The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-10

airs his complaint in report to the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor, II
would appear that the United States Is
losing out III rich market because
freight rates on American products are
so high that other commercial nations
can cross the seas with their goods and
laugh competition to scorn. Mr.. An
derson says:
In the matter of rates, here has been
almost interminable discussion. II has
been claimed by some shipping people
that rates from Europe to Brazil are
higher than rates from the United
States to Brazil. The general impress
sion has been the other way. Rates
are difficult to get at, for the published
rates are not always the rates actually
charged, Then, too, in the Brazilian
trade the evil effects OF the conference"
arrangement and the system Of giving
rebates on freight shipments are felt.
That rates will average higher from
the United States to Brazil than from
any average country to Brazil is demon
strated in the fact that the average per-
centage OF freight expenses to cost OF ar-
tieles imported into Brazil from the
United States for several years has been
higher than from any other CONNER
cial nation The official returns in
Brazil for l905-the last year for which
figures ara now available show that the
percentage. of freight, etc, to cost OF
goods from the United States was l0,-
702; from Great Britain, 1876; from
France, 9.653; from Germany, 1927;
from Austria, l0.4l5; from Belgium, 49,
S43. The average cost to American
products, therefore, is higher than that
from any OF the general competing
States. The rates from Brazil to the
United States seem to be much more
reasonable, although, considering the
amount and nature Of the freight moved,
the rates can hardly be said to be
cheap
This is condition OF affairs that con-
fronts American commerce with all the
countries of LATIN America, other than
Brazil. Maniiestly, there is no reason
why goods should not be shipped as
cheaply from New York or New Orleans
to Rio Janeiro and other South Ameri.
can ports as from Liverpool, Havre, or
Hamburg to those same ports The
open sea offers the same clear sweep to
the prows of vessels laden with the pro.
ducts of American farms, factories and
mines as it does to foreign commercial
argosies. Then where lies the cause
for higher rates?
If an investigation were undertaken it
would be seen readily that the high
freight cost is piled up before the ex-
ports reach tidewater. The American
railroads levy their toll. This toll Is
enormous. in comparison with that of
the other commercial nations whose pro-
ducts are brought to the seaboard on
canals or canalized rivers. In many
cases the European nations have devel.
oped their navigable rivers 80 that ocean
going ships can load at the wharves OF
cities lying far inland.
Until such a policy is adopted by the
United States, the farmer and mansifac-
turer Of this country may expect to see
the rich markets lying to the South held
firm in the possession Of foreign com
petitors. The National Rivers & Har.
bors Congress has pointed this out, time
and again, and has insisted for tbe last
six years that the government should
expend not less than $50000,0OO year
on this work Of intimal betterment. The
result of this campaign was seen in the
passage by the last Congress of the lar.
gest appropriation bill for rivers and
harbors work ever voted by any national
legislature.
The same fight will have to be made
with the next Congress, which convenes
in December. Congress likes to be
"shown," and unless there is a demand
for legislation it is not going to take
the initiative. To supply this spur, Cap
tain J. F. Ellison, of Cincinnati, secre-
tary and treasurer Of the organization,
is urging all interested in the question
to join and lend their support. Already
the response is said to be great.
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