New Britain herald., 1925-12-04

diylduals who were so keen about the formation of a conference, throw their patronage to the cut rate lines. This naturally creates an unhealthy competitive situation.
 Tn addition to the several con. ference lines maintaining some- what regular service, the confer ence members arc also confronted with more vicious kind of com petition, the so-called tramps, or, as they are sometimes called, the pirates Thoss operators will bring around from the west coast a car go of lumber, If you please, to an eastern port and instead of re- turning in ballast or engaging in other service, they will cut to the bono the rate on so-called base cargo, and after having obtained nucleus, they then proceed 10 slash rates on other cargo right down tho line, This, also, Of course, ere ates some disturbance and deplctes the revenue Of the conference lines.
 More Rigid Government Control
 Right here let mo recall to your mind that there has of late beeen a revival by certain individuals, newspapers, magazines and organi- cations for the placing Of inter. coastal carriers under the jnrisdic- ton of the interstate commerce commission and for more rigid gov ernment control otherwise. While naturally have my own ideas as to the corrective measures needed, yet in my official capacity l cannot, of course, consistently make any com ments with respect to the Narlou8 proposals: for, after all, the policy, so far as the intercoastal carriers are concerned, is one that must he determined by the owners, There is however one thought that l wish to bring home to you, and Il ! Is this, that any more rigid gov ernmental supervision. regardless ot its nature, would be detrimental, 1T all carriers, be they tramp or otherwise, are not accorded inc same treatment. In this connec- tion, I am informed that certain weu-known and important con- mcrcial organizations have already adopted resolutions in opposition to control by the interstate com
 nerce commission and no doubt others will follow.
 Panama Canal Tolls
 Certain interests, whose sympa- thies can readily be understood have advocated an increase in the Panama canal tolls, while, on the other hand, steamship owners, l be- lievo, are asking for a reduction This. of course, is another impor- tant matter for the owners to nan de with the government, as the in tercoastal carriers are now ass'ill' ing the burden of the up-keep ot tho canal. and while the present tolls nav have been all right when rates were high and full cargoeS were handled in both directions vet l submit that it appears 10 mo under present shipping conditions and considering the enormous re ceipts of the Panama canal the present tolls are excessive.
 7 ITO those misguided individual: who favor increasing the tolls Il } might not be amiss for me to re fresh their memory: To assist il 5 the construction of railroads in th' early days the government gave t' 3 them large land grants and right 0 . ways. as well as furnishing bond $ to aid in their constructions an , for the purchase of rolling s'ocK : which, in the last analysls, IS = form of subsidy The aid 1nancia t and otherwise was given to tn ] railroads when this country wa 2 comparatively poor, whereas now - with it's vast resources, the natiol r is in a much stronger position | - assist in the up-building of a, mer Il chant marine by tightening all bur S dcns wherever possible. Why is - therefore inconsistent for th - steamship owners 10 ask for aid