New-York tribune., 1922-02-27
Shipowners Ask
COastWise Laws s
For Philippines
Shipping Board Is Told
Objections TO Similar
Actions in Past Have
Proved To Be Bascless
Porto Rico Case Cited
Enforcement Of Jones Act
Urged as Aid TO Amcri-
can Merchant Shipping

Immediate extension OF the coastwisc
.ws Of the United States TO the Phil
sppines is urged by tho American
Steamship Ovners' Association in f.
statement sent Ia a. n. LsSkcr, chair
nan Of the Shipping Board. The posi-
tion Of the ship owners, expressed IN
'e..cr signed BY Vice Pres dent Win
throp l.. Marvin, is that enforcement
- this feature Of the Jones law will
aid the merchant marine and Will NOT
prove a handicap to the islands. 1t rs
pointed out +hat opposition was eN-
pressed in 1900 to application Of the
cos.twise laws to Porto Rico and Hs-
wall for the same reasons, and that
later il was proved unjustifed'
With regard to the effect Of the coast-
via. laws on Porto Rcan trade. the
Commissioner Of Navigation is quoted
q. sayins that "the reservation Of this
trade 70 American vessels has caused
20 inconvenience but, on the contrary,
has led to marked Improvement in the
transportation facilities OF the island
bv steam ships'
American Territory
Tn. association declares that for
several years the Philippines have en-
owed the same free entry for their
products into ports Of the United States
as have Hawaii and Porto Rico, and for
commercial purposes the islands have
been regarded as American territory
and their trade as domestic trade. Fig
ures arc quoted by the Rssociation 10
show that since the coastwise laws
were made applicable to Hawai- and
Porto Rico the trade OF the former with
this country has increased threcfold
and Of the latter twelvefold. Saying
that there is every reason 10 believe
that similar results Will be seen with
respcrt to the Philippines, the aSsocia-
ton declares that enforcement Of the
Law will give employment to large num-
bers Of idle American vessels and ther
crews.
The skip owners statement points out
that the Shipping Board has already
established two frst-class passenger
and mail services from the Pacific Coast
10 the Philippines. while third direct
service has Just been ordered. Efficient
cargo services in the hands Of Amor'-
can shipping houses of long experience
already exist from the Atlantic Coast
70 the Philippines. 1t is reasonable to
assume from the precedent of Hawaii
and Porto Rico, the ship owners state.
that under the coastwiSe law the Phil
ippines will enjoy much more frequent
regular and Efficient communication
with the mainland than they have ever
had before.
Opponents Are Foreign
Finally. the statement of the Ameri-
can Steamship Owners Association
points out that opposition to the ex-
tension OF the coastwise laws to the
Philippines IS substantially fore gn oQ-
position in Manila and elsewhere. The
ship owners quote statement Of the
American Chamber of Commerce Of the
Philippines that alleged protests from
Philippine merchants represented only
the British-controled Manila Chamber
Of Commerce" and embodied only an
effort "to thwart the act Of Congress
and encourage ArElo-Japane DONNA
tion Of the Pacific he American
Chamber Of Commerce of the Philip
pines further declares that the apph-
cation Of the coastwise laws here viii
result in q decided growth of American
shipping and in certain advantages to
American business interests both here
and in the homeland"
Under the Jones law the government
= charged "to establish adequate
steamship service at reasonable rates
70 accommodate the commerce and the
passenger travel of the Philippines
The ship owners in their statement ask
"Are not the interests Of the Philip
pine people and OF our manufacturers
and merchants safe in the hands OF the
President Of the United States =?