Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-09-09
LABORERS IMPOSE OWN EXPORT TAX
 AT BRAZIL PORT
Private" Assessment Made to Maintain Extensive
 BOycOtts

Beunos Aires, Sept. 7.--Unions of laborers connected with port activi- ties in Buenos Aires and other ports of Argentina have imposed upon ex- porters "their own private export tax" as q means of maintaining ex- tensive boycotts now in force against exporters and shipping companies, according to complaint made by a packing house establishment here to Minister of Finance Salaberry. At ! the present time more than 100 ex- porting firms are under boycott, in addition to the powerful Mihanovich Company owner of most of the river ! and coastwise shipping of the conn- try.
 A committee representing meat and hide exporters told the Finance Minis ter that the dock laDorers were refus ing to load their overseas shipments unless the shippers made contribu- ton toward the support of the union of $7 for each 200 bales of wool and $3 50 for each 100 casks of tallow and like products.
 The delegation pointed out thai these contributions could be called "extra official export duties," and that some of them have been demand cd since last May. It was stated that before any shipment can be made, application must be made to the labor union officials and that several days often elapse before the requisite authority" is allowed fol embarking. The minister was told that in some cases the unions have demanded to see the exporters books in order to make sure that none of the produce to be exported came from any firm under boycott.
 A list of 1O6 exporters under boy colt was submitted to the government and it was pointed out that while there are mare than 100000 pounds Of unsold wool in the country; and more than 100000 hides, most of the leading exporters of these pro- ducts whose services are needed in relieving the congestion, are not al lowed to do business on account of boycotts.
 The boycott of the Milhanovich Company has held over 200 vessels in port for six months. Efforts of the government to settle hte differences between the company and the work CTS have not met with success. Mean | time the losses to domestic commerce have been enormous.
 Cnoalipp tho Cbo ho, no~,, | ties, a representative from the Pro- vince of Entre Rios, largely depend ent upon river transportation, de- clared that the apparent object of the maritime workers was to obtain control of the country's water trans port. "They publicly announce," he said, "that the boycott is not strike over wages or hours of labor. They talk about the social movement, es- pecially that in Germany and applaud the one that has taken place in Rus sia, declaring that the maritime strike has nothing less for it's object than the socialization of the trans port services"
 l During the months of the boycott the Mihanovich Company has been able to return to service a few of it's boats by transferring them to the Uruguayan or Paraguayan flags. Several cases of violence against the members of the crews of the vessels so changed have been re- ported. It is said that among the damages incurred has been the loss of large part of the orange crop from the region along the Parana | river