Evening star., 1940-04-22

Popular in southwest
WeIl-orgunized Move
Under Way to Remove
Existing Ones
Fourth tn a series of articles
on State trade barriers.
BY the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, April 22.-Trade
barriers between States-"Balkan-
ization" is the term applied to them
by opponents Of the practice
aren't popular or numerous in the
Southwest.
Few exist in Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado and
there is a well-organized movement
under way to remove them - well
as to prevent erection Of any new
bars to free travel or trafilc be-
tween the States.
Gov. Lloyd G. Stark Of Missouri,
as president Of the Council of State
Governments on the trade barrier
problem, is leader in the war on
"Balkanization."
while the battle is not over, a
series Of notable victories was won
in recent sessions of State Legisla-
lures throughout the Nation" he
said in reviewing the situation.
I'm 80 States Legislatures re-
fused to enact one or more trade
barrier measures offered and many
such laws were repealed"
Gov. Stark's Definition.
There is some controversy over
what constitutes a trade barrier
Gov. Stark defines it this way:
"A statute, regulation or prac-
tice which operates to the disadvan-
tage of persons, products or serv-
ices coming from sister States to
the advantage Of local residents,
products and enterprises"
MiSsouri's lone barrier was torn
down last year when the Legisla-
ture repealed a law which provided
that liquor manufactured in States
which Disseminated against Mis-
souri, products could not be sold in
the State
Oklahoma last year abolished its
port-of-entry system, one Of the
accomplishments Gov. Stark listed
Kansas and Colorado have ports
OF entry, but contend they are not
trade barriers.
Texas imposes a 10-cent-per-
pound tax on oleomargarine con-
tanning imported coconut or palm
oils. It also has the usual quaran-
tine regulations-as do the other
States-to protect against importa-
ton Of diseased stock or plants.
The State also had threatened to
ban certain Oklahoma products, but
the matter was dropped last year
when Oklahoma abolished its ports
of entry.
Kansas Ports Of Entry.
Kansas and Colorado, in support
of their contentious port-of-entry
systems are not trade barriers, point
to resolution adopted by the West
ern States Trade Barrier Conference
at Denver last September stating
that such ports do not continue
trade barriers within the meaning
as defined by the Council of State
Governments"
Kansas system, one of the first,
Is primarily for collection from out
of-State truckers of a ton-mileage
tax imposed on all trucks using the
State highways. Taxes are for road
maintenance. Out-of-State truckers
making only occasional trips into
Kansas are given special clearance.
At the ports, trucks are checked
as to loads weights, safety require
ments, adulterated fuel oils and for
liquor-Kansas being q dry State
but otherwise, said Director Floyd
Strong, cargoes are not inspected,
much less barred.
Kansas Has No Disputes.
Kansas, said Mr.. Strong, was en-
countering no friction whatever with
other States over the port system.
Colorados port system is some
what similar to Kansas and the
State has a ton n-mile tax on trucks
as well as produce handlers ucens-
ing system.
Gov. Stark said his concern with
the trade barrier problem was two
fold.
First was alarmed at the threat
to national unity implied in this eco
nomic pickering between the States. |
Second, as a businessman I fore
saw the dire results Of destroying
the greatest free market on the face
Of the earth, particularly at a time
when the Nation was battling to
emerge from a serious trade depres-
sion.'
Real Tribute to U. S."
He said 1t was real tribute to
the intelligence of the American
people that they grasped the in
herent danger in this movement and
are determined to remedy It,"
Zone of the most vicious features
Of the interstate trade barrier
problem is the spirit Of retaliation
it evokes."
AS an example he cited various
dairy States which sought to ex-
clude Southern oleomargarine and
found their own products heavily
taxed when shipped into Dixie.
Truck operators might find the
variety Of regulations as to weights,
safety requirements, etc., somewhat
of barrier.
Texas, for instance, has q 1000
pound limit on motor truck loads.
The Oklahoma limit is $4,000 pounds
for a single vehicle or 1900 pounds
for truck and trailers. Kansas per-
mits up to $4,000 pounds. Missouri's
maximum is $4,000 pounds for truck
and trailer. Colorado allows up to
$1,000 pounds gross.
800 Flights Over Reich
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