The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-15
THE TRANSPORT
PROBLEM AND
SAN FRANCISCO

( PERKINS
of California called the Secretary Of War this afternoon
after the Senate adjournment and later said Examiner
reporter
Il called Secretary Root and found him just returned from
hours consultation with General Ludngon
and Colonies Long and Patton OF his department The Secretary
said he had given his intention in his report of last and
again this year. He had been very much surprised San Fran
ciscos apathy this in view of the fact that the Chamber
of Commerce of that city early contemplated
change the financial loss would entail upon
that city 1t beyond his comprehension that bid had been
received from there He said the transport lines centeng at
San Francisco had been especially notified of this change had
not moved in the matter
when asked the Secretary to hold his decision until bid
could be put in from city he asked me could guarantee
that such bid would be offered and could not He then told
that he going New York tonight be gone few days
and would hold the matter until his return He had to-day
ordered from the department complete
inventory of Government property San Francisco which, in the
of the bid of the Boston Towboa Company being accepted
would be obliged to be abandoned and it, his San
Francisco has bid in would consider it with this
data If no bid offered then the Hill bid would be accepted
when called his attention the short of the
bid he informed me that for long time he
thorized make but assured that would
at the mercy OF the commercial bodes he did not intend SELL
ing the transports but would rather put them complete repair
and lay them up fresh that the company did
the for another he would
port service from Puget Sound San Francisco would however,
lose the business"
WASHINGTON December 4-Secretarv Root next We'd
nesday will accept reject the bid of the Boston Steamship
pany for handling the Pacific transport was here
today returning to New York this evening While here he had
extended conference with Quaremase General Ludngon
regarding transport and also talked with
kns. Secretary Root may have interviewed by J. HILL
call at the War Department.
The Secretary of War told Senator Perkins that the Seattle bid
was apparently desirable and transportation across
the Pacific concerned the figures lower than the of
operating the transports Other things entered the matter
however, such the quaerng of troops to and from
the Phppmes commssary storage and which required
consideration While he spoke inventory Government prop
r and lands at Puget Sound and San Francisco being
amined
81" accept the Boston Steamship Company bid" said Sec
rotary Root I'VE will not sell the transports but will put them
good condition and lay them up fresh Benca
they will be available whenever needed"
In reply to suggestion that six months
contract involving such great changes
would advertise again before the end OF the fiscal year
contract for the fiscal with company
the desirable bid He repeated Senator Perkins the
thought contained in his report awarding the
commercial line the Pacific figure
alone might not be the controlling factor
Senator Perkins asked Secretary would not readve
se and give San Francisco chance bid that full
knowledge of the situation had been obtained Root replied by
asking Perkins he could give that reliable parties
would offer bids Perkins could do this off hand said he
would communicate with San Francisco shipping
be able to later Secretary Root then promised
further conference with Perkins Wednesday morning
If San francisco is ready bids Root may
reject the Seattle bid and eadvertse Root nmaed that ne
would prefer have the awarded
line account of the facilities in handling and
plies through the depot already established He said he
astOnshed that the Pacific Mail and Spcke had
put in bids
Senator Perkins, after his with Root spoke of ono
item that would mean much commercial netha of
ing the mails Under the law mails paid for the
of ST. pound which in anspacfc business would
about 100000 pounds year In addition this the Navy D..
pamen Lighthouse Board Marine Hospital and other
branches OF the Government sends considerable freight
Philippines in the Army transports which they would have
send by commercial line If the transports abandoned
together the Government business between the Coast Manila
is well worth striving for.
SAN FRANCISCO,
commerce held
private service projected