Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-15
SUGGEST FOREIGN
SHIPS enter INTO
COASTWISE TRADE
Secretary of Commerce Red
field Comments on Proposed
Resolution to Congress

Further details of the moe mad N
congress to secure a suspension "t
the Coastwise shipping Law in order
that vessels of foreign registry might
engage in Colstwise trade at least
during the period OF the war. have
reached Honolulu.
The United States shipping hoard,
with the approval OF tn! secretary al
commerce, suomitte1 u the merchant
marine committee VI the mouse o.
representatives a draft Of Joint res
olution empoW eIfuG the president 20
permit vessels OF foreign registry TO
engage in the CoastwiGe trade. The
suggested resolution vas as follows
Resolved. That during the present
war or emergency tic president may,
II in his opinion the interests OF the
United States So require, permit by
proclamation vessels cf foreign regis
try to engage in the coastwise trade
of the United States, within slCh linn
its and under such conditions as he
may deem wise"
Secretary Of Commerce Redfiel1
has given out the following state
LnCuL IO5dE0lhB tiG ICSOiutIOh'
Outlines Purpose
The chief purpose Of tie resolution
is to allow Canadlan vessels on the
Great Lakes to do coastwisc business
between American ports. The Cana.
dian government very handsomely
acted on the matter some time since
as concerns US, allowing the coast
wise privilege to American vessels in
Canadian ports.
There is urgent necessity for the
employment of all possible tonnage on
the Great Lakes in the coal and iron
ore hauling. Owing 70 the very late
spring the navigation season opcuou
some three weeks late. Also, the
railroad situation at that time was
complicated by some confusion and
car shortage. Consequently the stocks
of coal at lake distributing points
are thousands Of tons short OF what
they should be. II we have an early
winter and consequent closing Of the
lake navigation there would be
caused much suffering, and damage to
industry in the Northwest on account
Of shortage OF coal.
Must Use Every Ship
$50 it is important to get every
possible bottom carrying coal to the
Northwestern points before naviga-
ton is stopped. The vessels in this
trade bring cargoes of iron ore back
to American ports and then take coal
on the outbound Trip. 1.-The Sulpfeees
dented demand for iron and iron ore
makes the need for additional ore
carriers acute; almost as much so as
for more coal carriers. Also these
vessels viii bring grain down in ad-
dition to iron ore. There are numer-
GUS Canadian vessels that will en-
gage in this trade If the present re-
strictions are removed during the war
I'VE need greater freedom in coast.
wise trade. Suppose, for instance, q
British vessel discharged cargo at
Norfolg and was ordered to Galveston
for q cargo OF cotton. Suppose also
that there was need of coal at Gal.
weston and this vessel would carry
q considerable amount and had cargo
offered, It could not take that cargo
without subjecting itself to heavy pen.
alties as matters now stand. As bad.
~ as coal is needed in New England
for stocks the vessel could not pro-
coed from Philadelphia to Boston
with coal. II could not take lumber
for shipyards, or anything else.
"The secretary Of commerce has
the right under the law to remit these
heavy penalties and has been doing so
in particular instances, but the ship
ping board thinks, and heartily con-
cur, that to have the coastwise pen
alties suspended generally will prove
of considerable benefit"