The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-19
NEW YORK MEN ASK
SHIP BILL CHANGE
File Protests to Curtail Pow.
ers Of Rate Fixing
Board.
FRANKLIN WARNS Z. 3.

wAsHiroroN, April 1s.-Protests
against the comforting OF authority on
the proposed shipping board to regulate
rates for ocean carriers were filed to-day
before the House Committee III Merchant
Marine by n committee from t. mer-
chant marine committee Of the Now York
Chamber Of Commerce.
Several OF the witnesses. including
~shipowners, said that tho imposition Of
additional burdens on the shipping In
dustry at the present tine would not
only work a Hardship but would retard
development. They said Rlso that rates
could not be eduitably fxed and that
the Disadvantages resulting from the
supervisory activity of = shipping board
would AFFECT the shipper rather tha the
shipowners as soon as normal conditions
In tho industry have been restored.
Irving T. Bush. chairman OF the New
York committee, said the proposal ~ give
the shipping board The rate regulating
authority was having q bad effect on thu
investment OF capita, in the shipping
business and that projects for financing
enterprises Of this sort were bcing held
In allegiance until the legislative outlook
cleared. The New York committee pro-
posed a number Of changes in the bill
tending to curtaii the authority OF the
proposed shipping boSrd.
steamship Co.'S Protest.
O. S. Dearborn. president Of the Amer
ican.Hawaiian steamship Company. op-
posed the rate making power Of the
BOARD.
The water carriers" he said. ARE
quite different from railroads. Such a
practice would make the business OF
water carriers unwurkable. They would
be- disposed to quit the United states and
seek carsoes elsewhere Resides. the
tramp teamer Is the best regulating
agent we have.
Less legislation and not more" he
added. rs necessary for the continued
development Uf our merchant marine.
which is now going on rapidly. as evi.
depccd by the building of ships. We
have been hoping FOR a mer.. ant marine
ard II has come. We have JUS, built
three ships and arc considering buildipp
two more. The Grace IL build.
ing four and the. are "a great many
oceingoing ships being bull, on the lakes
Capital Is going Int" the business. blu,
1t is felt that tlis bill. is a menace
As long as I have been on This com.
mittee." replied Chairman Alexander,
'Theie has not been "a time when we
have not heard Of this menace and
spooks OF that kind. It's "a stock objcc.
ton
]. Parker k!rkiin suggested Il nigh,
be considered presumptuous for one
nation TO assume "A knowledge OF trade
on tho basis Of which IL proposed
10 impose IT, regulations on the expor,
trade OF another nation.
Commerce he said. has two ends
] believe II II IN" consensus OF ship.
owners and shippers. not In New YORK
alone. h ony regulation imposed or
shipping at present will rcae. against the
shippers in the end. Some one mus,
pay the expense Of this kind. Moreover
the tonnage will go where the business ID
most attractive"
VIII Frighten Foreign Trade.
The business OF the proposed board
said +. A. 5. Franklin, receiver for tbs
International Mercantile Marine, "Ahoul,
be principally to adjust grievances b-.
tween shippers and shipown-rs. no, tc
NIX rates. Inc regulatory CLAUSE VII
Brighten foreign shipping ava from
American por's. Conditions are suct
that no board can adjust rates fairly
They are constantly changing. sometime,
two or three times IA day.
III you put a burden upon the sh'pl
OF foreign countries they will no, com,
here. The very fact that you have 4
rate adjusting board will drive them e
other ports"
Mr.. Franklin suggested tina tn,
boards powers be confined to the lnau
gurstion OF invest!gation only upor
sworn complaint. Chairman Alcxandei
insisted that the board shouid be abb,
to proceed on is own Initiative.
Questions framed by members OF tn,
House committee to-day indicated
very strong sentiment in favor OF the bill
as II stands. The contention was mad,
In defence OF the measur that II rate
for ocean transportation car be hxe'
by conference agreement they can b
hxed by the shipping board.
4, T. O~uterbridgc and L. II. ShermaI
OF New York were also before the Hous
committee to-day.