The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-12
WHAT BRIST0W FOUND.
Competition Has Been Wholly Elimi-
mated in Isthmian Traffic.

Washington, April 1.-THE conference
between Joseph L. BristoW, special
commissioners. and Secretary TAFT was
brief. but served to bring out sharply
the main points in the traffic problem
which President Roosevelt wishes TO
solve. Mr.. Bristow said that the man
agement of the Panama road up to this
time had been predicated on the idea
of making all the money possible for
the stockholders Of the road. The road
and Pacific Mail company work I'M
der q contract that practically destroys
all competition. h road controls the
wharf privileges at both terminals ana
under the pretext that its " vessels
are constantly expected to arrive the
steamers of other lines are allow
ed to tie up at their docks.
Mr.. BristoW suggests h a if the Pan
anna road should be double tracked, the
wharf facilities improved and fair rules
adopted so that there might be full
competition, the trade over the o
would be so increased that its earnings
would not be materially reduced, even
with a reduction of rates. He states
that there are combinations among all
the steamship lines doing business be-
tween the east and west coasts OF both
North and South America and also
along the English and German lines
that Civ through bills of lading from
European ports to ports on the west
coast of the United States. The Pa
cifc Mail and the Panama Railroad
company have a combination with the
I Pacific Steamship company, an English
line, to ports OF the west coast of South
America and also with the Chilean
steamship company. The lines that
carry freight between ports on the west
coast of the United States Inc ports on
the east coast OF Mexico and South
America are also in a combination and
there is no competition.
The problem connected with the man
agement OF the Panama road by the
.~-~0-A-,D-E Sc 70 h,-o1 L Inv--, - nnr-4h1a
the combinations and establish the free
and fair opportunity for trade. Under
the operation Of the navigation laws
which restrict trade between east coast
ports of the United States and Pacific
+ coast ports to American bottoms the re-
ductiOn of the railroad rates would re-
suit in great advantage to our shipping
n largely increase traffic. The Ger
man and English lines in the combina-
/ tons would naturally profit by the re-
/ duction, but this is a consideration that
must be left to take car of itself.
The president and Secretary Taft are
unequivocally in favor of reducing rates
on the isthmus without regard to con-
sequences to other lines. The effect
would be in a measure operative
against the transcontinentaI roads of the
United States. but it is urged that this
would be a SaIutary and desirable result
and while it would not be the end
sought if it came incidentally, the pres
ident would regard it as a public good.
The aim is to retain the three steam
ships that have come into the possession
Of the government in connection with
the acquisition of the Panama road. as
well as those that are leased by the
company. h YOU be done primari-
" to regulate rates between New York
and the isthmus, as well as rates to
San Francisco and other Pacific ports.
The situation on the Pacific side will
not, however, be adjusted in such. a
way. as the president does not now re-
gard it as ~expedient for the govern
ment to acquire steamships on hat side
to effect a control of freight rates. On
the Atlantic i the matter is import
ant because the government is itself a
large patron of the steamship line with
goods destined for use in the canal zone.
If the time should come when the
government would require the transport
tation of large amounts of freight re-
quired for the canal zone the purchase
Of steamships on the Pacific side would
be taken up without any hesitation. For
the present. according to high authori-
ty. the matter will be left in allegiance
and approached tentatively until there
is justification for the step.