20 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



February 10, 1922 



Exporters Pave Way for Better Rates 



Conference between representatives of transatlantic steamship 

 interests and American lumber exporters incident to the twenty- 

 second annual convention of the National Lumber Exporters' Asso- 

 ciation at the Hotel Sinton, Cincinnati, on January 25 and 26, are 

 expected to lead to an understanding which it is believed will have 

 a beneficial effect in promoting lumber exports to Europe. Spokes- 

 men for the lumbermen aired their grievances which concerned the 

 rates for ocean transportation and the unsatisfactory manner in 

 which claims are handled by the steamship lines, while the shipping 

 representatives told of the hardships inflicted upon the American 

 merchant marine by the legal requirements as to crew and wages. 

 The meeting developed a spirit of understanding and co-operation 

 and as a result a joint committee is to be appointed which will 

 meet in the near future, probably in Baltimore, to go over the whole 

 situation and endeavor to arrive at arrangements which will be sat- 

 isfactory and permissive of profitable operations, both to the lumber 

 shippers and the shipping interests. F. A. Ryan of the International 

 Mercantile Marine Corporation, who acted as spokesman for the 

 steamship repre- 

 sentatives, told of 

 the difficulties 

 which the Ameri- 

 can merchant ma- 

 rine, restricted by 

 the American ship- 

 ping law, has in 

 meeting foreign 

 competition, espe- 

 cially that offered 

 by the ubiquitous 

 tramp steamer sail- 

 ing under foreign 

 flags and unham- 

 pered by such legal 

 limitations as those 

 imposed by the La 

 Follette seamen's 

 law. 



Mr. Eyan said 

 that the steamship 

 interests are eager 

 to meet with rep- 

 resentatives of the 

 lumber exporters 



to establish a definite rate based on dependable service. On many 

 occasions in the past, Mr. Ryan said, the steamship lines have trans- 

 ported freight at a loss to themselves in an effort to permit Ameri- 

 can shippers to compete in foreign markets. Edward Barber of the 

 lumber firm of Howard & Barber, Cincinnati, acted as spokesman for 

 the lumber exporters. 



Heretofore all meetings of this lumber body have been of an exec- 

 utive nature, but the precedents of twenty-two years were broken 

 when the shipping men were admitted to an open conference on ocean 

 transportation at which both parties frankly stated their case. 



"What would the steamship companies term a reasonable rate?" 

 W. H. Eusse, who recently retired from the lumber firm of Eusse 

 & Burgess, Inc., asked of Mr. Eyan. In answer to this question the 

 spokesman for the steamship representatives said that would have 

 to be determined at the conference. In the opinion of Mr. Eusse 

 thirty cents would be a satisfactory rate to the lumber exporters, 

 although it is not equivalent to the pre-war charge. 



G. H. Evans of the G. H. Evans Lumber Co., Chattanooga, Tenn., 

 said that the present high ocean freight rates are holding up the 

 shipment of millions of feet of hardwoods to foreign countries. It 



was the opinion of the exporters that a fixed rate must be secured 

 that will enable the American lumbermen to meet the European 

 competition and at the same time assure dependable service. 



The convention was called to order by R. S. Huddleston, of New 

 York, president. His annual report was confidential, all the ses- 

 sions being executive. Harvey M. Dickson, secretary and traffic 

 manager of Baltimore and John L. Alcock, Baltimore, treasurer, 

 presented their reports. A detailed account of conditions abroad 

 was contained in the report of Frank Tiffany of Leamington, Eng- 

 land, the foreign representative of the association. The report of 

 the Transportation Committee, of which D. D. Hartlove of Balti- 

 more, is chairman, was likewise read. 



The visiting lumbermen and shipping men were entertained at 

 dinner at the Business Men's Club by the Cincinnati members of 

 the association. The Committee on Arrangements comprised Ed- 

 ward Barber, Howard & Barber; J. J. Linehan, Mowbray & Rob- 

 inson Lumber Co., and W. J. Eckman, M. B. Farrin Lumber Co. 

 Topical songs with prominent members of the association for sub- 

 jects proved the 

 decided hit of the 

 evening. William 

 Nimmo 's Scotch 

 Kiltie Band and a 

 jazz orchestra 

 added to the en- 

 tertainment. 



Harvey M. Dick- 

 son, secretary, was 

 honored with the 

 presentation of a 

 gold watch, chain 

 and knife and a 

 purse of gold coins 

 as a testimonial of 

 his work on be- 

 half of the asso- 

 ciation. The pre- 

 sentation speech 

 was made by Mr. 

 Busse. Mr. Eusse 

 was likewise hon- 

 ored by the asso- 

 c i at i n, being 

 elected a life mem- 



First Vice-President 



ber, an honor which he alone enjoys. 



The results of the annual election, held on January 26, are as 

 follows: President, D. D. Hartlove, Price & Heald, Baltimore; 

 First Vice-President, E. L. Jurden, Penrod-Jurden Company, 

 Memphis, Tenn.; Second Vice-President, 6. A. Farber, Turner- 

 Farber-Love Company, Memphis, Tenn., and London, England; 

 Treasurer, John L. Alcock, John L. Alcock & Co., Baltimore; Secre- 

 tary, Harvey M. Dickson, Baltimore; Foreign Representative, John 

 Tiffany, Leamington, England. Members of the Board of Directors, 

 Lucas E. Moore, Lucas E. Moore Stave Co., New Orleans; F. F. 

 Turner, Turner-Farber-Love Company, Memphis, Tenn., W. W. 

 Knight, Long-Knight Lumber Co., Indianapolis, and J. W. May- 

 hew, W. M. Ritter Lumber Co., Columbus, O. 



After considerable discussion the association adopted a resolution 

 opposing the international bill of lading known as "The Hague 

 Rule 1921," inasmuch as the Interstate Commerce Commission had 

 authorized an export bill of lading for American Shippers which 

 the members believe will meet their needs better. 



After making slight modifications the forms of contracts sub- 



(Contlnued on page 22) 



