The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-16

out business circles yesterday. And
business men defy the steamship line
to offer a single logical reason for a
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 a
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
ficers of the steamship company that
a horizontal increase of rates was con-
itemplated, but, to the contrary, the
impression was created that one or
two changes would be made in order
to place traffic on a strictly profitable
basis. 1t was explained that the
American-Hawaiian Company had not
been in business for great period of
time and, consequently, adjustments
of rates were constantly being made
Shippers We're assured that they would
be advised of contemplated increases
of the rates on their specific commod-
tiles.
In view of these statements and the
apparently considerate attitude of the
steamship company, no one imagined
that a horizontal increase of rates
would be made, corresponding to what
ever advances were decided upon by
the transcontfnental railroads.
Naturally, the announcement in yes
terday Chronicle of a general in
crease of rates to meet the threatened
tariffs of the transcontinental lines,
was positive sensation in the bust
ness world.
General Freight Agent Allen NJ Sut-
ton, when asked by shipper whether
the report of the proposed advance
was COlItNA. tOBiiCu III chCSb' Il Aih
not say what the Chronicle said I
said.' Notwithstanding, he admitted
that the increase would be made, sug-
costing that westbound rates would be
advanced first. He did not DENY that
eastbound rates would be increased, |
nor did he descant at length when |
asked whether shippers were expected
To absorb the advance on commodities |
which have already been quoted under
existing tariffs.
Argument of Shippers.
Shippers are ready to meet whatever
arguments may be offered by the
steamship company in refutation of the
,stensible traffic agreement with the
.ranscOntinental railroads. One says
hat according to the American-Ha-
yaiian Company, its steamers are now
,arrying rs per cent. cargoes. With
he increased differential created by
he advance of rail rates, argues this
nan, the steamers might easily carry
ull cargoes. Moreover, he says, if
he steamship company would avoid
making an increase of its rates, there
would be no limit to the development
f its business. In year or two the
normously enlarged tonnage would
euuire many additional steamers.
''It seems absurd,' said he, "to
uggest that this is a voluntary ad-
.ance of rates. Ordinarily, ideas of
BUSINESS would encourage the company
O follow the lead of the railroads and
o get all the commodities would bear.
'ut in this instance the circumstances
re entirely different. The steamers
re not carrying full cargoes. That is
fact with which every business man
Continued on Page Four.)