Control over Rates The steamers of the Philippine Islands are not allowed to charge the prices “the traffic will bear,” without any recourse by shippers. The Public Utility Commission fixes the maximum rates for all classes of traffic and for all ports of the Islands. In this way the interests of the producing and consuming public are protected, and destructive rate wars between shipper and carrier and among the several companies are avoided.
The number and tonnage of vessels engaged in domestic shipping are as follows:
Number and registered tonnage of vessels engaged in domestic shipping, by ports of entry, 1918–22
[Source: Bureau of Customs]
MANILA
| Year | Entered | Cleared | ||
| 1918. | 3,782 | 630,980 | 3,858 | 644,831 |
| 1919. | 3,359 | 709,980 | 3,474 | 723,986 |
| 1920. | 3,266 | 845,227 | 3,452 | 975,448 |
| 1921. | 3,210 | 888,238 | 3,410 | 1,090,668 |
| 1922. | 3,570 | 1,006,556 | 3,741 | 1,293,564 |
ILOILO
| 1918. | 4,770 | 357,641 | 4,755 | 320,441 |
| 1919. | 5,317 | 447,272 | 5,355 | 456,308 |
| 1920. | 6,830 | 687,828 | 6,818 | 625,746 |
| 1921. | 6,699 | 755,521 | 6,708 | 667,506 |
| 1922. | 6,822 | 878,074 | 6,843 | 806,642 |
CEBU
| 1918. | 5,625 | 357,523 | 5,645 | 327,196 |
| 1919. | 5,386 | 432,007 | 5,562 | 437,896 |
| 1920. | 4,947 | 560,925 | 5,029 | 464,791 |
| 1921. | 5,157 | 634,904 | 5,170 | 465,355 |
| 1922. | 5,713 | 967,494 | 5,800 | 656,828 |