Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-14
DOLLAR AND DOLLARsl

JAPANESE control OF the Pacific ocean carrying
y trade and large increase Of freight rates is the
result of the seamens law sneaked through Congress
last year, according to Captain Robert Dollar, OF San
Francisco, owner of the Dollar Steamship Line.
Japanese have almost complete control of the com
Of the Pacific" declares Captain Dollar 'This
is the direct result Of the seamens act passed by the
Democratic Congress. No one has discovered what
benefit 70 this country the seamen's act which has
resulted in the all American steamers Ton
the Pacific to foreign register has brought My own
ships have been transferred to British register be-
cause could not meet the requirements under the new
law There are now just two ships of American reg
lister sailing from the Pacific coast One is owned by
the Pacific Mail and the other by corporation Of Chi
nese which by reason OF the residence of the owners
in the United States is entitled to American register
The Japanese the moment they got control advanced
freight stes.
But this is not the greatest trouble perhaps It is
not policy, it occurs to me- that mail should be
subject TO nterception and examination by foreign
government but that is just what might happen for
all Of the United States mail transported to and from
the Orient must on Japanese vessels. You may re-
member that We had some controversy over the fact
that the British opened American mail from the Orient
that sent by way OF British Columbia"
Captain Dollars statement is corroboratve Of every
thing that has been said with regard to the effect Of
the seamen's law The figures OF the Department OF
Commerce show that where formerly the United States
controlled p per cent. Of the Pacific carry trade
Great Britain 80 cent, and Japan 80 per cent to-
day the United States controls but per cent. and
Japan So cent having taken practically all our
control and part OF England's. The president OF a
New York manufacturing concern, who was in Wash
ington last May. declared;
Immediately upon the passage of the seamen's law.
which drove American shipping off the Pacific Japan
raised her freight rates From the Pacific coast to
Shanghai -four freighs have advanced from 81 to $50
per ton; steel products from IS to $50; general
cargo from $1,000 to $40 With her control Of ship
ping facilities Japan is able absolutely to dictate the
terms which shall do business in the Orient"
The trade statistics OF the Department OF Commerce
show that total trade with Japan exports and i'm
ports for the fiscal year ended June 80 1916 was val
ued s223OOOO1O while the total amount OF freight
carried in Japanese vessels 10 and from this country
valued at S3174O00OO. In addition to delivering
her own trade in her bottoms she picked up S94-
100000 worth along the routes. In our trade with
Japan during 1915 the balance against IFS was S7S
100000. During the fiscal year 1918 under Republi-
can law total trade with that country was s149
100000 The value OF the freight carried by Japan to
and from the United States was sS55 0OO OOO The
balance Of trade against us was only SS4OOOOOO our
purchases Of silk during that year totalling s57
100000 TO be worked up in American mills The Will
son-J Underwood tariff law the seamens law are the
finest little brace game put over by the Demo-
Gratis to permit Japan to frisk us for the dollars
Delawareans will recall with pleasure that one Of
the foremost and consistent opponents OF that
seamans law Senator Henry A. dupont OF thi,
State