San Francisco-Bay area : Alameda Chamber of Commerce Bay Area Maritime Committee Board of Port Commissioners, port of Redwood City California Association of Port Authorities California Legislature, senate joint resolution California State Chamber of Commerce Canners' League of California Export Managers Association of San Francisco Marine Exchange, Inc. Monterey Fish Canners Oakland Board of Port Commissioners Oakland Chamber of Commerce Oakland World Trade Club Pacific Traffic Association of San Francisco Propeller Club of the United States, port of San Francisco San Francisco Chamber of Commerce State of California Governor's Conference on Employment Board of Harbor Commissioners, Los Angeles Harbor Commission, city of San Diego Foreign Trade Association of Southern California Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles Traffic Managers Conference Marine Association of Commerce Marine Underwriters Association Motor Truck Association of Southern California Printing Industries, Inc., of Southern California Propeller Club of the United States, port of Los Angeles San Diego Chamber of Commerce San Pedro Chamber of Commerce RESOLUTION OF THE ABERDEEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, January 10, 1950 Whereas the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce of Aberdeen, Wash., representing the industrial and commercial interests of this community, is interested in maintaining a solvent and healthy American merchant marine; and Whereas the present method of computing Panama Canal tolls is inequitable, unduly burdensome on commercial shipping, and results in higher freight rates that restrict the markets for commodities produced in the Pacific Northwest: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Congress be requested to provide a method of fixing tolls against commercial vessels using the Panama Canal which will reflect the true cost of operation and maintenance properly chargeable against such traffic and eliminate (1) the cost of providing free transit to Government vessels, (2) interest charge on the investment, and (3) at least one-half the cost of carrying on governmental functions in the Canal Zone. ABERDEEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, RESOLUTION OF MOUNTAIN PACIFIC CHAPTER, ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA, INC., SEATTLE, WASH., JANUARY 9, 1950 Whereas maritime commerce is essential to the economic welfare of the entire Puget Sound area; and 69057-50- 8 Whereas the cost of the intercoastal maritime trade is a positive factor in the cost of construction in the Puget Sound area; and Whereas the present accounting system of the Panama Canal, particularly the methods of assessing and computing tolls is such that an unfair burden is placed on Pacific coast shipping cargoes to cover the cost of unrelated Government activities at the Panama Canal; and Whereas commercial shipping is being further burdened with the cost of national defense features of the Panama Canal which have no immediate relation to Canal operation for the transiting of commercial vessels: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Mountain Pacific Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, Inc., as follows: 1. That Congress should recognize the proper relationship of commercial shipping in its use of the Panama Canal. 2. That Congress should recognize the national defense features of the Panama Canal which have no immediate relation to commercial shipping. 3. That Congress should adopt a proper corporate accounting system for the Panama Canal providing that the tolls to be exacted of commercial shipping should not include costs of unrelated Government activities or for the free passage of Government ships. 4. That present interest charges should be discontinued. 5. That all Panama Canal tolls be computed under a fair and equitable formula. That this resolution be communicated to the President of the United States, members of the Washington delegation to the United States Congress, to the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, and the Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. Adopted by the board of trustees of the Mountain Pacific Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, Inc., at their regular meeting January 9, 1950. WAYNE C. SUTTON, President. RESOLUTION OF INLAND EMPIRE WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION ADOPTED AT SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING, WALLA WALLA, WASH., DECEMBER 6 AND 7, 1949 Whereas this association has an interest in the promotion and preservation of our American merchant marine; and Whereas the said merchant marine is being penalized by bearing an unduly large percentage of the amortization and maintenance costs of the Panama Canal: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That this association support legislation that the tolls for the use of said Canal be apportioned among all of its users, together with a reasonable share of said tolls being chargeable to national defense; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to each and every member of the congressional delegations of the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, urging them to take necessary steps for the accomplishment of the aims of this resolution. RESOLUTION OF NORTHWEST MARINE TERMINAL ASSOCIATION, DECEMBER 12, 1949 Whereas a healthy American merchant marine is important to marine terminals and to the general welfare of the Northwest; and Whereas the present method of computing Panama Canal tolls is most unfait to commercial shipping: