Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-15
SUGGEST FOREIGN
SHIPS enter INTO
C0ASTWISE TRADE
Secretary of Commerce Red
field Comments on Proposed
Resolution to Congress

Further details of the move mad IN
congress to secure a Suspension OF
the coastwise shipping law in order
that vessels OF foreign registry might
engage in coAstwise trade at leest
during the period Of the war. nave
reached Honolulu.
The United States shipping '.oard,
with the approval OF til? secretary "f
commerce, submitte1 10 the merchant
marine committee IF the mouse OF
representatives a draft OF Joint res
olution empowering the president 20
permit vessels OF foreign registry TO
engage in the coaStwiSe trade, The
suggested resolution was a. follows:
Resolved, That during the present
war or emergsncy the president may,
II in his opinion the interests OF the
United States SO require, permit by
proclamation vessels CT foreign Iegi,-
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 fof Commerce Redfioli
has given out rhe following state
ment regarding the resolution:
Outlines Purpose
The chief purpose If tie resolution
is to allow Canadian vessels on the
Great Lakes to do coastwise 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 In urgent necessity for the
employment Of all possible tonnage on
the Great Lakes in the coal and iron
ore hauling. Owing TO the very late
spring the navigation season opcuou
some three weeks late. Also, the
railroad situation at that time was
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
in the Northwest on account
Of shortage Of coal.
Must Use Every ship
$50 Il Ii important to get every
possible bottom carrying coal to the
points before naviga-
ton 10 stopped. The vessels In this
trade bring cargoes Of iron ore back
10 American ports and then take coal
on the outbound trip. The unprece-
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.
ditioh to iron ore. There are numer.
Gus Canadian vessels that will en-.
gage in this trade II the present re-
strictions are removed during the war
emergency. ~=.,.
Eve need greater freedom in coast.
wise trade. Suppose, for instance, .
British vessel discharged cargo al
and was ordered to Galveston
for cargo Of cotton. Suppose also
that there was need of coal at Gal.
weston and this vessel would carry
a considerable amount and had cargo
offered. Il could not take that cargo
without subjecting itself TO heavy pen.
alties as matters now stand. As bad.
" as coal q needed in New England
for stocks the vessel could not pro-
coed from Philadelphia to Boston
with coal. Il 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 sou
In particular instances, but the ship
ping board thinks, and ! heartily con-
cur, that to have the coastwise pen
alties suspended generally will prove