Evening star., 1923-12-28

revert to the place on the sea we had
when the war broke out.
"a special committee should be set
UP to make this survey. formulate a
policy and submit a detailed plan
with the cost. II II must be carried
may be IN a position to make con-
crete recommendation to Congress.
This committee should be made up OF
one or more representatives of the
Shipping Board and the Secretaries
Of War, Navy and Commerce"
With regard to the extension of the
coastwise shipping laws to the Philip
pines, Senator Jones called attention
to the fact that the merchant marine
act Of 1920, which bears HIS name,
provided for such extension upon the
ascertainment of the existence of
adequate shipping facilities.
+. Adequate Service Establishel.
'T understand" said Senator Jones,
chat an adequate shipping service
has been established and that local
needs and conditions can be fully met
by American service. The Shipping
Board should be able to give definite
information on this point, and, IL
adequate service exists, the intention
Of Congress should be carried out. 1t
was reported sometime ago that the
state Department had advised that
such action would contravene some
of our treaties.
In reply to an inquiry from me, the
Secretary Of State Neays: 'T beg to say
that the Department Of State has not
expressed such an opinion" Tho
state Department advises me, how
ever, that IL received last February
from Dr. Culbertson. vice chairman
of the tariff commission, q memoran-
dunn on the subject Of extending the
coastwise laws of the Philippines.
which had been placed in the hands
of President Harding and later placed
in your hands, To ascertain whether
this memorandum expressed the
viewa of the tariff commission.
a'T made an inquiry and received q
letter from the chairman, Thomas c.
Marvin"
letter. saying that the tariff commit
sion had not expressed any views
upon the extension of the coAstwise
laws to the Philippines. Senator
Jones continued:
Quotes Marvin's Letter.
.1 can conceive Of no treaty that
would prevent US from dealing with
our own possessions in any way that
we deemed wise and proper
The extension Of the coAstwise
laws TO the Philippine Islands will be
a sure aid to an American merchant
marine of q most substantial and po-
tential kind without entailing any
expense upon our government and
our people.
The annual commerce between them
and the United States proper fs over
one hundred millions Of dollars, of
which less than Atty millions 10 car
extension would give ut once the
carriage Of over fifty millions Of dol
lars worth of commerce, thus employ
ing American labor and capital. In
addition TO this. It will tend to make
Manila q great distributing point for
commerce destined for the orient
through American branch shipping
lines and feeders.
It win lead to the building In
American yards OF the highest type
Of ships suitable for Carrying com.
merce overseas. and for transport
services IN case Of war. This will
insure the continuAtion OF some ship
ping that viii be suitable for peace
or war needs.
when thi. legislssien was being
COn8lQGICu k1c OuAy OUJ6CltOH uE8S0
to 1t was that it would tie the Phil
ippine Istands more closely to M and
make IL more dificult to grant them
the Independence we have promised.
This has no appealing force to me.
These ISLANDS are ours now. Any
promise that we have given ~ to
their independence will be kept
whether the coastwise lsws ars ex-
tended or not when we think the time
has come TO grant such fndepend-
ence."
RexAs Deeloees War.
Tskiag oognfsance Of the consid-
eratton being given to the ccastwise
extension qusstion, Manuel Roxas,
spsaker Of the Philippine house Of
representatives and head Of the spe-
cial Philippine Independence mission,
issued statensent today deciarfng
"ths snyieidfng orpSeIfion Of our pee
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