Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-10
Plotting Against Southern Ports

n recent years The Times Dispatch has neg
lected no opportunity TO raise its voice il
protest against the unjust rate discrimina
lions that have all but closed South Atlantic
ports by forcing import and export business
through the northern gateways to the sea-
More recently ii has called attention to the
conspiracy to defeat action OF the railroad
administration in opening these ports
through enforced parity OF rates.
Now comes Matthew Hale. president of
the South Atlantic Maritime Corporation.
revealing details OF this collision OF trans
portaton and port interests to kill off the
Southern ports that those OF the North may
WAX still fattcr at their expense. Ills appeal
for assistance in combating this combination
against the South IS set forth in a letter adj
dressed TO Governor Beckett of North Caro-
lima III which the latter is asked 10 call
conference OF Senators, Representatives and
business men generally Of North Carolina.
South Carolina. Georgia and Florida for the
purpose OF formulating a plan Of defense.
While Virginia is not included in the confer
cnCe suggestion. ii should ask that it be
permitted representation. for il is as vitality
Interested as any other State. It's great port
OF Norfolk has been practically shut on
from import and export commerce 30 the
detriment of the States business interests.
and ii the discriminatory conditions remain
unchanged. then Richmonds dream OF 4
dcepscu port at West Point may rs we'll be
abandoned now
Here are the facts. Through disCrimna-
tory rates extending over many years, neg
lect and stagnation had been forced upon
The Southern ports. the result of collusion
between steamship lines. railroads and
Northern port authorities. During the war
congestion al these Centers became so great
that the government was forced To open up
The Southern ports. For Il while they iiour-
ished and grew, but with the end OF the
war the old discrimination was resumed.
Then, last December, by order OF the rail
road administration, rates TO and from
Southern ports were put on n parity with
those of the North. giving shippers the bcne-
its of shorter hauls IT urcOngcstod ports.
But there is evidence that the order for rate
parity is being evadcd. According 10 Mr..
Hale, IAN alliance OF Eastern trunk lines.
New York steamship companies. the New
York Chamber o! Commerce and British in
forests represented by the Cunard Line"
formed committee to fight the rate read
justmcnts Defeated by publicity. they aban-
dunCd their open efforts tn prevent develop
mcnt Of American ports and launched a
submarine attack working secretly upon
the officials Of the leading Southern railroad
lines and 'hcfoggimg the plain. simple cle-
mcnts of justice in a cloud Of railway rate
tcchnicalitios.
Virginia cannot afford to ignore this com
mcrcial collision against the South No
more important question has confront ed il in
years. and If the Northern interests are per-
mitted to get away" with their plans. then,
So far as its ocean business is concerned, tho
South might as we'll shut up shop and turn
its magnificent harbors over TO fishing
smacks.