The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-05
Will Have Something to Com
municate to Taft.
CONDITIONS ON COAST.
Expected to Tell Something
About Freight Situation.
May Have Direct Bearing on
Mr.. Hartman.

was
in Kansas City last night on his way
to Washington. He's Joseph L. Bris-
tow of Salina and he's to make a re-
port on a little matter to William How
ard Taft, secretary of war. And the
report may not be exactly to the lik-
ing of E. H. Hartman and his asso-
clates. Mr.. Bristow said he couldn't
discuss his mission last night but this
is the story:
On the report that Mr.. Bristow will
make to Secretary Taft depends a
project which has for its purpose the
wrestling of the control of transconti-
mental freight rates from Mr.. Harri-
man and his associates. If the report
follows the lines of the one made by
Mr.. Bristow two years ago on trade
conditions in Panama, the government
may increase it's control of steamships
and railroads so as to make a govern
ment water and rail line from New
York by way of Colon and Panama to
Seattle.
When Secretary Taft was in Seattle
on his way to the Orient he sent a
commissioner to Mr.. Bristow to investl-
gate conditions on the Pacific coast.
Secretary Taft said that the service af-
forded by the Pacific Mail Steamship
line was very unsatisfactory and that
he was considering the advisability of
establishing steamship line on the
Pacific coast to be operated by the
Panama Railroad company. The Pan
all of the stock of which is held by
Secretary Taft as agent of the govern
ment.
The investigation asked for was prac-
tically a continuation of the investiga
ton made by Mr.. Bristow two years
ago. At that time Mr.. BriStow recon-
mended that the government continue
the operation of the Panama railroad
as commercial line, and the steam
ship line between New York and Colon,
Atlantic
railroad. He further recommended that
if satisfactory service could not be had
between Panama, the Pacific coast
terminal of the Panama railroad and
the operation of coast steamers to
transport mail, freight and passengers
between Panama, San Diego, San Pc
dro, San Francisco and other Pacific
coast points. The government adopted
the suggestions contained in the report
as far as the operation of the Atlantic
coast line and the Panama railroad was
concerned, and left the Pacific coast
traffic with the Pacific Mail line. This
service has proved unsatisfactory from
many StandpOints. Competition has
been throttled by Hartman and the
situation is not pleasing to the govern
ment e Hence Mr.. Bristsw's commits
sion as special Panama commissioner
was renewed. o.
If the government should decide to
operate a steamship line on the Pacific
coast it will disturb some very profit,
able business that is now enjoyed by
the Hartman interests. Under the old
French company the transcontinental
railroads at one time, paid about
million dollars a. year subsidy to the
Panama Railroad company for the pur-
pose of controlling freight rates by way
of Panama. E. H. Hartman, through
the Pacific Mail company, had, and still
has. practically all freight shipments
for the Pacific coast by way of Pana-
ma. Incidentally the Hartman in
terests have discouraged the shipment
Of all transcontinental freight by the |
Panama railroad route. Their opera |
ton of the Pacific Mail has just been
enough to keep out other lines and to !
exercise a leverage to keep up trans
railway rates. With the
government operating water and rail |
route from New York to Seattle, and |
when the canal is completed an all wa |
Ter route, the influence on transconti- |
rental freight rates is obvious. 1t will |
mean a material reduction in the rates |
charged for. all classes of freight, ex- |
.ept perishable freight and that reQui1- |
ng speedy transportation.
1t Hinges on Bristow's Report.
1t is these conditions that are being |
by Mr. Bristow and his re-
port will deal with the phase of the |
subject whether the government is JUS |
flied in expanding several million dol
ars and establishing what would be,
n fact, government commercial
;teamship line.
ST cannot talk about my mission Mr..
3ristow said at the Union depot last
hight 81 have been making my in
and am going to Washing
on to see the interstate commerce
commission and complete my report.
Expect to meet Secretary Taft, when he
eturns from abroad, either in New
York or Washington. Il do not know
low long I will be concerned with the
natter and do not know when my en-
,loyment with the government will
nd"
Mr.. Bristow's last work for the gov
rnment was his report two years ago