The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-10-14
FOREIGN TRADE
IS NOT COMING
NEW MERCHANT MARINE OF
AMERICA MAY BEFORE LONG
HAVE NOTHING TO CARRY.
WORLD ANTAGONIST R0USED
Shipping Acts Provisions for Termins-
ton Of Commercial Treaties and for
Preferential Rates Are Very Dis
pleasing to Other Nations.
BY JAMES p. HoRNAoAY.

Washihgton.-The United States
shipping board. the department "
commerce and other branches of the
federal governments testify that n
feeling 81 lack Of interest In the trade
OF the United States II being felt In
various parts Of the world one posi-
bility. II IL 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 greatly ex-
panded world trade. This trade has
not come as Yet. and II II said author.
itatively that the prospect Of It's com
Ing II by no means Ms bright rs II was
n year ago The new merchant ma
rine act Of last June Is not making
more agreeable the relationship of the
United States To the trade Of the world.
Certain provisions Of II ar arouslng
antagonlsm throughout the world.
Section - Of the law makes this
provision THAT In the Judgment Of
congress, articles or provisions In
treaties or conventions TO which the
United States II n 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 he
terminated. and the president l. here.
by authorized and directed within 10
days after this act becomes law TO
give notice 20 the several govern
ments. respectively, parties 60 such
treaties or conventions. that so much
thereof ns impose any such restriction
on the United States will terminate on
the expiration Of such periods as may
be- required for the giving OF such no
ucc by the provisions 81 such treat
les or conventions"
Mr.. Wilson Refuses to Comply.
President Wilson has not complied
with this mandatory provision OF the
shipping act. lie has refused 10 do so
because. SO II was learned he believes
that 10 give notice To the nations with
which the United States Is trading
. .hat II proposes to terminate Its com
mercinl treaties would at this time.
when those same nations are M least
puzzled over the attitude Of the United
States toward the League OF Nations.
not only wreck the foreign trade OF
the United States hut place this gov.
ernmenf In an undesirable attitude be-
fore the world.
The report has gained currency
that Great Britain and other nations
are determined 10 follow course OF
retaliation as soon ns they are Informed
by the state department Of the lnten-
ton Of the United States TO abrogate
its commercial conventions. II Is gen
orally understood here that the presi-
dent Is acquainted with many facts
which have not been conveyed 20 the
public. and that he Is holding up the
notification 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
In section twenty eight. under which
preferential rates may be allowed
when property or passengers are car
ried In American vessels The com
mercIal attaches In this country OF the
various European and Asiatlc govern.
ments IN their reports 20 their home
governments made much over the re-
cent assertion OF Senator Jones OF
Washington. author OF the shipping
act. that this provision Of section %
will "drive foreign shipping from our
ports"
New Rule for Money Measures
When the house of representatives
meets on the first Monday In De
cember II will he able TO take ad.
vantage Of one advance step In
making appropriations of money
During the closing days OF the last
session. AZ a time when national pc
litlcal conventions were absorbing the
attention Of the public. the hous,
adopted a rule providing that here
after all executive estimates and al
appropriations shall be handled by
the committee on appropriations, In
stead OF by eight committees as In
the past. Many OF the Representatives
had already left Washington when the
new rule was adopted and II Is averret
that some OF them do not even yel
know of the action taken.
The task Of preparing the annual es
Inmates OF the governments financia
needs for the next fiscal year has al
ready been begun by the several exec
utiye departments. For the most par
these estimates will be prepared a.
they have been In the past. They vii
all go TO the secretary Of the treasur,
as formerly. and the secretary will OF
the first day OF the next session sub
init them 10 the committee ON appro
prlations of the house of representa-
tives. The only difference Is that THU
one committee only will be interested
In these estimates this year. whil'
heretofore eight committees have ha'
an interest In the financial requests.
.ftonIy Legislation for the Others.
tT..e several committees that 10