The sun., 1918-11-08
HAMSTRrNGING THE TRADE
OF AMERICA.
Discournglng Experiences Of an Elk.
porter with the War Trade Board.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN---Sir: We
have read with interest in recent news
paper article that more than 100000
worth OF various kinds OF merchandise
destined for South American countries,
and fully paid for by buyers there. is
now being held up here as q result or
the scarcity of shipping space, and that
In one instance a great quantity OF as
sorted goods had been loaded on ship
in the harbor and documents sent by
mail, when the merchandise was ordered
out OF the steamship and had to be
carted back to the warehouse, no ade-
quate reason being given therefor.
AS an instance Of our own experience
we may cite an order received by us on
July /, and for which we promptly made
application for export license. After
same was received It was not until Sep
TENDER that we were able to get the
goods into the hands OF the forwarding
agents In New York, but the advice
received from the shipping agents was
that there was no available steamship
space offering for South America. on
October IS the forwarders advised us
that, without notice. the space had been
allocated to them. but for a boat load
ing OF which would be completed on
October %, and that In the meantime
the export license had expired and con-
sequently shipment could not be OBJ
tained In time. 1t would appear that
there Is no notice given to shippers as to
when space would be allocated for GER
tain ports, and in the meantime, as in
OF
expired and the opportunity lost. An
other instance Of lack of coordination.
Another article In the newspapers VI
October "a regarding the German drive
against American trade, revealing new
form Of German propaganda intended
to injure American business In South
America through the cancelllng Of Amer
lean placed orders for cotton goods on
the plea that as the war is nearly over
and these orders can be filled by Ger
man manufacturers at prewar prices, Is
extremely Interesting az showing what
may be expected on the part Of such
INSCRIPTIONS competitors as the Ger
mans, and Is only another Illustration,
to OUT mind, OF the danger OF the War
Trade Board not using more diligence
In the execution of licenses for export
30 as to permit OF the prompter harding
Of orders by American manufactu
As another instance of such delay on
the part of the War Trade Beard we
wish to state that we have had on file
applications for expectation OF goods
to Mexico since July 26. August 16 and
90. but up TO the present have been
absolutely unable to get action on them.
either favorable or unfavorabla. We are
told, first, that perhaps the applications
may have been lost by the War Trade
Board secondly, that there has been
q change OF policy regarding the par
ticular goods in question, of which we
have not. however. been officially adj
vised from WASHINGTON. the net result
being that the goods are still on our
floors and not on route or at destina-
ton, thus creating no end OF dissat's-
faction and causing criticism OF Aneri-
can methods.
Az we ourselves prefer dealing with
those who attend to our wants promptly,
we realize that delays due to causes be-
yond our control. as above described Will
inevitably prejudice us In the eyes or
those we are endeavoring to serve. and
that II we can ever hope to retain a
share OF the export trade that present
opportunity affords. the War Trade
Board will have to change its methods
and give ADEQUATE coordinate service.
We And through later developments
that the Shipping Board Is also ns much
In fault through undue laxity as Is the
War Trade Board.
JERSEY MANUFACTURER.
NEWARK, y. J., November :.