The Washington times., 1920-05-05
NEW SHIP BILL
.A|DSU.S. TRADE
William 1. Clark, Maritime In
terests Official, Calls II 100
Per Cent American.
HELPS DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
Opposition Of Foreign Powers
May Bring New Laws In
Retaliation.

The merchant marine legislation.
'c1rryina a fixed policy for American
commerce ships, reported yesterday
from the Senate Commerce Commit
tee, is ''highly constructive and 100
per cent American today" declared
William l. Clark, of Seattle, Wash,
representative Of shipping interests,
who has given close study to the
framing Of this permanent legisla-
ton.
Europe May Retaliate.
Tho bill as presented should re-
ceive the hearty and unselfish ap-
provai OF every American citizen" he
declared. Foreign lobbyists may Of
fer objection to its enactment claim
ing fear OF retaliation by their gov
ernments for laws insuring absolute
American control OF its coastwise
commerce and large control OF it's
foreign commerce, but they will hide
the fact that such Legislation Is re-
taliation only for like provisions sue
cessfulIy developed by foreign ma
tions in competition with American
interests"
There are some provisions OF the
bill which do not receive the hearty
, approved of Ametlcan shipping mer
bat these can be accepted says Clark
with the Acknowledged strong pro-
visions, and be carried along until
time and conditions have demonstra-
ted that they should be changed.
The effect of the section which
would deny export and import rates
to commodities handled in foreign
owned ships Will result in great
benefits to exporters. importers, and
railroads OF the United States, says
Clark. British ships have proven.
as our people will learn, that vessels
of the United States are the best
agents OF the country's exports and
for the importing of raw materials
for manufacture in the United States
Whatever can insure greater use of
United States ships will be OF ctill
greater benefit to exporters and i'm
porters and tho railroads of the coun-
try than to the vessels themselves"
Clark said that this provision Of
the bill would not restrict exports or
imports, or limit a movement over
United States railroads. or prevent
the movement OF merchandise through
foreign adjacent territory. and the
such country. "The Interstate Com
merce Commission has power" OK
planned Clark, ito suspend provisions
of tho law with reference to any port
to or from which there may not be
adequate shipping facilities by Amer
lean vessels.
"a similar provision adopted by
Germany" said Clark, proved of in
estimable benefit to German manufac-
turers and resulted in German ships
carrying go per cent Of Germsny's ex-
ports and so per cent OF her imports,
forcing her manufactures into coun-
tries which otherwise would have
been denied to them as markets.
Cuno, of the Hamburg-American Line,
has stated recently that Germany
could have no future commercially
until 1t has a merchant marine other
wise 1t would be paying tribute to
every other nation. Japan has pur-
sued a similar policy as that now
proposed for the United States"
American Advantage.
The provision of the bill providing
for the absolute exclusion of foreign
ships and interests from the Ameri-
can coastwise trade Is of vital inn
portsnce. says Clark. 'Jt restores
coastwise statutes as they had been
interpreted Tor 40 years down to
January, 1919, when Attorney Gem
eral George w. wickersham held that
the law was not sufficient to require
the carriage of domestic transporta-
tion in American ships provided there
intervenod a rail transportation with
in a foreign country.
This section does not prevent do
mestic merchandise moving between
ports in the United States through
Canada at any rate, preferential or
otherwise, which foreign carriers may
chose to establish" said Clark. IL re-
quires that when such merchandise
did move by rail through n foreign
country IL any part OF the transpor-
tatfon were by water Il should be in
vessels documented in the United
States The provision Is necessary TO
the preservation OF American advan-
taKe in our coaatwisn tradnsn