New-York tribune., 1920-09-15
Taxes ON Foreign
Ships to Develop
U. S. Ports Urged
Legislation to This End Is
Likely To Be Introduced
i'm Congress: Britain
Finds Plan Is Effective

steps Will probably be taken at the
next session Of Congress to urge the
passage of legislation whereby all ton
mage taxes collected on foreign vessels
entering American ports shall be de-
voted to the development of the ports
and harbors of the United States.
One of the leading advocates of this
method Of improving shipping facilities
is W. s. Lincoln, Commissioner of the
Port of Seattle. In a statement issued
by him he points out that 5000 100000
has been spent in the development of
the port of London, S125,0OO,OOO on
Liverpool and slo0,OoO,OOO each on
Manchester and Hamb burg
In this country" he says, "the bur-
den OF port development has been
placed almost entirely upon local COM
munlties, with little aid from the Fed
eral government. The proposal to have
moneys collected as tonnage tax on
foreign vessels coming to United States
ports set aside for the development of
those ports rests upon The principle
that the natural harbors of the United
states are great national service sta
tarlon system nor great rail trans
portation system will be effective in
building up foreign trade until we have
port facilities which measure up to the
size and magnitude of the rail system
and the water system of transportation.
Great Britain has been the create st
trading and maritime nation in the
world. 1t has recognized it's harbors
AS national assets of great Importance.
n nf ~ 6ra 1c
of millions Of dollars should be OBJ
tanned to develop those ports the Eng
!ish statesmen arrived at these conclu-
sions:
I'VE will build :hc finest and best
equipped piers and ocean terminals in
tho world. We will! invite the foreign
ships to these harbors, but we recog-
nIze it to be right that these ships US
ing our terminals should pay q tax
the money so collected should be used
in improving the port terminals, thus
making our ports more and more eff
cient and moro and more attractive to
the shipping interests Of all countries.
If we are to compete with Great
Britain it seems to me the part Of
wisdom to profit by what she has
learned from much wider and broader
experience in worldwide shipping than
we have had.
"At present the Federal government
, levies tonnage taxes under the follow
ing provisions of law:
THAT tonnage duty of two cents
ton, not to exceed in the aggregate
ten cents a ton in any one year, is
! hereby imposed at each entry OF all
vessels which shall be entered in any
port Of the United States from any
foreign port or place in North Amer
ica, Central America, the West India
Islands, the Bahama Islands, the Ber-
muda Islands or the coast Of South
America bordering on the Caribbean
Sea, or Newfoundland, and duty Of
six cents ton, not to exceed 80 cents
/ at each entry on all vessels which
/ shall be entered in port Of the United
, States from any other foreign poNt,
! not, however, to include vessels in
distress or not engaged in trade
/ The natural seaports Of a great
+ trading nation are national assets and
. should receive support from the Fed
! eral government, and until the Fed
/ eral government lays down general
policy recognizing these ports as ma
tional assets they will not receive .he
their importance deserves.
The natural seaports of a great
trade nation are not only national as
sets, but they are international assets
as we'll. The fine, deep channel lead
ing to a harbor equipped with the
most modern docks. piers, warehouses
mechanical handling equipment and
other facilities is of great benef,
! TO ships Of other countries who use
that harbor. Therefore the principle
| is sound that a tax should be levied
| on foreign tonnage to improve such
harbors and to build terminal facili-
J ties"