The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-01
INSURANCE KICK IS
ANSWERED
STEAMSHIP COMPANY TAKES I'M.
SURANcE OFF PORTLAND CAR
GOES IN ORDER TO EQUALIZE
MATTERS WITH THE ASTORIA
SHIPPERS.

The Chamber OF Commerce has secured
a statement from Vice President and
General Manager X. 7. Schwerin. Of the
San Francisco and Portland Steamship
Company. whereby Portland and Astoria
will be on the same footing as regards
the Items Of marine insurance.
Especially since the destruction OF the
steamship Columbia there has been
more than usual dissatisfaction among
Astoria merchants because the cargoes
they had en- route from San Francisco
were total losses, whereas the cargoes
en- route on this steamship from San
Francisco to Portland we're being payed
for In full by this steamship company.
The following resolution was passed
by the Chamber OF Commerce at the
meeting held Monday night. August 10;
Whereas. the San Francisco a. Port.
land Steamship Company Is now and has
for long time been discriminating
against Astoria shippers in that ship
pers from Portland have their cargoes
insured by said steamship company,
while those from Astoria are not thus
cared for. therefore. be II resolved. that
requested TO place Astoria on the same
requested 10 place Astoria on the same
footing with Portland; and that II this
request IL not granted by said general
manager, that relief be sought through
the Oregon State Railroad Commission
aud the Interstate Commerce Comis-
SION
General Manager Schwerin has replied
to the letter containing this resolution
and has promised 70 place Astoria on
the same footing as Portland after
January lst, He will do this by discon.
tinuing the insurance OF Portland car
goes aud not By insurance OF Astoria
cargocs While 1t would have been more
agreeable to Astoria 10 have had recti-
iication OF this grievance made by insur.
Ing Astoria cargoes the same as Port
land cargoes were insured yet II Is
better for the commercial interests Of
Astoria that this port be put on the
same footing with Portland in the way
Mr.. Schwerin has promised, than that Of
the old way which makes discrimina-
tion against Astoria and in favor Of
Portland.
Vice President and General Manager
Schwerin under date OF September Goth
has written to Manager Whyte of the
Chamber Of Commerce as follows:
Il regret very much that your letter
to me bearing no date but embodying
the resolutions OF the Chamber of Com
merce OF Astoria passed on Monday
night. August 10th, and received by me
on August Gath and transmitted from
this Office to our attorneys. Messrs.
Knight. and Heggerty, on August 9th,
should have lain dormant in their office
until Septembr 25th, / write this letter
SO that there may be no misunderstand-
ing that there was any intention TO act
in the slightest degree discourteous to
your Chamber OF Commerce, and l must
apologize for the lapse of our attor
neys.
"In regard 10 the issue which you have
raised setting forth that you consider
1t discrimination between the ports OF
Portland and Astoria in view OF the fact
that cargoes destined to Portland and
points beyond is covered by the open
policy OF the San Francisco & Portland
Steamship Company and that destined
to Astoria is not SO covered / have to
advise you we do not consider any such
discrimination takes place.
shipments to and from Astoria are
regular marine risks and such shippers,
as customary, cover tn marine insurance
upon their cargoes; shipments to Port
land and points beyond have been con-
sidered in the past as railroad risk and
therefore the steamship company applied
what might be considered railroad ex.
pense bill on shipments to and from
Portland or points to and from beyond
Portland The Pacific Coast Steamship
Company has never assumed marine
risk on any goods destined to or from
Tacoma and Seattle but only to and
from points beyond Tacoma and Seattle.
| know OF no other steamship company
that provides this class of insurance ex-
cept the San Francisco & Portland Com
pany but may say that on the lst of
January, 1908, this company will with.
draw the underwriting on any cargoes
on its steamers except to points that
are purely railroad connections of the
steamship company; in other words, on
what might be considered inter- line
IS