| Show 0 OUR U R PUBLIC FORUM F C howe on the advantages of free ports 7 mr F C howo howe federal commissioner of immigration who ho la is one of 0 tho the best american authorities on marine commerce in discussing the relation of tree free ports to the development of sea trade said in part I 1 a ships will go hundreds of miles out ot of their way nay to avoid ports surrounded by a tariff wall the only way 1 therefore for a country ith a tariff to compete in th the shipping world with a tree free trade country Is to establish tree free ports at points along its coast line U germany has done so BO and in a comparatively short period has built up a earning trade chich before the war was seriously threatening En glands supremacy hamburg lone one of the three german free ports now ranks as the second greatest seaport under aln lu the world its total foreign commerce in 1913 being only that of new york the free frea port would offer great opportunity eunity for or financial operations international now made possible by the recent currency act it would stimulate world to this banking and would tend to shift the financial center of the country and america by the logic ot of events has become the natural ce center alter for or the worlds financing just as aa london became that center several centuries cities ot of the netherlands but the financial ago eo when it shifted from the center will only move to this country when it becomes ft a clearing house ot of credit the world over Is created by currently well of for i goods as as aa 0 money treated created wealth in transit or change so that our financial expansion Is dependent to the clearance of the wealth of 0 upon tha opening up ot of american ports the world A port should not operate to yield a return on the investment but to develop the prosperity of the country in recapitulating the advantages mr howe brings out the importance ot of tho the free reo port in developing our america asia and africa and then concludes shipping and linking us with south the most important gain la Is the direct gain to america it will cheapen commodities by bringing great quantities of 0 goods to our doors for importation of exporting demand it will stimulate the growth needs trade or export eifort as ot of payment without tor for nn an indefinite period houses which can hold goods tariff dues often equal to the cost of the article itself for disposal to meet the trade demands of the whole world it will ill international credit ultimately a predominant share in and shift to america an increasing and international exchange finally america Is the natural country to be the counter of the world Is the greatest of all reservoirs continent it face other its seacoasts Bea coasts every of raw materials and foodstuffs in iron and steel and standardized production to compete with the world but international trade it Is in a position it cannot be one sided and this Is always overlooked must be reciprocal and credit balances cannot tor for any prolonged period be paid in rold gold they ot of wealth |
