Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-23
SUBSIDIES TO STEAMSHIPS.
San Francisco Deeply Interested in
the Question.
A Subject That Needs Attention.

the Question.
A Subject That Needs Attention.
SAN Francisco, June 22,-tSpecal Tele-
gram TO The Bee. l. Along the water front
great interest is manifested as TO the action
of the next congress regarding steamship
subsidies, for unless something is done all
American steamers will De driven from the
Pacific. Since the passage of the exclusion
act the Pacific Mail company has had TO de-
pend wholly on freight traffic with China.
The Canadian Pacific line is heavily subsi-
died by both the imperial and dominion gov
ernments, and new fast steamers have been
put on that run from Yokohama to Van.
couver in the past two weeks The conse-
quence is that they are getting all the pas.
senger traffic and the best part of the freight
traffic which goes over the subsidized Cana.
dian Pacific road. The New Zealand gov
ernment has withdrawn its mail subsidy TO
the Ocean line and now only New South
Wales contributes, and their contract ex-
pires in year, during which time they will
look after other lines. The colonies are much
hurt at the utter indifference of the
United States, as the latter receive most of
the benefit in the way of commerce. The
Canadian and imperial governments are
anxious to divert mail and trade to the
Canadian lines, and unless something Is done
our large and rapidly growing trade with
the South Pacific islands and Australia will
be ruined. The outlook is good for laying an
ocean cable TO the Hawiian islands. Canada
is also anxious to get this, but the islanders
much prefer line to the states. Columbus
Waterhouse, representative of the Hawian
syndicate, arrived this week TO interest
Americans in taking stock A large amount
has already been subscribed in Honolulu
He says work will be commenced in eighteen
months. and that more than 81 ZOO, 600 is now
subscribed 1t will cost 81, 500, 900
The railway elections and changes which
occurred during the past week have had
much effect on the entire west. The elections
at Portland, in the Oregon Transcontinental
and Oregon Railway and Navigation compa-
MES, resulted in victory for Willard. The
Union Pacific has gained victories of much
value to that line and benefit to
Omaha. 1t will soon penetrate Spo-
kane Falls and share in the enormous
trade of eastern Washington with the
Northern Pacific, and will before many
months have direct outlet to Puget Sound
The Santa F'e made traffic arrangements
the Wabash. BY the latter arrangements
the Santa Fe runs direct into ST. Louis,
making connection at Bucklin, Mo. This IS
of great advantage to the west, as iron, beer,
clothing and much merchandise comes from
St. Louis.
A case of rank injustice done to witness
has just come to light here. On February II
Robert Phelan was arrested for the murder
of Arine Johansen. Three witnesses to the
killing were locked up. No information was
filed by the prosecuting attorney till March
20. The three and prisoner were not ar
raigned to plead till the Both, and the next
day entered plea of not guilty, but for
some reason did not again appear in court till
May 6. They were then returned to Jail
without any action on the case. 1t
was finally placed on the calendar
on May 13, and subsequently set
for trial on July 15 Two of the witnesses
are sailors The other Edward Orlandi, is
a lumber mill laborer. Not being able to
furnish bail, all were locked up. They have
been confined ever since as common GRIMM
ais, and thrown into cells with murderers,
burglars and others. johnson says that
when first locked up they were thrown into
the dark hole for three weeks, which was
flooded at times from the winter rains.
Later johnson secured position in the
Kitchen, and favored his comrades as much
as possible. Nearly all the judges are taking
a vacation. and it is more than likely that
the case will again be postponed and these
men languish in prison another month for
being innocent witnesses to a crime. The
case will be called to the attention of the
grand jury, and an investigation is probable.
Half dozen big suits to recover nearly
one half of the city have been filed during
the past week. Part are based ON old Span
lsh concessions, and part on pure gall-none
but what have been exploded before, and
they are looked upon as mainly blackmailing
schemes. Still, they have had influence on
the realestate market
The Anglo-Pacific Steel company, an
English syndicate capitalized at $4,000, will
soon begin the erection of large iron and
steel works-the first erected on the coast.
The iron works will be located at Seattle,
where are large mines-coal, iron and lime.
Three millions will be expended building
furnaces. A steel plant will also be located
at Vellejo, on Upper San Francisco bay,
thirty miles from this city, where 100000
will be expended. Valleis gives lands and
wharfage. The iron works at Seattle are the
first to be established west of Denver
Lack of business methods in the naval de-
partment at Washington is shown in the case
of the discharged seamen from the wrecked
steamers at Samoa The paymaster of the
Vandalia was drowned and the books de-
stroyed. Upon arrival here many were dis
charged after only receiving pay from the
date of the disaster to arrival while all
moneys due prior to the storm and $50 "bag
money" for lost effects were not received.
The duplicate accounts Ought to have been
here several weeks ago. So the sailors make
affidavit to them, as it Is not here yet, and a