The morning call., 1893-06-08
MR.. HUNTINGTON'S WAY.

The China steamers entering San Fran
CISCO haroor have long been manned by
Mongollan sailors, on the scale OF two for
every white man who would be employed.
IL now appears that on the Occidental and
Oriental line all white labor has been ex-
truded except in the case of the officers.
MIR. Huntington may possibly have ulte-
rlor Intentions in this respect also, II he
does not run counter to the regulations OF
the English Board of Trade, the insurance
companies and the White Star Company,
the steamers of this line all being char
tered and not American built, and there
fore not controlled by American law.
For so patriotic a service Mr.. Huntington
may have a few Chinese of mandarin rank
studying navigation, in order eventually to
qualify for captain. chief officer and other
positions requiring more knowledge than
Celestial cook or dishwasher possesses.
But sufficient for the dav is the degrada-
ton thereof. The preference shown by
the Southern Pacific for itself and China
men has always been remarkable. Its mag
mates got on their legs little higher IN the
world than they would otherwise have
done by employing Mongolans to build
the Central Pacific. although Congress was
prodigally generous in subsidies and land
grants. And the population of this State
would be largely Chinese if the South
ern Pacific had had its way. Hence its en-
terprise in the Orient trade is not incon-
sisteDt with its views of the fitness of
things for itself always and the rest OF the
world casually.
The Occidental and Oriental line of
steamers was started about fifteen years
ago as check upon the Pacific Mail, which
then was not moored to the monopoly S
depots, and as an artful device by which
the whole of the trade with China and
Japan could be secured It was started on
the plan that rival omnibus propretOrs
pursue; one vehicle keeps the opposition
constantly in sight. 1t was cheaper to
charter steamers than TO build them here
or in the East, and the White Star fleet
could spare few of its older vessels for a
fixed income. The service has continued
under the British flag ever since. aud, as
patriotism is not the ruling passion with the
Southern Pacific. there is no saying how
soon the Chinese flag may be hOsted. As
far as personnel is eouce eTned this would
be appropriate. The Gaelic, now in port,
has a Chinaman at every post except Oh
IHo iuRG. Hb Couke anu ASSISTANTS di Z
Chinese; so are the walters, the stateroom
stewards. the dishwasners and the rest of
the crew. 1t is possible to work a ship
with a Chinese boatswan and Chinese
quartermasters, and perchance the Scotch
men in the engine-room are trembling for
their situations and comforting themselves
with Burns reflections on Man was made
TO mourn"
This hardly seems the right way to
build up American industries, but the
Southern Pacific has its own methods. 1t
looks upon the trade with China and
japan as part of the Southern Pacific
possessions, and it has SO contrved
matters that San Francisco merchants
have as little to do with the commerce of
the Orient as possible. 1t i. first the long
haul, and then anybody in the East is
allowed first finger in this business. Under
such a system it is not much wonder that
the trade is stagnant and that most of it
in Japan, as a visitor says, is in the hands
of English houses