Therefore be it Resolved, That Congress provide a formula for computing Panama Canal tolls that will reflect the true cost of providing transit of commercial vessels, eliminating the cost of certain dual-purpose items as well as the cost of providing free transit to Government vessels; be it further Resolved, That the president of the Northwest Marine Terminal Association is requested to furnish copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Washington and Oregon delegations in Congress, and to members of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, and the Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. Respectfully submitted. D. J. MCGARITY, President. RESOLUTION OF Board of GOVERNORS, PROPELLER CLUB OF THE UNITED States, Port OF SEATTLE, RE PANAMA CANAL TOLLS, AUGUST 17, 1949 Whereas merchant shipping of the United States is carrying an unfair portion of the cost of operation of the Panama Canal through the payment of tolls; and Whereas while the Panama Canal is recognized as being beneficial to commercial shipping it is also serving as a national defense utility: Therefore, be it Resolved, That Congress adopt a formula for commercial tolls which takes into consideration only the true cost of commercial transits. PROPELLER CLUB OF THE UNITED STATES, PORT OF SEATTLE, RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, JANUARY 10, 1950 The Seattle Chamber of Commerce urges the second session of the Eightyfirst Congress to provide an equitable formula for computing Panama Canal tolls payable by commercial users. THOMAS M. PELLY, President (For the Seattle Chamber of Commerce). RESOLUTION OF THE PORT OF TACOMA RE PANAMA CANAL TOLLS Whereas consideration is now being given by the United States Congress in the matter of computing tolls for various transiting through the Panama Canal; and Whereas the Canal is of benefit to commercial shipping and such shipping should pay tolls that reflect the true cost of providing transits to its vessels but should not be taxed for the cost of unrelated Government activities or for the free passage of Government ships; and Whereas Pacific coast cargoes pay a great share of the tolls received from the operations of the Canal: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Port Commission of the Port of Tacoma as follows, to wit: 1. It is recognized that the Panama Canal is of benefit to commercial shipping. 2. That commercial shipping should pay tolls reflecting the true cost of providing transits to its vessels. 3. That commercial shipping should not be taxed for the cost of unrelated Government activities or for the free passage of Government ships. 4. That the so-called interest charges should cease. 5. That all Panama Canal tolls be computed under a fair and equitable formula. Unanimously adopted by the Port Commission of the Port of Tacoma at its regular meeting held on the 23d day of August 1949, all the members of the port commission being present and voting on this resolution, and signed by its president and attested by its secretary under the official seal of said commission in authentication of its passage this 23d day of August 1949. Attest: F. H. MARVIN, President, Port Commission of the Port of Tacoma. R. R. MATTISON, Secretary, Port Commission of the Port of Tacoma. RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION OF PUBLIC DOCKS, PORTLAND, OREG., Whereas the Commission of Public Docks of the City of Portland, Oreg., is engaged in the operation of municipal terminals of that city and its welfare is dependent on the volume of ocean freight handled; and Whereas the tolls assessed commercial vessels using the Panama Canal have a decided influence on the volume of such freight handled in that they are unfair and inequitable: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Congress prepare a formula for computing Panama Canal tolls that will reflect the true cost to be assessed against commercial vessels in proportion to all vessels using the Canal including Government vessels; and, be it further Resolved, That this resolution be made of record in the minutes of this meeting and that copies be furnished to the President of the United States, to the Oregon and Washington delegations in Congress, and to the members of the House Marine and Fisheries Committee, and the Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. At a regular meeting held December 12, 1949. Passed by the following vote: Ayes: Commissioners Shaver, Shuler, and Gunderson, 3. Noes: None. Absent: Commissioners Youell and Zehntbauer, 2. I certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of resolution No. 1280 passed by the Commission of Public Docks, of the City of Portland, Oreg., on December 12, 1949. D. J. MCGARITY, Secretary. RESOLUTION OF NORTHWEST CANNERS ASSOCIATION, PORTLAND, OREG. Whereas the canning and marketing of canned fruits and vegetables produced in the Pacific Northwest States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana is a very substantial industry, with a 10-year average annual pack of 19,217,072 cases, comprising an extremely important outlet for much of the surplus agricultural production of the area; and Whereas spiraling increases since June 30, 1946, of rail and water freight rates have seriously hampered the ability of Pacific Northwest canners to market their packs in eastern markets, resulting in a decrease in packs from 25,641,233 cases in 1946 to 18,191,319 cases in 1948; and Whereas approximately 59 percent of the canned pack must be sold and marketed in areas east of the Rocky Mountains, principally on the eastern seaboard; and