South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-24
American Tonnage Drops
From Il Percent to 2
Percent Since Begin
ming of War.
JAPAN IN ASCENDENCY
HOLDING So PERCENT
Great Britaln'S Loss is Only g
PerCent-Chairman Webb
Presses Export Trade
Measure.
InternationaI - servIr :


WASHINGTON. Aug 1.-THE
American flag has almost complete
Is disappeared from the Pacific
ocean while japanese shipping has
advanced until more than half the
tonnage OF the western ocean is now
in the hands of the Orientals
This situation. brought about by
the European war. has been con-
firmed by n special Investigation OF
trans-Pacihc shipping completed by
the department of commerce TODAY.
British merchant tonnage also has
declined but IN spite of the war the
British flag today is flown into the
Pacific by "a fair sized merchant
fleet. according To the facts as set
forth by the department
4. ;. Tonnage Drops. 90.
Before the war the United states.
Great Britain and Japan shared the
transatlantic trade United States
tonnage amounted to p per cent.
British 50 per cent Japanese SO
per cent, with the remainder scat
tering. The report on the shipping
investigation of the department
which will be made public in about
20 days. viii show that American
tonnage. however. has increased un-
til it now amounts 20 50 per cent of
an the bottoms engaged in the
trans Pacihc trade.
The department also has reports
stating that Japan has all her ship
yards working 10 capacity and now
is intent upon launching "a merchant
marine which viii make recovery
Of prestige in the Pacific by the
United states almost impossible.
Press Legislation.
The first of the legislative meas
ures designed 10 protect American
exporters AGAINST European compe-
tition. at the end OF the present war.
will be pressed for passase tOmOr-
row i'm the house by Rep. Webb OF
orth Carolina, chairman of the con-
mittee on judiciary. This measure,
known as the Webb export trade
bill. permits the formation Of COM
mon selling agencies for the foreign
trade of the United states while at
the same time placing such associa-.
tons beyond the operation of the
sherman antitrust law.
Chairman webb is prepared to
combat every effort 20 side-track his
proposition at the session now draw
ing 10 a close.
The necessity FOR this Iegisla-
ton" said AIR Webb today. rests
largely upon the doubt that exists
an the minds OF our exporters as To
the correct construction that should
be placed upon existing antitrust
laws as applied to organizations en-
gaged i'm export trade. Iu order that
this country may hold the foreisn
trade which has been acquired dur
ing the European war. and success
fully meet the competition that win
be offered when the war rs over our
exporters must be i'm "a position 10
compete in the cheapest and most
effectual manner.
Combinations EiN Pricc~.
I'VE are informed that the COM
binations OF British coal brokers hN
the contract prices for bunkering
ships az export News and oy these
1netbods the contract price has been
nNed ar nve 20 seven cents per ton
below the domestic price I'm The
same way the copper trade OF the
world has been ruled Uy a vast Ger
man metal buying organization
which has subsidiaries and aHuated
companies in all the leading nations.
and through its operations for
number OF years has bought millions
OF tons or American copper at prices
averaging nearly a cent "a pound be-
low the price paid by American con-
sumers
The bill is drawn So as Go leave
in FUN force our antitrust laws as
applied Go our own markets and as
affecting different American export
ers in their DEALINGS with each
other Export trade is by force Of.
the methods adopted boy other lead
ing nations largely matter Of COM
petition between the several produc-
ers and manufacturer.
Chairman Webb said that the biH
as reported from his committee has
the endorsement OF the federal trade
commission and the secretary of
commerce