The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-01-28
D. S.COMMERCE AT
MERCY OF FOREIGN
MERCHANT FLEETS
RedfieId and MGAdoo Show How
Increase In Ocean Rates Is
Robbinq America of
War Benefits.
MUST HAVE OWN VESSELS
Farmers and Manufacturers
Bear Burden-Assail Argu-
ment of Opponents of
Ship Purchase Bill.

Washington. Jan. 26.-Evidence
extraordinary advances in trans
Atlantic freight rates since the out
break of the European war, amounting
In some instances to 900 and even 1000
per cent, was presented to the Senate
today in joint report from Secretaries
McAdoo and Redfeld
while this report is being written"
the statement says. information is re-
ceived that rates are higher than
those given in some of the tables pre-
scented, and that even at these extra
ordinary figures, it is difficult to OBJ
tain cargo space for earlier saillnEH
than March and April"
How Rates Have Advanced.
The report contains numerous tables
American to European ports, and sum
marizes the principal advances since
August l last, as follows:
New York to Rotterdam on grasa,
900 per cent; on -four, 500 per cent; On
cotton, 700 per cent
New York to Liverpool on the same
commodities, from 800 to 500 per cent.
Galveston to Liverpool. on grain,
ia per cent; on cotton 361 per cent;
TO Bremen, on cotton, 1851 to 1,150 per
cent"
The report declares that in one year,
II the American exports maintain the
December, 1914, level the increased
rates will make a charge of $216,
224,400 on American shippers, and
that IL the imports included on the
same basis of calculation the amount
would reach the sum of $311, 1854, 400, or
141.6 per cent over the usual cost. If
normal rates are taken in conjunction
with the abnormal on the December
basis, the freight charge on both eX-
ports and imports in a year would
make the grand total Of 1882, 10, 900.
Business Men Appeal.
The report contains scores of letters
from business men over the country
declaring their inability to get bottoms
for their freight and charging dis
elimination, by such carriers as are IN
business against freight that pays I
low rate and the breaking of contracts
by at least one of the big trans At
lantic steamship companies.
The report contains also letter from
the Panama Railroad company which
says:
"Our stock (of coaD has been re-
duced from 10000 to 10000 tons. and
both the Earn line and our company
are securing the charter market in the
effort to secure sufficient tonnage to
carry to the isthmus the amount of coal
II is imperative we should keep there"
Farmer Hardest Hit.
ut will be observed" says the re-
port, that the greatest increases in
rates and the heaviest tax has been
made upon the products in which the
American farmer is most concerned.
namely. grain and cotton.
The government has no power to
control or regulate ocean freight rates.
The steamship owners can increase
rates without notice and upon the in
slant and our business men are help
less. They are seriously checking out
foreign trade and in some cases, suvh
as lumber and coal are stopping it al
together"
Who Would Be Affected.
The report concludes with an argu-
n1ent in favor of the ship purchase bill,
in which the Senate is reminded that
such unusual freight charges. if con-
tinued. may result in creating big
balance Of trade against this nation. II
points out that OF American ships in all
trade worth about $500 10000 the
bureau of naViga ton says that only
ships valued at $69,000.O00 are in the
foreign trade. BY some the argument
Is made, the report says, that the gov-
eminent should not do anything Ia
cause competition with this $4,000. 00l
of private capital invested in ships. all
though foreign trade is left thereby
entirely at the mercy of foreign ship
ping interests and the relatively small
In ships engaged in the foreign trade.T
The nations combined exports and
imports for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1914, the report says, totaled $3.50
464,525.
Who Has First Claim.
TT may well be asked" it continues,
(which of these interests Is entitled to
the superior consideration Of the gov
eminent, the farmers and producers OF
the great grain states of the west and
the farmers and producers of the great
cotton and tobacco states of the south,
the merchants. manufacturers and
business men throughout the entire
country. whose combined activities rep
resent our vast trade or the owners OF
the comparatively few American
steamships engaged in the foreign
trade, whose aggregate investment Is
approximately $69,000,000.
There would seem to he but one an
swer and that is that it would pay
Us many times over the invest the $40.
COZ, 900 as provided in the shipping bill
in an American merchant marine and
bring about as quickly as possible q
restoration of normal ocean freight
rates, with saving to American bust
ness OF more than 5000. 900, 900 annu-
ally"
Can Get the Ships.
The report says assurance has been
given that many ships suitable for the
purpose can be promptly obtained. 1t
continues;
1T is not true. as alleged in some
quarters, that only ships of German
registry can be purchased. We do not
know whether any of the German Ves-
sells interned in our ports can be Sc
cured, or would be desirable, but we
are convinced that suitable ships OF
various foreign registry are available
If the means for purchasing them are
provided. There is attached to this re-
port list of ships offered by the Mer-
chant Marine agency. Boston, Mass,
from which it will be seen that there
are Is ships of English registry and
seven Of German registry which 1t pro-
poses TO sell. Other ships are obtain
able"