The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-14

neeQeo IN inc puISuitS Oh pe1CcAuA
industry and science. Notably IL this
true Of cotton. which is urgently
needed by Germany. Austria and other
countries. But we haven't the Amer
lean ships The wants OF these coun-
tries cannot, therefore, be supplied.
nor can the necessities Of our own
distressed people In the South be re-
lieved. Neutral flags cannot be de-
pended upon for this service. They
cannot get the necessary war-risk In
surance. While Congress has estab--
lished a war-risk insurance bureau
| in the Treasury Department. we can
not, of course, insure ships not under
the American flag
| Freight Rates Sky High.
The administration spokesman then
showed In detail how ocean freight
rates have doubled, trebled and quad
rupled to the enormous cost OF Amer
| lean farmers and manufacturers. He
said:
| "The withdrawal OF the large
amount Of tonnoge-13 per cent of
the worlds total supply-has created
a great scarcity of vessels. with an
unprecedented rise in ocean freight
rates.
/ From every Atlantic and Gulf
port there comes the cry of scarcity
| of ships and exorbitant rates. Let me
cite lew conspicuous instances In
July last the rate on grain from New
York to England ports was &c to sc
per bu3lel. In Decebber it was 16c
| to tic per bushel---an increase of
about 900 per cent. To Rotterdam
the rate was 8 lac per bushel In
December it was 80 3-Sc per bushel-
an increase of about 400 per cent.
The rate on cotton from New York
| to Liverpool in July last was zoe per
! cwt. In December IL was 15c per
cwt.---an increase of 275 per cent.
The rates on cotton to Rotterdam
have increased from sl.00 to $500 per
bale, or 400 per cent In July last
the trade on cotton to Bremen was
s1.o0 per bale. In December II was
$500 per bale, or &c per pound Of
cotton"
After calling attention to the huge
/ tax imposed on American commerce
by these rate increases, Mr.. McAdoc
continued
This great sum represents a heavy
toll that has been exacted by foreign
steamship owners from American
shippers ara producers. 1t is. in ef-
feet, a penalty they are paying for
the failure of American politicians
to carry out their repeated promises
to the American people. Foreign
owners may increase their rates over
night arbitrarily--we have no power
10 prevent it--dHd we must pay inc
price or stop our shipments. Already
our commerce Is being injured ard
our prosperity Is being retarded by
the relentless hand of tribute which
lies heavily upon II. and which will
lie more heavily upon 1t with each
day that passes, because ocean fret nt
rates are still rising"
Letters from American shippers the
+ country over. impioring relief are
1u ntgH al ~
McAdoo quoted from an address de-
livered In Boston by the Ambassador
lof Argentina. DR., Naon, showing that
the merchant marine problem must be
solved If the United States is to seize
the splendid opportunity for an I'M
mediate expansion OF its trade reia-
items with South America In this
connection thc speaker asked.
Government Backing Needed.
How can we expect our enterprfs
ing men to make large capital out
lays TO produce the particular goods
required for the South Amcris an
trade, or any special trade. and 10
enter upon an active campaign to
get their share of the business. I'M
less they have the certainty IF trans
portation, n reasonable rats for
sufficient length of time to establish
the trade upon firm and profitable
basis? We must stand back OF them
| fhrC Ugh governmental action If We
want them 10 succeed. We must de-
}velop South American and other for
eign trade relations through the fun
damental OF sufficient transportation
of the right sort, just as We developed
the great West in the sixties by build
ing. with governmental aid. the trans
| continental railways. thereby adding
an empire OF territory and wealth to
our national resources. / merely re-
peat a platitudinous axiom when /
say that trade follows transportation.
American trade In foreign markets
| will follow transportation under the
American flag, and thrive as IL never
did before. The markets OF the world
are before us--~the Orient AZ we'll as
| South America Enterprise and
courage are needed to secure them"
The various plans of creating q
merchant marine are then discussed.
sides, Mr.. McAdoo pointed out has
been repeatedly rejected in Congress.
even when tho Republicans had an
! disputed control OF the presidency
and both branches OF Congress. Dis
eliminating duties In favor OF goods
lshipped in American vessels will not
work. he said, because such discrimi-
nation violates numerous existing
treaties between the United States and
l
principal and interest OF bonds issued
by private shipping corporations. he
declared, would grant the most dan
gerous sort Of subsidy. and one which
would never be approved by the
American people. To so amend the
navigation laws as to increase the
lucrative opportunities OF American
shipping corporations is not feasible.
since American sentiment Will not
permit OF a revision OF these laws
that would lower the wage scale OF
| American sailors
If Not Ship Purchase, What?
Secretary McAdoo then clinched his
+ argument thus:
IF ship subsidies cannot be OBJ
tained If discriminating duties are
| unavailable. II Government guaran-
tees Of the bonds of private corpora
tons cannot he granted: II the stand
ard of wages OF the American sailor
cannot be lowered; IL private capital
cannot. for oil or any OF these rea.
sons, be induced to build up an Amer
lean merchant marine, what is the
remedy?
THE only practicable suggestion
that has yet been made Is the shsS-
ping bill now pending in the Congress
L no ~ JNtf