Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-21
WE'VE GOT THE PORTS; LET'S
USE THEM

NutfS blanoiuS committee On leEHslHa4s
appointed at the September convention
of the American Association Of Port Au-
thorities has addressed a letter to members
Of the association which is so important
that we quote from it literally as follows:
II ports on the Atlantic and Pacific sea-
boards and upon the rivers ever hope 20
secure the opportunity to do the export
and import business TO which they are en-
titled by their natural advantages. they
must act decisively and without delay.
The action OF the President In putting
the railroads under Government control
and operation makes IL even more neces-
sary that this action be taken Unless
the ports are alive to the threatened dan
ger. many OF them will find themselves
shut out, not only from immediate par
ticlpation in the nations export business
but from any hope Of getting their snare
of foreign trade in the reconstruction
period after the war.
The existing discrimination against cer-
tain ports can be reached in two ways. both
simple, and. with united action. OF reason
able certainty Of Accomplishment. First.
the Government can order a separation or
rail and terminal accounting, which VIII
expose the huge burden now borne by ship
pers, due TO the fact that under normal
conditions the water terminals of all our
railroads, excepting at New York, New
Orleans and San Francisco were given
free to alien shipping uusts; the cost or
these terminals being charged back IN
local rail rates which were hidden from
public scrutiny.
Second. I'm virtually every port on the
Atlantic seaboard there are discrimlna-
tions OF rates and service operating against
the free and full use Of these ports. Every
port on the Atlantic seaboard Is az Inuch
a port for every section OF tne country as
"a f.- gfg tFrnFp in 10
should, therefore, be allowed to carry on
all the business which its natural re-
sources. geographical position and faclll-
ties warrant The handicaps that now
embarrass the water terminals IN virtually
all the ports on the Atlantic seaboard are
notorious In the nations interest no one
port should be allowed to have monopoly
on export or import trade, either in normal
times or in war times.
The campaign for proper utilization OF
American ports Is not an and.New York
1t is a pro-war and pro-Ameri'
can agitation, having as its objects, first,
the relief Of present congestion, and. sec
end, preparedness for postbellum trade.
Probably because we have so many OF
them we have underestimated the i'm.
mistake in Europe. Witness the emphasis
on the territorial status Of ports in all Of
the proposed peace terms heretofore stated.
Austria cllngs TO Trieste, Serbia wants a
mort and Russia, thwarted in Europe,
pushed a railroad to the Pacific in order to
have an all.year harbor, later fighting
great war TO keep It. We, with a dozen
fine ports. have permitted the railroads by
and other practices to
nullify a great national advantage and
New York harbor while
every other harbor in
the country. This was a bad enough
national policy in times of piping peace;
continuance Of this policy in time OF war is
suicidal. Had other ports been properly
utilized instead Of shipping being con-
in New York, it is altogether
probable that no occasion would have
arisen for the drastic order of the fuel
administrator. This attempt to handle the
uatiOnb imports anu SAPNiN e'ASNbA NAO
neck Of a bottle has precedent, but nothing
else to recommend it.
The EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER no sooner
pointed out the danger inherent I'm the ex-
isting practice than municipal authorities
ana the trade bodies promptly took hold Of
the situation. We may rest assured now
that there win be an adequate investiga-
ton by the Government. In the meantime
different port authorities must continue to
present their case with vigor and insist on
remedial measures. Every worthwhile port
from Galveston to Portland must be put to
work. In this way sensible division Of
the load on railroads can be brought about
ana congestion relieved. The business can
be handled II It Is distributed and it cannot
be handled otherwise.
The times are too critical TO permit wor-
ship OF old customs and ancient practices.
We must utilize not a part only. but the
whole machinery OF distribution. That
means we must not overload New York
ana underioad the other ports. The Gov
eminent Is running the railroads and guar
snteeing dividends, Let the Government.
therefore, eliminate determinations and
route shipments 80 that they can be
banded.