New-York tribune., 1921-07-17
Salvation for
Shipping Seen
I'm Rail Rates
Application of Preference
for Goods Carried in
u. S. Vessels Advocated
by an American Consul
Would Meet C Competition
Foreign Ships Protected by
Regulations That Work
Hardship ON Marine Here

The salvation of the American mer.
chant marine lies in the application of
Section 2S of the Jones bill, which es-
tablishes preferential rail rates for
goods shipped in American vessels,
says "an American consul" who is
quoted in the current Bulletin of the
American Bureau of Shipping.
"a fundamental difficulty" he says,
"is that we have no organization in for
egn fields. Foreign competition has
made our presence in foreign ports a
prime necessity. but foreign competi-
ton also makes our presence there un-
der present conditions impossible.
Broadly speaking. we are the big
gest producers and the biggest buyers
in the world. The question then arises.
have we the moral right to possess and
the legal right to operate our own de-
livery system? l think we have, and I
think we are blindly foolish if we do
land, ETC., have all fed their shipping
and their export merchants. Great
Britain has left no stone unturned in
her effort to control the worlds trade,
Each and and every country does its
utmost to protect it's merchant fleet
and is retarded in its efforts only by
the chess moves of other nations.
Foreigners Discriminating
"Only yesterday we saw our paper
pulp industry pass from our hands to
Canada; only to-day we learn that the
jamaican government has proposed
that vessels flying the flags of New
Zealand, Australia or Canada may en-
ter Kingston without port dues; and a
hint of foreign tactics is found in the
attitude of our allies in MesoDotamia
and the proposal to exact a duty of
II per cent on German exports. If we
were to cross the Atlantic we would
find so many governmental regulations
for the protection of the very competi-
ton that is directed against us that
we would become alarmed at our fail
ure to do likewise.
"Our only salvation Is in Section %,
not only because there is a preponder-
ant foreign element in control of our
shipping. but because many Americans
who ought to protect our interests lack
the foresight and the patriotism to
work for our merchant marine.
Put preferred freight rate on in
coming and outgoing cargo in American
bottoms and our interests will immedi-
ately become theirs, for no ship opera.
tor, either national or foreign, would
dark risk the loss that shipment in
foreign bottoms would then entail
Such step could work no hard shin
either on our industry or our people
but would tend toward the improve
ment and prosperity of both.
The Bar to Preferentials
What, then, prevents US from ap-
plying Section % for the benefit of our
trade and fleet? Have we not the pre-
rogative of increasing freight rates
within our own borders? Have we not
tho right to share in the delivery of
the goods We buy and those we sell.
"Pre-war disadvantages kept us a
debtor nation; war opportunities re-
versed the situation, and failure to
enact postwar measures and safeguard
our merchant fleet will make us again
debtor nation. America, rich in natu-
raj resources, is draining them.-not
for the world but for single group of
nations selfshly inclined and imperi-
allstically bent, and wise has been the
man who has seen the danger to Amer
lea.
That danger, however, lies not in
putting into effect Section 28, but in
failure to do SO. For with that failure
would go not only our merchant ma
riae but our marine insurance, our ex-
change market, our chartering market,
our overseas Investments, our foreign
banking and the most profitable por-
tlon OF our foreign trade"