376 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1917. 



ject to compulsory arbitration by Congress of differences 

 affecting operation. 



The agreement reached between the railway managers 

 and the four brotherhoods to avert a nation-wide strike 

 should by no means be overlooked, however. As a result 

 of their public-spirited concession, previous to the court 

 decision, the railway managers emerge with great credit 

 from the controversy. It now remains for organized 

 labor to make good its own recent pledge of patriotism, 

 supporting the President in any measures he may deem 

 it necessary to take as the international situation de- 

 velops. -Of course, in increasing operating expenses ap- 

 proximately $50,000,000 a year in trainmen's wages, the 

 railwa}- managers have paved the way for a ruling by 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission granting higher 

 freight rates. The public will later hear of this through 

 local storekeepers of every sort, hut the public has an 

 extraordinary liking for indirect taxation such as this 

 in contrast with higher passenger rates which all can see. 



THE EGYPTIAN COTTON EMBARGO. 



THE embargo on shipments of Egyptian cotton from 

 Alexandria and Liverpool, recently declared by the 

 British Government, has the appearance of an unneces- 

 sary precaution. While the Indian cotton tariff is likely 

 to be of direct benefit to Great Britain in the conduct 

 of the war, this embargo is not of equally certain intent. 

 Possibly she desires to place the importation of cotton 

 b\- the United States under control similar to that of 

 rubber, yet it is doubtful that much, if any, Egyptian 

 cotton reaches British enemies through American re- 

 exports. Shipments to the United States have shown a 

 steady increase, it is true, but the manufacture of auto- 

 mobile tires has made a corresponding growth. A con- 

 servative estimate places the 1917 output at 25,000,000. 

 and it is for tire fabrics that most of the imported 

 Egyptian cotton is used. 



A significant sidelight on the present situation is seen 

 in the keen interest now being manifested by tire manu- 

 facturers in long-staple cotton planting, to the details 

 of which an article on another page is devoted. 



PENALIZING CARELESSNESS. 



ACCIDENT compensation laws are highly commend- 

 able, and it is an indication of progress that 33 

 states have enacted such legislation with numerous 

 amendments. Unfortunately, however, these acts are so 

 widely at variance, both in safeguards required and dam- 

 ages prescribed, as to render it a considerable task for 

 firms engaged in interstate business to keep tabs on all 

 of them and avoid violating the laws of one state while 

 abiding by those of another. Real need of uniformity 

 exists, and with the coming of standardization several 

 reforms should be inaugurated. .V national bureau on 

 uniform safety devices for each industry is needed, and 



deformed persons should be insured a fair chance to 

 secure employment. 



The most important reform, however, lies in the direc- 

 tion of penalizing carelessness. Statistics show that year 

 after year accidents due to carelessness of the injured 

 greatly exceed those due to lack of safeguards, yet not 

 one of the states having accident compensation laws takes 

 this cause into consideration, ^lany accidents attributed 

 to carelessness are in reality the result of employes mis- 

 representing their ability when being hired, and therefore 

 being assigned to work for which they are unqualified. 

 Obviously, the employe as well as the em])loyer should 

 shoulder his just portion of the liability. Uniform laws 

 in justice to all will l>e admittedly difficult to frame, luit 

 the matter deserves earnest, imoartial study and early 

 action. 



F. M. S. RUBBER EXPORT TAX. 



THE disposition of American rtibber manufacturers 

 to extend their Far East plantations has led to pro- 

 tective measures on the part of British rubber interests. 

 Tlie initial step was taken by the Federated Malay States 

 when a so-called "War Taxation Enactment," effective 

 for one year from January 1, 1917, was passed, imposing 

 export taxes .on ruljber and tin in addition to the regular 

 customs duties. When the price of cultivated rubber 

 does not exceed 2s. 6d. per pound, the tax is 2}^ per 

 cent ad valorem, otherwise 5 per cent. British property 

 owners liable to pay an income tax on the profits from^ 

 exported rubber are exempt from this export tax. Simi- 

 lar preferential enactments are likely to result elsewhere 

 under British suzerainty. While obviously detrimental 

 to American interests this is deemed an act of justice to 

 the pioneers who risked their capital in building up the 

 plantation industry of Malaya. 



THE MOTORIZATION OF THE CIRCUS. 



THE noble horse has made his last stand as a transpor- 

 tation necessity, and lost. For many years the 

 motor vehicle has been usurping his place for pleasure 

 driving, heavy hauling, light deliveries and fire service. 

 In the world war, too, much of his former work is being 

 done by motors. And last month came the announcement 

 that even the circus manager is forsaking him, except 

 for show purposes. The world's first motor truck circus, 

 to be launched in May by the United States Circus Cor- 

 poration, promises to revolutionize the outdoor amuse- 

 ment business, if not several lines of purely commercial 

 transportation. The experiment will be watched in sev- 

 eral quarters with the utmost interest because the se- 

 verity of the test may bring about a distinct change in 

 the type of solid tires for heavy trucks. At the outset 

 both trucks and trailers will be equipped with large, sin- 

 gle-tread solid tires designed to supply what the dual 

 tread lacks in traction, even wear and extraordinary 

 strength neccssarv to resist the strains of heavv service. 



