2 suppose a fleet should be built 70
that trade nov 10 be ready in 190
when the law giving the trade
y American vessels goes into effect?
Secretary Taft succeeded i'm having IL
application postponed until 1909 tina
line would be ruined. OF course, Amer
can capital in the face of such powerfl
hostility as Secretary Tafts combine
with the foreign shipping interests VIII
. are scheming to hold the carrying.
a.. .-,-t...o fIsf,. t.f.r. a.. 10