Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-22

Eight prominent Philadelphians, in
cluding Mayor Smith and the officers
Of six different trade organizations Of
tho city. appeared this morning before
the United States Tariff Commission,
meeting in the Board Of Trade rooms In
the Bourse Building, 10 present 70 the
commission their views on the advisa-
blllty of congressional enactment pro-
yiding for establishment Of free ports''
in the United Statesc as a method of
insuring greater trade expansion for the
nation.
Nine other men Of affairs. represent.
ing the same trade associations, Will
appear before the commission this ar
ternoon, and eight others arc scheduled
to appear before II tomorrow morning
The commissioners at the hearing are
William Kent and Edward i. COsugan
Those who spoke this morning, IN ad-
dition to Mayor Smith, who warmly
advocated the institution OF the rree-
port" system and presented cogent nrsu-
ments for the inclusion OF Philadelphia
among the "free-port" cities. should the
system be established, We're J. ). W.
Holton. Maritime Exchange; Dr. Emory
II. Johnson, Maritime Exchange; H. Is.
Milford, Chamber OF Commerce W.T.
liam Hampstead, philadelphia Bourse
Phillip Cooley, Board of Trade Harry
B French, Drug Exchange, and u. D.
Irwin, Commercial Exchange.
Those who will present their views at
this afternoons session are W. f. Hagar,
Maritime Exchange; Emil T. Albrecht'
Philadelphia BOurse; u. J. Murphy, Jr',
Commercial Exchange j. 5. q. Harvey,
Iptfpgas (fpn q (1nHTlN.
Commercial Exchange; Geo. l.. Sproulc,
Secretary of Commissioners Of Navisft-
lion; VIM. NJ Van Leer, Philadelphia
Bourse; L. q. Graft, Commercial En-
change, and l.. J. Lavino, Board OF
Trade
Tomorrow morning tie commission
will be addressed by \. y. Ford, Cham
her Of Commerce; Alexander G. Fergus
son, Board Of Trade; John NJ. Hurn,
Chamber Of Commerce; William l.
Tucker. Board Of Trade John Aeigs
Board Of Trade Samuel T. Kerr, Board
OF Trade; Or. William 4. Wilson, Com
mercial Museum, and George S. Web
ster, Director Department Of WhaTes,
Docks and Ferries.
Upon the data gathered at the hear
inRs, the tariff commission will make
recommendations TO Congress as to
whether the operation Of free zones in
the United States would be advantage
ous In furthering the foreign commerce
of this country.
The business men OF this city have
been well organized for this hearing and
it Is expected that representatives of
every line Of industry and commerce will
be present The nine leading trade or
Hanizations I'm Philadelphia, which are
interested in domestic and foreign com
gpt1l hnN1a gnlauLapG An
will also send a delegation TO listen 10
the views expressed These oTgauiza-
tions are thd Philadelphia Board OF
Trade, Maritime Exchange, Commercial
Exchange, Bourse, Chamber Of Com
merce, Manufacturers Club, GrocerR
and Importers Exchange, Drug EX-
change and the Commercial Museum.
Director Webster, Of the Department
OF Wharves. Docks and Ferries, who has
made an extensive study of this ques-
ton, will also appear before the COM
mission and explain the advantages Of
Philadelphia for the establishment of
such port or free zone, should the
necessary legislation be enacted by Com
gress He will also advise the commits
sion that his department. under acts OF
assembly, has the power 10 construct
such a free zone, should the Federal
Government give it's sanction.
David J. Thompson, special represen-
tative of the Tariff Commission, who has
been IN this city for the last week, visit
ing business men and commercial or
gAnizations, reports that he has found
al OF the business men in this section
open-minded on the question OF free
ports, and that in many instances he
has discovered that large manufacturers
and importers are unqualifedly In favor
Of a free port,