The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-18
SHIPPERS AND
IHE A.-H. LINE

pany TO increase eastbound rates affect
ing California commodities, the consen-
sus of opinion being that the advance
is no less than piece of strategy, and
that the great railroad interests have
crushed the precious independence of
the big ocean freight line.
The suggestion that the Hartman in
forests have purchased the control, or
any part of the steamship company is
lacking oflic al confirmation, but 1t is
believed in most business circles that
the proposed increase of rates is the
direct outgrowth of traffic agreement
dictated by the transcontinental rail-
roads.
BY what means the Hartman inter
ests have succeeded in perfecting the
suspected traffic arrangement, under
which the American Hawaiian company
will follow whatever advances of rates
are made by the transcontinental rail-
roads, is something which none can
suggest. let alone explain. But it is
said there is the knowledge that an
officer of the Southern Pacific Company
month ago made the statement that
the Hartman railroads did dominate
the steamship line, and that its rates
would be raised.
The rates will be raised, according
to Allen NJ. Sutton, the general freight
agent of the American Hawaiian COM
pany.
The rates. furthermore, will be rails
ed, it is said, about the day on which
the advanced tariffs of the transcon.
tinental lines will 60 into effect.
And. moreover, the rates, Sutton has
in rnn1t mar.
tieulars to the railroads 10 per cent.
horizontal increase. and as far as is
now known, they will affect only Cali
fornia and only California products.
Significance in Admissions.
These startling admissions, coming as
n sequence to the reported boast of
n high Southern Pacific officer that the
Hartman railroads had already pro.
yided for an increase of the rates of
the American-Hawaiian Steamship com
pany are alive with significance, say
shippers.
"There is no question but that there
has been traffic agreement made"
says Joseph Durney, director of the
Merchants Exchange.
az can see the strength of the Ha.
riman interests in this proposed in
crease of rates of the American Hawai-
ian company, says Albert Frank, vice
president of the big tanning firm of
s. II. Frank & Co. Evidently the
advance of rates was planned long ago
and it is the purpose to exact tax
from us in one way if not in another. -
"Obviously the railroads and the
steamship line have come together"
n of 4ha
California Traffic Association.
These opinions were echoed through.
out business circles yesterday. And
To offer single logical reason for n
voluntary advance of rates when the
maintenance of existing rates appar
emily is to its best interests.
Numerous inquiries at business houses
failed to establish that the steamship
company had notified its patrons of
the proposed increase. For fully
month some have awaited such advices.
as it had been expected that increases
would be made of rates on specific com.
mOdities.
Increases Indicated.
Two weeks ago it was learned that
the rate on leather would be slightly
increased. 1t was learned also that
canned fruits would be required to
bear an advance of about cents a
hundred pounds. All efforts to estab.
lish officially the character and extent
of the advances were met with the
statement that the contemplated tar.
ifs had not been received from New
York.
There was no intimation by the of