Evening journal., 1921-08-03
DISCRIMINATORY RATES FOR IMPORTS IN AMERICAN
SHIPS

VVJaIY is the American Government solicous that
w there shall be no foreign interference with our
cable service to all parts OF the world?
1t is mainly OF the penicous effect such in
reference would have upon foreign trade in that
would enable our foreign competitors to know all that
was going on in our business export import and
place them in a position to undermine in world com
merce
If Government is insistent that should have
uninterrupted confidential cable service OF much
greater importance to US from the standpoint Of trade
the maintenance OF adequate merchant marine.
ship is said to be the best salesman can send
abroad Great Britain greatest occidental, and Japan
greatest oriental competitor, know this full we'll
The former at least sparng pains to embarrass us
in every way with view 10 discouraging our carrying
trade and ultimately destroying II that she may
monopolize American freghts.
When the began carrying but nine per
of total foreign trade in our own ships the
Pacific Coast flag conspicuous by its absence.
What happened2 Japan proceeded to advance freight
rates to the point of exoron when rates
met perforce she went further and priority in
every instance to Japanese in Japanese
lships.
II there any cargo space left after her mer-
chants had avaed themselves Of their needs, we were
given DOLE but frequently American goods
left to rot the docks.
II TO pass that old hulks which had lain up
years the harbors Of the Pacific Coast put
into commission and many OF them paid for themselves
over and again in a single voyage We had to have
ships, and the Shipping Board output did not begin TO
make its initial appearance until the well-ngh
over.
Our water-bome foreign trade for the fiscal year 1921
otaed something OF S9OOOOOOOOO 40 per cent
by value OF which carried in American vessels In
1920 it toaled Si2OOOOOOOOO 2 per cent of which
carried in American vessels.
Are we not entitled to a $3.50 break in our own trade ?
The war resulted largely from the commercial jeal-
ousies Of Germany and Great Britain.
It's end found Germany the time being eliminated
serious competitor but with the export trade Of the
United States trebed Britain stripped for action
with any competitor in the foreign field.
She has ruled the ceased giving aid 10
merchant marine in 1855 We were up to that time oper-
atng under a system OF subsidies policy which is no
longer practicable Great Britain will raise ante
every time and will be supported her action by her
maritime people,
Great Britain inyegled into commercial treaty lin
1915 which put end to that very sound policy by which
granted discriminatory rates to imports coming in
American owned vessels. That policy initiated in
1889 and in 1910 carrying % per cent Of for
legn trade in vessels.
proviso such this included in the Underwood
law in 1913 but thrown out by the Supreme Court
being in derogaon OF certain treaties which have
with other nations But Section "a Of the Jones Merchan
Marine Law makes provision for taking steps to abroga
those treaties. Many persons contend that system O.
discriminatory duties and tonnage dues favorable u
American vessels would be the best for the per
petuaton Of our merchant marine, and the amendmen
(which Senator Jones proposes TO the pending tariff h
provides for such plan.