The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-08
HARTMAN IN A hot FIGHT
TO KEEP UNCLE SANS TRAFFIC
FOR HIS RAILROADS.

j. ). Hiii and NOrthern.Route People Lined
Up 10 Have Transport Service Sold TO
Boston steamship Co.. Which Would
carry Everything by seattle Route
VIII bids he ReOpened? the Strug.
gle May Be Taken Into Congress.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.-Presdent T.. II
Hartman Of the Southern Pacific Railroad
and head II the Hartman system, and
Nice-President Paul Morton of the Santa
Fe Railroad. in connection with Senator
Perkins of California and the merchants
of San Francisco. are determnedNto put up
the strongest possible fight against the
awarding of the contract for army trans
portation across the Pacific to the Boston
Steamship Company by the War Depart
ment
The bid OF this company has been under
consideration by the Secretary Of War
for some time, and there has been much
talk of transferring the transportation Of
troops and stores from Government hands
70 the Boston Steamship Company, whose
ships sail from Seattle, thus shifting the
enormous traffic and trade of the Southern
railroad lines and San Francisco to the
Northern railroad lines and seattle
Some time ago the War Depart ment de-
cided that there would be great economy
in transferring the transport service from
the Government 10 private company
and advertised for bids The Boston
Steamship Company of Boston. but with
headquarters ia Seattle. was the only bidder,
and in official circles here il was believed
II would receive the award Of the cont act
James j. Hill of the Great Northern and
the business men Of Seattle have been doing
everything in their power to promote this
award. and until recently no steps had been
taken to oppose II.
Nice-Presdent Morton has come to WASH
ington 10 take hand in the fight He had
an interview with Gen. Ludington. Quar-
termaster-(ieneralo of the army at the War
Department yesterday in an effort to pre-
vent the award of the contract. Mr. Morton
wished TO see Secretary Root, but was told
the Secretary was in New York and had
the papers relating TO the contrac with him
He will not return until Wednesday and no
action will be taken until then.
James j. Hill will come TO Washington
on Tuesday and so will President Wnslow
OF the Boston Steamship Company and
several prominent men from Seattle. Frank
Warehouse, aging agent Of the steam
ship company at Seattle. is here now. but
is seriously ill.,
President Hartman was in conference in
New York yesterday with j {. Stumps,
traffic manager Of his system and X. p
Schwerin. vice-prcsident Of the Pacific
Mail and early in the week will come TO
Washington
The representatives of the Southern side
OF the fight hop. to induce the War De-
partinent 10 reopen the question and allow
new bids TO he made. II this is done the
representatives of the railroads and the
IIorch"n'~ of san Francisco will join in the
formation OF company To underhld the
Boston Steamship Company or any other
concern that may enter into the competition
III" question has taken an even more
serious ASPECT by drawing to II the possible
'.rference Of Congress. Represent i've
Hull chairman Of the House Committee
co., 'ili'ary Ahairs, says that in his opinion
II !. beyond Ia" authority of the Secretary
of War TO make III" proposed transfer of the
serNiCs, and II Is possible that IL such an
attempt l. made, Congress will have some
hing 70 say on the subject
MI Hull Is Il m" personal belief that.
although greater expense il incurred
by the Governments handling Of the ser
vice, the men and stores receive much
better care than they would in the hands
OF private company. Mr.. Hull also saws
that he Is not alone in this opinion and that
several members of his COMMITTEE concur
in his view OF he rnp''pr