Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11
TRANSPORT SERVICE
SAN FRANCIsCANs OBJECT TO Tfs
TRANSFER.
Opposition to Its Establishment at
Seattle or Any Other Port-Hearing
Given by Secretary Root.

Secretary Root returned from New York
| last evening and this morning gave hear
| Ing at the War Department to delegation
| from San Francisco In general opposition
| to the proposition before the department
to transfer the Pacific military transport
business from San Francisco to Seattle or
any other port. The delegation consisted
Of Mr.. r. p. Schwerin, vice president and
general manager OF the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, Senator Perkins, Represen-
tative Metcalf Of San Francisco, Mr.. James
G. Phelan. ex-mayor OF San Francisco, and
Attorney lEvarts Of New York.
They had previously called on the Presi-
dent at the White House. and by him were
referred to the Secretary Of War.
Manager Schwerin Heard.
Mr.. Schwerin, who appeared In behalf OF
all the steamship and railroad companies at
San Francisco. was the spokesman OF the
party. He assured the secretary that the
people Of San Francisco had not been
asleep in regard to this matter, as had been
asserted, and said that the reason that they
did not bid for the government transport
business was because such action would
have been fraud on its face He explained
this remark by saying that although the
company represented by him has the largest
and best fleet on the Pacific. it was only
fair to say that 1t did not have at this time
adequate facilities to handle the govern
ment business properly.
The same was true, he added, Of the Bos-
ton Company, whose bid for Seattle was
under consideration. Mr.. Schwerin said 1t
would take that company at least three
months to put their freight steamers IN
condition to carry troops and other pas
sengers. and even then the service would De
inferior.
Willing to Buy OF Charter.
The government. said Mr.. Schwerin, now
has frst-class service in the transports
Sherman, Logan and other steamships. He
said that the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany will either purchase or charter the
government feet and make satisfactory
terms with the War Department by COM
petition or otherwise.
If new bids are invited on those lines he
said his company would put In bid, and he
promised that its rates would be as low
and as reasonable those Of any other
company. He added that while all the rail-
road rates are the same, the Northern Pa
cific railroad as a bond-aided road Is COM
PEELED to make a reduction In settlements
with the government Notwithstanding this.
Mr.. Schwerin said that his company would
undertake to equalize its rates. He as
serted that no contract could be made at
this time which could be put In operation
before the LIST Of July next. and suggested
that it would be to the interest Of the gov
eminent to invite bids running for q year
from that time.
In case the army transports are sold or
chartered to his company Mr.. Schwerln
said that 1t could be done with stipulation
for their use by the government In case OF
war or other emergency.
Interests at San Francisco.
In answer to questions asked by Secretary
Root. Mr.. Schwerin and other uembefS Of
the delegation, notably Senator Perkihs>
declared that 1t was clearly to the interests
of the government to conduct its business
with the Philippines through San Francisco,
which was the natural and central port or
the United States on the Pacific coast
There the government, 1t was explained,
has an extensive military reservation, bar
racks general hospitals, etc. and leases
premises which inure to the benefit Of the
service and the comfort Of the soldier.
They declare that it would be wasteful to
abandon this costly plant. and argued that.
its transports, it Is necessary a simple
measure of economy to continue their OPP
Grafton or to let some one else operate
them.
In closing. Mr.. Schwerin said that his
people would be willing to take charge of
any all the government business, which
statement led Secretary Root to remark
that the bid Of the Boston s. s. Co. con-
tanned a stipulation that it should receive
three-fourths of all the government bust
ness on the Pacific. which condition the
Secretary added. had caused him to with
hold acceptance of the bid. The Secretary
their proposition under advisement before
a