Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-07-16
THE JONES ACT PREFEREN-
TIALS.

Washington, July 13-(Special cor
'espondence)-All those people who
believe in America First will give the
Republican Congress credit for an
2arneSt effort to promote American
commercial interests in the enactment
of those provisions of the Shipping
Law which attempt to put an end to
preferential rates by which American
transportation business. has been di-
Ferted to Canadian lines. Not MANY
people are aware of the fact but it is
true, nevertheless, that Canadian rail-
'oads own some thirty-seven short
lines in the United States which di-
vert American freight business to the
long Canadian lines for transconti-
Mental transportation.
Short lines near the terminals reach
out into American territory and pick
IN a considerable amount of business
which they carry across the border,
transport across the continent and
bring it back into the United States
1t the other end of the trunk line
or turn it over to Canadian ships for
transportation to Alaska. The amount
If freight tolls collected on these short
lines is inconsiderab1e in amount The
Canadian railroads get their advan-
tage from the long haul across the
continent 1t has been charged and
oroven that in order to get this Amer
can business the Canadian railroads
give preferential rates which would be
n violation of the/ Interstate Com
nerce Act if committed within the
United States In other words, what
american lines are not permitted to
10 in order to compete for the busi-
ness, the Canadian railroads have sue
Icessfully done. This is manifestly I'M
| fair to American business.
Particularly has the Canadian plan
of getting American transportation
business been detrimental to American
interests in the movement of freight
rom the United States to Alaska
This, of course, is wholly American
business being between one part o.
he dominion of the United States
md another.
Under the provisions of the Jone:
Merchant Marine Act taken in con
junction with the provisions of the
<terstate Commerce Act the Ship
ping Board and the Interstate Com
nerce Commission have authority t.
! 7revent this unfair competition an(
to grant preferential rates on good
Re TRANSPORTED on American rail
roads and ships carrying the Ame-i
an flag in foreign commerce Th
Merchant Marine Act permits the ex
ension of the preferential rates +,
hiDs under foreign flags wheneve
adequate American shipping facilit;e
are not afforded But, as Senate
Tones said in discussing this pro
vision:
Surely no one will assume that a
american Board will deliberately al
n favoring alien interests or allie
shipping, and this places in the hand
If the Shipping Board the power t
rive substantial aid to our shipping
It follows action taken by other cour
tries and action that was preem
nently successful in the case of Gei
manv. This provision was framed b
the Shipping Board. it was submitte
to the Interstate Commerce Commi:
sion and no objection was made to
and no interests except alien interest
need fear its provisions or its admin
2 istrations.'
The purpose of this feature. of X
| Merchant Marine Act is to enable II
t Shipping Board and the Intersta
2 Commerce Commission to give SUI
! advantages to American Shipping /;
f NAV be necessary from time to- tim
:. under ever-changing conditions
= romnetition. to assure that America
vessels will be at least on an equali
with the vessels of other nations
he carrying of our own export ar
: import trade.