The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-06-09

Ill Tie Idut II 4
which the American coastwise vessels
engage.
Is 1T not clear under these circum-
stances. when they both use the canal
IN reaching their destination. the Law
which this bill repeats will inevitably
"'rk d discrimination against the |
merchandise in the foreign vessel and
IN favor Of h merchandise in the
domestic vessel?
Let me illustrate with a concrete
example which will be of EVERYDAY
occurrence and which will show the |
result l have indicated:
When the canal is opened the Pa
cine coast will buy it's coal, let US saw.
either from Wales or from some Al
lantlc coast port Of the United States?
II from Wales it will have to be trans
ported in a foreign vessel or in an
American oversee vessel which. like
a foreign vessel, will be required TO
pay tolls. If shipped from our At
lantic coast, say Baltimore or Norfolk.
II Will nave to be transported in an
American coastwise vessel. Both of
these vessels will have to pass through
the canal-the n from Wales will
pay tolls and the one from Baltimore
or Norfolk will pay no tolls. Their
Of coal will be sold in San
francisco or some other Pacific port
Of the United States-the one bur
ChC III Tie OlnCT not DurOonoO
with a charge for passing through the
canal, at h rate of s1.2O per net
registered ton.
This illustration makes it clear that
the fact that foreign vessels cannot
engage in our cOaStWiSe trade is i'm
material in so far as competition at
the place of sale upon the other coast
OF TINS country is concerned. and
therefore that exemption of our coast
yIy1Cn 0CCa1o f~nxo III -s1l
much a discrimination against for
eign vessels trading in these ports in
coal as would be a similar exemption
of u Vessels trading in coal G, gagged
in oversee trade.
This is exactly what the statement
of the British charge d~'affaires, Mr. A.
Mitchell Innes, meant in his letter of
July Is, 1912-a detached excerpt of
which has been quoted by Senators so
8 to give it a meaning the very re-
rse of which the full text imports
hen he said: 1T appears to my Gov
that it would he impossible
to frame" that is, for the Government
Of the United States to frame, "regu-
lations which would prevent the eX-
emption" of United States coastwise
vessels from resulting, in fact. ir
preference to United States shipping
and consequently in An infractiOn OF
the treaty"
1t is exactly what Sir Edward Grey
Of the British foreign office, meant ir
his letter to Mr.. Knox, our former
Secretary of State. when he said tha'
"coastwise,' meaning American coast.
wise, trade cannot be circumscribe(
SO completely that the benefits con
ferred upon it will not affect vessel:
engaged in the foreign trade, an(
thereby constitute a discrimination il
plain ~contravention of the provision:
of the treaty"
Situation of Seriousness.
In order to press home the serious
ness of the situation with respect t
our trade relations, especially with on
r continental neighbOrS to the north an
E to the south, which will inevitably re
: suit from the proposed discrimination
r ana rates, it is only necessary to con
traSt the present conditions OF tranSl
from coast to coast of this cOntlnen
s with the conditions which will exis
: when the canal is opened, unless tn
bill under considerations is passed
Under present conditions the Pacifi
@ coast trade of the United States; Q
t Canada, and of South n Contra
S America is upon q basis Of absolut
equality SO far as transit across tn
continent is concerned, whether tina
s transit be by the T~ehuantepec rout
or by the Panama Railroad or aroun
y the Horn. This is true not only wit
e respect to European traffic but 1t
e equally true with respect to the train
# of these Pacific coast countries wit
r the Atlantic ports of the United state:
IS Under present conditions the Al
lantic coast traffic of the Unite
# States, of Canada. and of South an
Central America, with the Orient an
the Pacific ports of the United State
j. is likewise upon terms of abSolut
equality. so far as transit across tn
continent is concerned, by either {
the three presently available routes.
20 When the canal is opened, whethe
Ie that event occurs this year, next yea
# or later. his situation would I
changed and the present CONDITION
Of equality will cease =,
Does anyone believe tina our nelSi
n bors to the north and to the south WI
il view with c~omplacency the dlscrim
!; na+orv conditions following the OpeI
m ING of the canal, which | have q