Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-28


American ships. assuming that they al
ford suitable accommodations. If they
do not afford the requisite accomm0,,
datiOn on the main routes OF world
travel. the argument that we should
upbuild is strongly emphasized. ] think
we should discontinue. NO far as prac-
teal. the transport services in the
army and navy, and make our mer-
chant and passenger ships the agents
OF service Ia pence "a we'll as war.
1--WE should make insurance available
ut no greater cost than IL afforded the
ships under competing flags. and we
can and will make effective the spirit OF
Section % Of the Jones act of 1870.
providing for preferential rail and
steamship rates on through shipments
on American vessels. American rail-
ways must be brought into cO-opcra-
tion with American steamship lines. IL
Is not in accord with either security
or sound business practice TO have our
railways furthering the interests Of
foreign shipping lines. when the con-
, cord OF American activities makes for
common American good fortune.
. Urges Railway Ownership OF Ships
contemplating the competition TO
be met. there ought TO he an amend
! ment 20 the Interstate Commerce Act.
which will permit railway systems 20
! own and operate steamship lines
| engaged in other than coastwise trade.
| There is measureless advantage In the
| longer systems where rail and water
| transportation are 90 ordinatcd not
alone in the service. but in the sOlicita =
! tiOn of cargoes which ever attends an
expanding commerce.
! 1--WE may further extend our long
! established protection to our cOastwise
trade which is quite in harmony with
the policy of most maritime powers.
! There IL authority now 10 include the
Philippines In our cOastwise trade. and
We need only the establishment Of
proper facilities to justify the inclusion
Of our commerce with the islands in
our coastwisn provisions. The free
dom of our continental markets Is wcll
worth such favoring policy to Ameri :
cnn ships whenever the facilities are
suited to meet all requirements.
"Othcr indirect aids will be found ir
the requirement that. Immigration shal
join. wherever 1t Is found TO be prac.
teal. in aiding tn" m"rchan. marin.
Of our flag under which citizenship IL tt
be sought. and in tho establishment o
the merchant marine naval reserve. III,
remission of II proportion of income
shipping enterprise is of direct Coy.
ernment concern providing that suci
remission is applied to the cost of new
ship construction.
"rongress has already provided :
loan fund to enr"ura2" construction.
might well he made applicable TO SOM
special requirements in recnndittonlnc.
''1t is also worth our consiara tinI
. that in vieW Of suspended naval con,
struction. the continued building Of m"r
chant ships is the ono guaranty nf :
maintained ShlpbuildinG industry with
out which no nation may hope 20 hol,
high place in the world of commerc
or be assured of adequate defense.
Effective Indirect Aid Seen
, A very effective indirect aid. n sub
, stitule for Il discriminating duty, whicl
shall inurc to the benefit Of the Aneri
can shipper. will be found in the pro
, POSED deductions on incomes amounting
i, to : per ccntum of the freight paid oI
cargocs carried in American bottoms
The benefits can have no geographica
restrictions and it offers its advantage
D to american exporters ~ well as thoS
z who engage in import trade.
'Dur existing ships should DO sold a
= prices prevailing in the world market
! nm not unmindful of the hesitancy T.
! sacrifice the values to current pric
I levels. W" constructed nt the top COS
il. Of war when necessity iihpnled. whc
: IL" building resources Of many nation
: were drawn upon to til" limit to meet
great emergency. II there had com
4 no depression. IL return to approx imat
= normal cost would have been inevitahl"
5 But the great slump in shipping ln
sent tonnage prices to the other extreme