The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-02
COMMERCE BOARD TO
RULE SHIPPING TRUST
House Committee Will File Re-
port Urging Regulation
Of Agreements.
NOT TO BREAK UP POOLS
Plan Is TO Prevent Rate Wars
and q Consolidation
Of interests.

recommendations for legislation giving
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Jurisdiction over agreements in operation
between foreign and domestic steamship
interests are Incorporated In q report that
will be nled In tho House tomorrow by
the Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries. The report deals In the main
with the so-cailed shipping trust composed
OF various steamship ''pools' that have
been under nre In Congress for many
years.
The programme Of legislation to b SUBJ
mitted does not propose that confer
ences" In which steamship rates are fixed
ard routes mapped out shall be broken up.
The statement Is made In the report
that the committee concluded to recognise
agreements and conferences among car
riers In the foreign trade II the same are
brought under some form of effective
Government supervision. The committee
recommends that such agreements DO
made subject to approval or disapproval
by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Committec's Conclusion.
open competition canrot be assured
for any length Of time by ordering
existing agreements terminated" says the
report such terminating would either
cause the lines to engage In rate wars.
which would inevitably result In tho sur
vival OF the httest or to avoid a costly
struggle they would consolidate through
common ownership. For this reason the
| committee felt that effective Government
| supervision Is the only effective means Of
eliminating abuse.
Relative to the foreign trade II Is the
almost universal practice for steamship
lines both on the inbound and outbound
voyage to operate under agreements ana
conferences, and to make arrangements
which have for their purpose control Of
competition between the conference lines
or between them and non-conferenc..
hines
with reference to the domestic trade
| the facts show that competition In rates
between steamship lines had been as effec-
lively eliminated az in the foreign trade"
| The recommendations OF the committee
! for legislation bearing on the foreign
! trade may be summarized as follows:
What all agreements and understand ing g
| between navigation companies or between
suoh companies and railroads or shippers
BE- filed with the Interstate Commerce
Commission for approval or disapproval.
! That the commission be empowered 10
investigate complaints charging unreason-
ableness OF rates with power to order
rates changed II they be found unreason-
able.
! That rebating In all It's forms be pro-
! hibited.
That the commission be empowered 70
investigate complaints charging unfair
treatment IN the matter OF cargo spacs,
and other facilities with power 20 order
the discontinuance OF the practices.
| The Donsestic Trade.
| The above recommendations pertaining
| TO foreign carriers also apply 10 carriers
IN the domestic trade.
/ That the Jurisdiction OF the Interstate
! Commerce Commission be extended to in
terstate port TO port traf'ic, with full power
to regulat. rates and determine maximum
| charges.
That water carriers, II cutting rates to
! drive out competitor. be denied the privi-
ieges OF restoring rates.
That all traffic associations or confer
ences. whether pertaining TO through rail
and water transportation or 20 port to
port traffic only, be brought under the
supervision Of the commission.
That tho railroads and water carriers
be required to issue through bills OF lad
ing to all Interstate water carriers that
meet such conditions OF quality and regu-
! larity OF service as the commission may
consider reasonable.
Tint representatives be required to &C.
count separately to the commission FOR
the income and expenses OF Interstate
water lines owned and controlled by them.
| That railroads be required to make
their terminal facilities available to water
carriers on equal terms and under such
reasonable conditions as the commission
may prescribe.
That there should be legislation pro-
y,ding for equal treatment 20 all ship
pers and water carriers by transfer and
liehterage concerns when forming a link
in Interstate or foreign commerce.
That all interstate traffic on canals
he placed under the supervision OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
CHAIRMAN Alexander and his associates
on the House committee are hopeful that
the legislation proposed will be enacted
NJ this session.