in the calendar year 1949, 24 percent of such eastern shipments were transported by the intercoastal water carriers, which percentage is constantly and rapidly increasing; and Whereas Panama Canal tolls are an important factor in determining the ability of intercoastal steamship lines to provide economical and adequate service to the canning industry of the Pacific Northwest, and it is in the interest of the industry and also of agricultural producers generally that the Panama Canal tolls be computed on the basis of a formula which recognizes that commercial cargoes should bear only a fair and proportionate share of the costs of operating the canal: Now, therefore be it Resolved by the board of directors of the Northwest Canners Association in meeting assembled, representing the canners of more than 95 percent of the annual pack of canned fruits and vegetables in the States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, That this association support the policy of the American flag steamship lines as set forth in the following four points: 1. Commercial shipping should pay only its own way, with tolls reflecting the true cost of providing transit for commercial vessels. 2. Interest should not be charged on funds used to build the Canal. No interest or tolls are charged on the 12 other Federal-built canals. Panama Canal interest charges should be eliminated as a minimum acknowledgement of its national defense value. 3. All vessels of all types should pay tolls at the Canal. Government vessels now transit the Canal toll-free. 4. Commercial shipping should pay through tolls no more than half the cost of dual-purpose expenses of the Canal. Military and civil Government activities should bear at least half of such costs. I hereby certify that the above resolution was unanimously adopted at a special meeting of the board of directors of the Northwest Canners Association, held at Portland, Oreg., on January 5, 1950, at which a quorum was present. C. R. TULLEY, Secretary. RESOLUTION OF THE PROPELLER CLUB OF THE UNITED STATES, PORT OF PORTLAND, OREG., JANUARY 18, 1950 Whereas the Propeller Club of the United States, port of Portland, Oreg., is vitally concerned with the proper application of tolls against merchant vessels transiting the Panama Canal. It is our belief that the merchant marine should not be required to bear an unfair proportion of military and other incidental expenses at the Canal and this association wishes to go on record with you in this respect and to ask that you lend your efforts toward the establishment of proper studies by Congress looking toward the accomplishment of this end. N. A. MOORE, President. RESOLUTION OF THE ALAMEDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ALAMEDA, CALIF., JANUARY 25, 1950 Whereas it is a basic policy of the Alameda Chamber of Commerce to promote the continued development of maritime commerce in bay area ports, and Whereas tolls on commercial vessels transiting the Panama Canal are an important factor in that commerce, since 64 percent of the Pacific coast's intercoastal and offshore cargoes transit the Canal, and Whereas, present toll-setting methods cause to be reflected in tolls not only the cost of providing transit to commercial vessels, but also cost factors not related to such transits: now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Alameda Chamber of Commerce does hereby go on record before the administration and the Congress of the United States for the establishment of a definite formula for computing tolls on commercial vessels at the Panama Canal. That such tolls should include only the true cost of providing transit to commercial vessels, and should not reflect the cost of free transit to Government vessels nor more of the cost of other Government activities at the Canal or interest charges than are justly allocable to the transit of commercial cargoes. RESOLUTION OF BAY AREA MARITIME COMMITTEE, SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 20, 1949 Whereas the maritime commerce in bay area ports is essential to the economic well-being of bay cities; and Whereas this commerce has diminished substantially in the past 12-month period; and Whereas 64 percent of Pacific coast and bay area water cargoes transit the Panama Canal in contrast to but 20 percent of Gulf cargoes and 14 percent of Atlantic cargoes; and Whereas tolls at the Panama Canal constitute an unfair burden on such commerce since they reflect not only the cost of providing transit to commercial vessels but various other unrelated costs: therefore, be it Resolved, That the Bay Area Maritime Committee will petition the President of the United States, the California delegation in Congress, and Representatives Sam Rayburn, John W. McCormack, and Clark W. Thompson to cause to be established at the Panama Canal a tolls formula reflecting only the true cost of providing transit to commercial vessels and eliminating from such formula these cost factors: (1) Free transit to Government vessels of United States, Panama, and Colombia. (2) Interest charges on Panama Canal construction funds. (3) Half or some logical proportion of such Government functions serving both the national defense and commercial functions of the Canal. RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORT OF REDWOOD CITY, DECEMBER 13, 1949 Whereas the Board of Port Commissioners of the City of Redwood City is engaged in the operation of the municipal marine terminal facilities of that city, and the success of its operations is directly dependent upon the extent of the ocean freight it can serve; and |