The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-22
new maine Law
FIRMLY OPPOSED
IN PHILIPPINES

Manila, P. l.. Sept. 22.-The ship
ping interests of the Philippine Is
bring before all commercial bodies
both here and in the States concrete
reasons to illustrate their opposition
to Section 81 of the Merchant Marine
law, which provides that on February
1, 1922, the President of the United
States shall declare the extension of
the laws to the Philippine Islands if,
after full investigation, he shall find
an adequate shipping service has been
established and that reasonable rates
exist -. --.lf -
Leading Filipinos contend that
their opposition to the extension is
entrenched on solid ground and in
sfst that the law creates a. monopoly
In favor Of American bottoms. They
cfa1m that 1T means that only Amer
Ican ships can ply between American
ana Philippine ports, and for the pur-
poses of American commerce the Phil
fppineS are therefore virtually made
part of the Federal territory.
They point out that the discrimina-
uon extends to Philippine citizens in
sofar as IL a Filipino desires to en-
gage in a shipping business he is for
bfdden by law from so doing unless
he surrenders his citizenship and
takes up American citizenship.
Objections From Philippines.
A protest being sent broadcast by
the Philippine Press Bureau says:
THE extension of the coastwise
laws is unnecessary. For reasons of
national gratitude Filipino preference
would always be for American bot
toms, circumstances being equal No
legislation is necessary to compel
them to give their goods to American
: bottoms for transportation when it is
.t known mat the rates. charged by
those bottoms are lower than or equal
to the rates charged by foreign bot
toms, and when the service afforded
is satisfactory.
the extension of the law would
b De injurious to Philippine trade and
commerce because the benefits al
legged are conjectural, while the dam
ages will be of stupendous proper
tons. If the famous Navigation act
or cromwell in 1861 made England
the mistress of the seas and put her
rival, Holland, out of business, it.
however, wounded the feelings of her
colonies and deprived them of the
chance to vitaGze their economic life
through their own resources The law
Indirectly makes the FfIipinos pay for
the maintenance Of American vessels
The immediate effect of the ap-
plicahon of the law would be to iso-
late Manila from other steamship
lines Hong Kong and Singapore are
free ports. If Manila is to be made
a distributing centre, able to connpete
with them, 1t must have equal adTan-
tages. which it certainly would no;
have if the shipping between the
Philippines and the United States
were monopoliZed-
Fear Lack of Ships.
IF 1t can be guaranteed that suffi-
Gent ships will forever be available
and that the rates will forever be
reasonable there should perhaps be
less reason why the extension of the
law should be opposed. Such guar
anty, however, cannot be had. The
volume of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. trade
will never be stationary. 1t is des
tined to increase year after year. Ant
the time will not be far distant wher
American bottoms alone cannot &C
comm odatte it. In this sense ocear
accom- mo cations for the Philippine
Islands will be restricted by the ex
tension of the law when it is to theil
ampler accommodations. This car
only be attained if the economic
forces are given free play, that is BY
allowing vessels of all countries FREE
competition.
Establish a monopoly and in n,
time rates will go skyward. Highe
transportation rates mean increase,
cost of marketing, hence increase,
market prices and therefore les
profits The time may come whel
the Philippines cannot successful
compete with other Oriental countrie
under the new law.
Not only that. The extension O
the law will inevitably make the COS
of living in the Philippines niue
higher, and the Fflipinos who hav
to live and do business in thei
country are justified in considerin
how they are going to fare under tn
changed conditions, and take actto
accOrdinglv.N