The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-07-15
WAR DEPARTMENTS GENERAL
PLAN TO REDUCE THE COST
OF LIVING.
TO BOOST MERCHANT MARINE
Institution to Be Built Up Under New
Law-PIan to Meet Composition
Preferential Treatment Provided
Board Directed to Determine Lines.
BY JAMES p. HORNADAY

country teeme0 WIN boats, D0rgeS
and tugs Is the avowed object Of the
war department, which, under the
terms Of the transportation act Of
1920, was given control of the govern
meat water transportation facilities on
the inland waterways.
Revival of this mode of transporta-
ton on a substantial scale was begun
by the railroad administration while
the world war was on. Clogging Of
rail transportation turned attention TO
the necessity for doing more tha1
talking about using the waterways and
the government began spending sew
eral millions Of dollars on waterway
equipment. The reports of the director
general Of railroads shows that mp
proXimately S14,OO0000 was expended.
The war department is now operat-
ing barge services on the New York
state Barge canal and the Mississippi
and Warrior rivers, The people of the
state of New York object to the fed
eral barge service on their canal and
appealed to congress to order the war
department to get off that waterway,
but congress adjourned recently with
out taking final action on the request,
although the senate did pass a Joint
resolution which had been introduced
by Senator Wadsworth of New York.
The house. however, did not act on the
resolution. The contention of the peo-
pie of New York Is that the federal
service eliminates private competition.
The service on the Mississippi riv-
err between st. Louis and New Orleans
no doubt involves the most suspicious
part of the governments program in
rehabiltatilg the use of the inland
waterways. BY this service shippers
through the Mississippi valley are en-
abed to consign freight to points along
the river at tariff rates which are gen
orally 20 per cent less than rail
charges for similar services.
The time required for passage from
st. Louis to New Orleans Is six days,
according to the war department,
while the up-river trip consumes on an
average fifteen days. 1t is pointed
out. however, that the regularity with
which the sailings are maintained
makes the actual time in transit be-
tween the shipper and cOnsignee aver
age approximately the equivalent of
that required by the railroads.
Plans for combined rail and water
terminals are being studied. The de-
clared purpose of that branch of the
department which Is giving its atten-
ton to the matter is that the federal
barge service shall be made service
able and profitable.
Extension Of Shipping Laws.
The provisions giving preferential
treatment TO American vessels relate
to extension of the coastwise shipping
laws to the Philippines and other is
land possessions and territories of the
United States, TO the granting of lower
rail rates on commodities carried TO
or away from the United States in YES
sells dOcumented under the laws of the
United States; to the president being
authorized and directed to abrogate
commercial treaties which restrict the
right of the United States TO impose
discriminating customs duties on i'm
ports entering the United States and
also to impose discriminating tonnage
dues on vessels, and finally, to prohibit
ton Of the transportation of merchan-
disc between points in the United
States, by water or by land and water,
via a foreign port, except in vessels
documented under the laws Of the Uni
ted States.
The effect of the above provisions,
If they are enforced, will be that a vast
amount of cargo will be available for
vessels documented under the laws Of
the United States.
Wide power is also given the ship
ping board to deny entry TO ports of
the United States foreign vessels
whose owners are found guilty of I'M
lawful discrimination against Amerl-
can vessels.
Shipping Board to Be Busy.
Congress declared in the law for
private ownership and operation of
the American merchant marine and
eyentually-unless the law Is changed
that will come to pass, but rs far
as the next few years are concerned,
the shipping board will be very busily
engaged In the actual operation Of
ships owned or controlled by 1t.
The board Is authorized and d.
rected to sell the vessels built during
and after the war by the government,
but there is no time limit set In which
this shall be accomplished The C.
rect command OF congress on the sub
lect Is that the board shall sell the
ships "as soon as practicable, con
sistent with good business methods"
Out OF funds derived from the sale
and operation OF vessels the board
may set aside annually for five years
S25 100000 for the creation OF econ
struction loan fund" out of which
money may be lent to private indlvid.
uals to aid them Ia building ships
Another provision designed TO
strengthen the merchant marine Is
that relating TO the carriage OF mail