El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-14
ALL PROSPERITY
BEGINS ON FARM
Congressman Alexander, Of
Missouri, Discusses PTesi-
dents Shipping Bill.

All prosperity must originate with
the farmer and that as the farm pro-
duction grows. so will the prosperity
Of the United States" declared Joshua
W Alexander. congressional reDresen-
tative OF the third Missouri district and
chairman OF the committee on merchant
marine and fisheries since the Demo
Gratis gained control of the house. Con-
gresham Alexander, accompanied by
Mrs. Alexander, is on a visit to their
son. 7 T. Alexander, 413 Grandview
avenue.
Congressman Alexander won nation
al fame as being the father Of the
shipping bill which was the subject Of
the recent filibuster i'm the senate In
urging the necessity of such LEGISLATION.
he declared that il is essential thar the
United States have facilities for AIRY
ing its products. ''foodstuffs. cotton,
minerals and so FORTH" to all part Of
the world
Z think that any law which would
rehabilitate our merchant marine
would have a good effect on the coun-
try in general" declared Mr.. Alexan-
der. Prosperity depends on our prod
uCts and If I ran a grocery store
would want to have my own delivery
wagon. About 90 percent Of our for
eiEn commerce is carried in foreign
ships We must spend from 5000. 900 600
to $500 100000 for freights with for
ElEn shipping lines IL is or the great
est Importance that we regain a part
Of that great sum for our own people.
War Is Our Chance.
With the present situation in Eu-
rope. we now have a rare opportunity
to do so. With such turmoil abroad.
European trade is almost out OF the
question, but there are South America,
South Africa and other countries where
we are putting forth stupendous efforts
to establish trade. These places must
not be overlooked.
Il attribute the defeat OF the ship
ping bill to several different influ-
ences. There were some opposing the
bill on the principle OF government
ownership The shipping interests in
control Of our coastwise trade and
such as we have in foreign commerce
and the foreign shipping interests all
opposed the bill: they don't look with
pleasure on the proEpect Of government
control Of this service. Heretofore they
have absolutely controlled ocean
freight rates
I was on the last congressional com
mittee charged with investigating the
shipping trust and its relation with the
railroads. The investigation extended
over a period Of a year and a half and
this committee recommended to con-
Eress that domestic lines. AMI foreign
lines. so far as we can control them,
be under the interstate commerce com
mission
War Caused Paralysis.
After this big war began. there was
a general paralysis Of foreign com
merce and representatives OF the United
States chamber of commerce, which
includes representatives OF practically
every chamber Of commerce in the
country. came to Washington and
asked for the passage OF what is known
as the 'ship-reEistry bill
Now the chamber Of commerce com
mlttee asked that this restriction as
to ships not being over five years old
for L s. registry should be removed
and they asked that the navigation
laws be suspended so that the watch Of
ficers on any transferred boats might
retain their positions and have tine
TO take out citizenship papers In this
country
The ship registry law same into
effect August Is. II was expected that
this legislation would bring many for
eisn vessels under our flag
War Risk Insurance
Great Britain, France and Germany
then began issuing war risk insurance
and the committee came back with the
plea that II was necessary that our
government should make some provis-
ion OF that kind as the United States
insurance companies were unable 70
DO so and the English companies would
write war risks only on the ships Of
English concerns A bill was then in
reduced in the house creating the war
risk bureau and this bill became law in
September. The war risk board was
treated and its work has been both
beneficial and helpful. OF course we
lost two ships that were dynamited in
the North sea. but the earnings have
been far in excess Of the liability.
The committee came back again /
md wanted TO buy ships. place them
under the L s flag and engage in for
aign commerce We had passed the I
ship registry bill, suspended the Hmita-
lion on the age Of ships. created the !
war risk bureau and other things and /
the president thought that II the gov
eminent had to do the whole thing, I
then the government through a ship I
ping board. should purchase the ships /
and operate them directly or lease them I
10 others. retaining supervision and /
regulating the rates.
Bill Is Drawn.
After a consultation with the advis- |