Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-29
SHIPPING LAWS
HINDER TRADE Of
UNITED STATES
Railroad and Bank Magnates
Give Views on Changes Nee
esSary to Insure Greater
Foreign Commerce.

T. tsf NosNlho JOURNAL SPECIAL LEAKED WHtl
New Orleans. Jan. 2S.-criticism OF
American shipping laws the tariff OF
laws relating TO railroads and big
business and OF the proposal for a
government-owned merchant fleet was
voiced here today ut the third Ma
tional Foreign Trade convention.
Speakers included Fairfax Harrison,
president Of tho Southern railway
Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the
National City bank Of New York, and
Joseph Il. Davies chairman Of the
federal trade commission.
Mr.. VANDERBILT declared The United
states did not need government aid TO
succeed in world trade so much as
relief from governmental handicaps.
VundcrlIp Ccnsurcs Government.
He said
We shall have handicaps in the ex-
tension OF foreign trade Of govern
ment so devoted to peace that justice
to It's citizens In the foreign countries
weighs but scantily IN the balance
against the advantages of peace for its
people at home.s
Mr. Nanderlip characterized some Of
the laws governing shipping and com
mercial combinations as foolish legis-
lations uneconomic and unnecessarily
restrictive"
A plea for modification of rcgula-
lions affecting railroads to permit
them to make lower rates on export
than on domestic traffic was made by
Mr. Harrison.
Tho Railroads Are Handicapped.
Whether the relation Of American
railroads to foreign trade after the
war Ia To be substantially different
from what It was before and during
the war depends upon substantial
progress in developing the American
policy with respect to export trade
generally, Harrison said.
IF the regulating authority shall
take a broad view of the relation of
the American railroads to foreign
trade, which has been demonstrated
successfully in other lands, | venture
to say the railroads will do their Mt
most to cooperate to take fun advan-
tage Of our immediate national oppor-
tunities.
Mr.. Vanderlip classes as handicaps
in foreign trade laws framed to pro-
hihlt cooperation, and lack of ships,
"if this nation Is to be placed in most
efficient form to meet international
competition, - he said, 'let us sensi-
bly, remove u lot of existing foolish
legislation that is uneconomio in its
results, unnecessarily restrictive in its
operation and has been helpful only to
politicians Of all parties as a basis for
demagogic appeals for votes.
There is an effort under way now
TO give the government aid in the at
tempt TO enaet n 100000 600 shipping
bill. Several times fifty millions of
private capital could be commanded
il 1t could have permanent assurance
it could enter the worlds field of
shipping not handicapped by govern
mental regulations for which the cap
ltal Of other countries Is free"
At group sessions, speakers opposed
Il government-ow merchant ma
rine. The seamans net was condemned
as unjust To American ship owners,
and many delegates declared that
American shipping was so surround
cd with unreasonable legislative re-
strictions that those engaged in It
were forced to the hopeless task of
trying to compete with ship owners of
other countries operating under more
favorable conditions"