The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-23
TRAMPS ARE SAFE
STEAMSHIPS OF THAT CLASS BE-
YoND MORGAN's CONTROL.
SHIP BROKERS THINK so.
THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THEIR
BUSINESS is THREATENED.

No Concern Caused Savannah Ship
of Transatlantic Lines Under "a
Morgan Syndicate-They Say They
VIII Always BE Able to Charter
All the Tramp Steamers They
Want-Ownership of Vessels of
This Class Is Too Diversified to
Admit of n Syndicate ContrOI-Con-
soIidation Not Expected to Damage
Snyannah's Shipping Interests.
Savannah ship brokers have not been
alarmed by the statement that the
Morgan syndicate will consolidate the
five great transatlantic steamship
lines. They do not apprehend that the
perfection of the plans of the syndi-
cate will be followed by damage to
their own interests.
Mr.. j. NJ. Barnard, of j. M. Barnard
& Co., was seen yesterday about the
prospective consolidation and it's effect
upon the business of ship brokers at
Savannah. There was nothing in the
views he expressed TO indicate that any
results affecting this port will follow.
Nothing is to be feared from the
consolidation, in my opinion" said Mr..
Barnard. eff there should be any eff
feet, 1 should rather think that it
would be for the benefit of the ship
ping interests of Savannah. l believe
that the equalization of rates from
New York and other large ports to
foreign ports would have the effect of
hardening Savannah rates.
Can't Control Tramps.
Il should like for some one to show
me how any syndicate is going to con-
troll the tramp steamships. That can't
be done. 1 have not the slightest fear
but that we will be able to get all the
vessels that we may want. There are
plenty of them ready to charter. l do
not think the Morgan people have had
any idea of trying to control the
tramps, and there does not seem to be
any reason for apprehension on this
score.
Direct rates on cotton from Savan-
nah to Bremen were lower all last win
ter than the rate via New York. The
rate from savannah QlrecL mas Deen
anywhere from 20 to 25 cents a hun
bred. which is low enough to keep the
business moving by the chartered YES
sells. Most of the movement from New
York now is by the regular liners,
tramps not being SO numerous at that
port as formerly. Occasionally one ap-
pears there for a cargo, and, in the
anxiety to make up one for it, the rate
from New York to the foreign port is
cut" ..
Brokers Not Disturbed. ~
A member of another firm of ship
brokers said that he had heard no dis
cussion on the Bay about the prospec-
tive consolidation, and he inferred from
this that none of the ship brokers feel
that their interests are threatened.
"The. ownership of tramp steam
ships,' said the gentleman, lis entirely
too diversified now to admit of any
syndicate getting control of them. No
body cam say to whom tramps shall
be chartered or to what ports they will
be permitted to run, There was a time
when Great Britain had a practical
monopoly in this business, but there
are many German tramps, while italy
and other countries are branching out
Control of the tramps of all these
countries could not be secured. a.
"As / understand it, the syndicate
Is looking principally after passenger
business. 1t is not seeking, either as
understand the situation, to exercise
a control over rates from ports at
which the vessels of the five big lines
do not touch"