The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-08
MATSON AND
HIS PROJECTS
CContinued from PAGE one. !

new departure of the Matson Navipa
ton Company in inaugurating a service
between Honolulu and Puget Sound, to
gether with the presence of Captain
MatsOn in Honolulu, made it an oppor
tune time for the patrons of the line t.
meet the captain and informally dis
cuss matters in connection with the new
service The failure or success of the
enterprise depended upon the friendly
attitude of the shippers, and to make a
success of it the company must make it
satisfactory to its patrons. He then
introduced Captain Matson.
Will Meet AL Cuts.
The captain expressed the hope that
he would be able to carry out his side
| of the proposed enterprise. He said
there seemed to be little misunder-
standing with the American Hawaiian
line over rates, but in substance, the
! captain said that if cut was made to
So freight rate the Matson line would
meet it, although $3.50 was only liv-
ing basis. He said he would not cut
any rate, but any rate that was cut
would be met by the Matson line. Be
low SO rate there would be no chance
to make a cent.
subject, said that the whole question
concerned the rates to be extended to
shippers and importers of Honolulu in
connection with the freight from the
Sound. His own belief was that in a
business of this kind no favors should
be shown. That same rate should be ex-
tended to all shippers, large and small |
Ais Special Favors
"From information that I have"
said Mr. Tenney, "that has not been
the ease in the past. Special favors
have been extended to certain shippers |
Whether or not that system will con
tinue | do not know. The sum and sub
stance of it all is--that where a mer-
chant is engaged in business he should |
receive as favorable a freight rate as
does his competitor; otherwise he is go
ing to be placed at a disadvantage,
which viii result sooner or later in his
elimination as factor in the business
life of these Islands 1t is the inten-
ton of the Matson line to treat all fair
ly, not only its competitor in the trans
portation business, but its patrons as
well.
Captain Matson has said it is our
to meet any competitive rate
which is extended. We are not desir-
Gus of slashing rates or doing any in
discriminate cutting. 1t would be sui
cidal to do SO. But we are in the trans I
portation business, and the company
proposes to remain in the business, and
if, in order to remain in the business
it is necessary to do it for time with
out profit, well and good, we will do it.
But we want the goodwill and the CO. ,
operation and assistance of the shippers.
We viii extend to them our cooperation
and assistance in every way in our
power. We will treat you right if we
IAN, and ! think we can do that.
Interstate Ocean Law.
SIN regard to the freight rates of the
Hawaiian line and the favors a
granted to special patrons, it was a 8
proposition along lines which, if car @
led into effect, could only result in '
me thing fnalIy-a movement on the i
,art of the smaller shippers to take up
he question of interstate transportation
IN the ocean with the Congress Of the
United States, with the result of having 7
IN amendment passed to the interstate a
act which would extend its s
provisions to the Territory of Hawaii. q
erence whether one key of beer or ten t
thousand were shipped, the rate would r
,e the same h
q have heard that this is the propo- t
itiOn of the American Hawaiian Steam +
hip Company to the Hawaiian shippers
md importers. 1t carried an exclusive 4
contract for a certain term Tt pro- :
'ided for the amount a shipper paid to y
)e considered for a rebate. For in J,
tance, for $4,000 and under $4,000 as \
reight sums paid into the company, Y
he shipper would receive rebate at n
he end of the year of 215 per cent; .
10000 and under $4,000, per cent; .
10000 and under $50, 900, ~ per cent; .
80, 900 and under $4,000, 10 per cent;
100000 and under $4,000, 1919 per !,
emit; $4,000 and upward, Is per cent :
Rebates Are Outrageous. n
You can easily see what the posi- f
ion of the shipper whose freight bills t
7ere $4,000 and under would be, as II
gainst the shipper whose bills amount b
d to $4,000. Quite little item.
My individual opinion in regard to
reight matters is that such a situation
s that is outrageous to say the least t
is proposition of rebates along the n
mes that have aroused the American a
eOple, and the fight that they are car c
wing on against trusts and combina- 7
ions is due to the fact that this re- t
ate system was practised to such an h
xtent on the railroads. To extend the h
to the cea-carrying trade Il
7ould have the same result here. It +
Tould take only a short time before h
he conditions were known. Certain
mall shippers would be unable to do t
usiness at a profit, or they would be
to the extent that they would t
My be able to receive a new dollar e
Or an old dollar, and representations
'ould be made to Congress and legis- I
ltiOn would undoubtedly be enacted s.
the Interstate Commerce
-ct. covering the Territory of Hawaii
t least. p
g would not be surprised if it came h
nyhow in few years. o
Praises Rival Line. C
"While making this criticism [
-ould like to say that the American
hawaiian Steamship Company has been d
great benefit to this Territory and
7ill continue to be and they should