The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-06-03
REGULATING FREIGHT RATES.

The Journal recently received docu-
ment from Rome, Italy-one of peace
full nature-from the Institute Inter-
national D. Agriculture" on ''steadying
the worlds price of the staples" In an
Introductory Note it is said:
The great shipping trusts that now
control the ocean traffic of the world. by
raising or lowering the cost of carriage
''from day to day." and from hour to
hour" may exercise a power greater
than that possessed by any or all the
rulers of the world. The conditions un-
der which they work, conditions which
make it possible to force the price OF
the staples up or down at will, enable
them, indirectly, to exercise economic
and political power and pressure more
subtle and more effective than that ex-
ercised through diplomatic and military
channels.
Congress has passed a resolution pro-
posing an International Commerce Com
mission as means of bringing about an
equilibrium of power on basis of equity,
an equilibrium between the various forces
which come into play in determining the
worlds price of the staples, and this
proposition was discussed by the Interna-
tional Institute of Agriculture in Rome
May 9th. Among other statements
was one from the master of the Penn
sylvania State Grange, and others from a
representative of the State Oranges of
Kentucky, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Washing
ington. Mr.. Cressey, master of the
Pennsylvania State Grange, thought that
if it was "a good thing for the country
to regulate freight rates within the
United States, it is equally important to
regulate ocean freight rates." After
discussion the following resolutions OF
Congress, presented by Mr.. Lubin, dele
gate of the United States, were una j.
mously adopted:
Joint resolution instructing the Amer-
can delegate to the International insti~
tute of Agriculture to present to the
Permanent Committee for action at the
General Assembly in 1915 certain reso-
buttons.
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, that in
accordance with the authority of letter
~ of article nine of the treaty estab-
8ishing the Institute which provides that
it "shall submit to the approval of the
Governments, if there be need, measures
for the protection of the common inter-
ests of farmers" the American delegate
40 bo Int of
culture is hereby instructed to present
curing the 1914 fall sessions) to the
Permanent Committee the following
resolutions to the end that they may be
submitted for action at the General As
sembly in 1915, SO as to permit the pro-
posed conference to be held in Rome
during the fortnight preceding the ses-
sion of the General Assembly of the In
stitute in 1917;
Resolutions. The General Assembly
instructs the International Institute of
Agriculture to invite the adhering Gov
ernments to participate in an interna-
tional conference on the subject of
steadying the worlds price of the sta
piles.
This conference shall consist of me1n-
bers appointed by each of the Govern
ments adhering to the Institute and is to
consider the advisability of formulating
a convention for the establishment of a
permanent International Commerce Com
mission on Merchant Marine and Ocean
Freight Rates with consultative, DELHI
erative and advisory powers.
Said conference to be held in Rome
during the fortnight preceding the ses-
sion of the General Assembly of the In
stitute in 1917. =.
But who can tell what may happen in
the two years before this conference is
TO be held?