New-York tribune., 1921-06-03
Tree Action ON
Preference for
lAnerlcanSlllps
shipping Men Pointing to
Discrimination IN Favor
of Canadian Vessels i'm
the British West Indies
Tariff Bill Offers a Way
Removing Bar i'm Underwood
Act Would Institute a
Preferential Duty Plan

vh;ye no action has yet been inSti-
,rssd in Congress relative to the en-
sS,,sment 49, of discriminating duties in
s.rnr Of goods carried in American
Avs the matter is expected TO COME
!. ANTON atically with the drafting of
ssv general tariff bill.
In view of the opposition expire ssed
.syoad to policy of preference for
s.,sr;ean ships shipping men are
ao;nting cut that the Legislature of
sssrsics has approved q regulation pro-
sing that vessels of the Canadian
scy4rnmert merchant marine calling at
S;neston shall be exempt from light
s,a tonnage dues for the next three
rsars. other governments of the Brit
IN West Indies are expected to take
similar action with view to increas-
inc Shipping facilities in British ships.
Treaties Bar Enforcement
Under the Underwood tariff act of
october S, 1918, except i'll cases where
syistirg tresty provisions act as bar,
10 per cent duty ad valorem in addi-
ion to existing duties is imposed on
n imports in vessels not of the United
ststes. and. in addition, per cent
discount is allowed on ali goods i'm
ported in American ships.
Bv emitting the clauses making the
auties inoperative where treaties exist
Congress can make discrimination eff
s.ctive without delay. Under the mer-
liant marine act of 1920 Pres
dent Wilson was directed to serve no
tice upon the treaty nations that this
country intended to abrogate those
psrts of the agreements providing
against discrimination. A years notice
would have been required in some cases
to make abrogation effective, but Mr.
Wilson refused to comply with the act,
and nothing has been done.
Congress Can Cut the Knot
Senator Frelinghuysen, of New Jer-
ssy, has advocated the passage of legis-
latiou by Congress which would en-
force the policy Of discrimination and
eliminate the formalities and delay
necessary in the process provided for
in the merchant marine act. Under
this latter procedure the provisions of
the Underwood act would have auto
matically come into play with the end
of the period for giving notice to the
treaty nations.
Figures recently compiled from the
records Of the Department of Com
meree show that in the trade of the
United States with the leading mari
tins nations of the world during 1920
American shipping cut small figure.
Only Ia per cent of the commerce be
tween the United States and Norway,
for instance, was transported in Amer
lean vessels and only slightly over 80
per cent ef American trade with the
United Kingdom, while in no case did
American ships carry as much as so
per cent of American commerce with
these countries.
With practically two-thirds of the
ocean transportation in American trade
icing done in foreign ships, it is point
ed out, it is evident why foreign coun-
tHes oppose American discrimination in
favor of American ships. Any move to
reverse the proportion of carrying
would tend toward reduction in the
share Of foreign vessels. and would,
therefore, be bound to be the subject
Of opposition.