Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-02
U. S. MEANS TO CONTROL
ITS OWN SEA COMMERCE
Ship Owners Against Foreign
Interference, Says Benson.
SHIPS RETURN HOME EMPTY
Admiral Calls Attention to Efforts
to Keep American Ships From
Securing Cargocs After Unload
ing In TRANSATLANTIC Ports.
TBy Associated Press

WASHINGTON. July Warming
foreign interests not to attempt in
reference with tho development OF
the American merchant marine.
Chairman Benson, Of the Shipping
Board. declared today that the board
WAS determined TO build up an
American merchant marine as CON
tcnplatcd by the Jones shipping ACT.
despite threats and propaganda by
such interests 10 defeat the law.
THE United States" said Admiral
Benson. lis in earnest In It's efforts
to place within the ownership by
United states citizens the contro. Of
ut least II part OF It's traffic In inn
ports and exports. II IL should BY
any possible means bc held that the
government departments lack sucn
authority An viii insure their being
able TO protect American interests IN
such control. additional authority will
be asked by the administration and
will undoubtedly be granted By Con
Ercss.
Foreign carriers and those in The
United States Interested more In for
eIsn than American institutions, VIII
do well TO let sleeping dogs He"
Threats to Divert BusincaS.
Admiral Bcuson's warning waa
sounded In a talk to representatives
OF Pacific Coast Chambers OF Com
1ncrcc and trade bodies and Arn"rl-
can railroads. who have been dis
turbcd by threats OF foreign carriers
to divert business from American
ror'S on the Pacific Coast b.cnus.
OF the section OF the merchant ma
rinc act permitting a preferential rate
over carriers within the United
states OF merchandise moving In cx-
port and import in American ves-
sells.
Such "a threat. the chairman said.
Is futile and idle"
III ouch - thrca; is sincere and the
attempt is made 10 SO divert the bus
mess Admiral Benson continued.
the Shipping Board viii ALLOCATE.
American ships TO move the business.
The Shipping Board and tho Inter
state Commcrc. Commission will fol.
low this action by other steps which
would further protect the interests
OF the United States against such
foreign efforts to defeat tho purposes
OF the merchan; marine act"
L. y. Can RctnIIatr.
Nothing could more surely bring
about enforcement % this section OF
the law than adoption by foreign car.
riers Of their threat to divert bust
ness from American ports.
AS this section !s 10 be used onl,.
where there Is an ample America
tonnage 10 handle the export. and
import commerce to any particuIa-
port In Il foreign country or n posscs
zion OF tho United States, We canno;
conceive how any one who has studied
th!s law can assume that the Ship
ping BOARD would make any General
application of this section. There
VII! certainly be no enforcement; of
the provision without concurren,
action. which viii fully protect all
American interests
The transportation act has given
the Interstate Commerce Commission
authority in 'emergency' TO dircc,
traffic or establish cmhargoes against
movements OF frc!ghts. /, also has
authority TO establish minimum rates
on any commodity moving subject to
the Interstate Commerce Act within
the Interstate commerce act within
the United states.
The commission Is aware o. the
necessity for preventing the distor;-
ing of traffic upon lie railroads of