New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-10-22
FOREIGN TRADE
IS NOT COMING
NEW MERCHANT MARINE OF
AMERICA MAY BEFORE LONG
HAVE NOTHING TO CARRY.
WORLD ANTAGONIST R0USED
Shipping Acts Provisions for Termlna-
tion Of Commercial Treaties and for
Preferential Rates Are Very Dis
pleasing to Other Nations.
BY M p.

pleasing to Other Nations.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
Washington.-The United State.
shipping board. the department of
commerce and other branches of the
federal governments testify that 9
feeling of lack of interest In the trade
OF the United States is being felt In
various parts of the world. One posi-
biilty, 1t is asserted. is that the Unit
ed States will find itself with an idle
merchant marine after having spent
enormous sums of money building
ships In anticipation of a greatly ex-
banded world trade. This trade has
not come as yet. and 1t Is said author
ltatively that the prospect of its com
ing is by no means as bright as 1t was
a year ago. The new merchant ma
rlne act of last June is not making
more agreeable the relationship of the
United States to the trade of the world.
Certain provisions Of it are arousing
antagonism throughout the world.
Section "a Of the law makes this
provision: THAT in the judgment of
congress. articles or provisions in
treaties or conventions to which the
United States is a party, which restrict
the right of the United States to
Impose discriminatory tonnage dues
on foreign vessels and on YES
sells of the United States en-
tering the United States should be
terminated, and the president is here
by authorized and directed within 80
days after this act becomes law to
give notice TO the several govern
ments, respectively. parties to such
treaties or conventions, that so much
thereof as impose any such restriction
on h United States will terminate on
the expiration of such periods as may
be required for the giving Of such no.
tice by the provisions Of such treat
les or conventions"
Mr.. Wilson Refuses to Comply.
President Wilson has not complied
with this mandatory provision of the
shipping act. He has refused to do SO
because, so 1t vas learned. he believes
that to give notice to the nations with
which the United States is trading
that 1t proposes to terminate its COM
mercial treaties would at this time.
when those same nations are at least
puzzled over the attitude of the United
States toward the League Of Nations.
not only wreck the foreign trade of
the United States but place this gov
eminent In an undesirable attitude be-
fore the world.
The report has gained currency
that Great Britain and other nations |
are determined to follow a course of
retaliation as soon as they are Informed
by the state department Of the inten.
tion of the United States to abrogate
Its commercial conventions. 1t is gen.
orally understood here that the presi. |
lent Is acquainted with many facts
which have not been conveyed to the
public. and that he is holding I'D the
until he can refer the mat
ter to congress In December.
Another provision of the shipping
law which is getting the United States
IN bad with sister nations Is contained
section twenty-eight, under which
rates may be allowed
property or passengers are car
ried in American vessels. The COM
mercial attaches In this country of the
various European and Asiatic govern.
ments In their reports to their home
made much over the re-
rent assertion of Senator Jones Of
author Of the Shipping
ict, that this provision of section %
Will drive foreign shipping from our
New Rule for Money Measurea
When the house Of representatives
meets on the first Monday In De-
'ember 1t will be able to take ad-
'antage Of one advance step in
making appropriations Of money.
During the closing days Of the last
'ession. at a time when national DO
ltical conventions were absorbing the
Ittention Of the public. the house
a rule providing that here
fter all executive estimates and all
appropriations shall be handled BY
committee on appropriations, In
tead Of by eight committees as in
he past. Many Of the representatives
ad already left Washington when the {
ew rule was adopted and II is averred
hat some Of them do not even yet I
now Of the action taken. Z
The task Of preparing the annual es-
mates Of the governments financial
eeds for the mex fiscal year has al I
eady been begun ny the several exec {
tive departments. For the most part I
1ese estimates will be prepared as
hey have been in the past. They will
go to the secretary of the treasury s
5 formerly, and the secretary will on 7
he first day Of the next session SUBJ n
1T them to the committee on appro- {
of the house of representa- q
yes. The only difference is that this Il
ne committee only will be interested Z
these estimates this year, while p
eretofore eight committees have had
D interest in the financial requests.
Only Legislation for the Others.
The several committees that for q
any years have reported both legis- g
tion and snnronria ffona will With =,