Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-09

IGCfIlts exc SSltS tHdt NohhpUt'
ton arises. There Is no analogy be
Tween rail transportation and wate'
Transportation. 1t Is possible 10 cr"'
late monopoly by rail- through land
grants and franchises. but II Is I'm
possible to monopOlize waterways. II
was nevsr the intent OF congress tc
subject the waterways TO the same
Jurisdiction that obtain2 over the
railroads Let us consider for mo-
ment the application Of this ruling
upon existing lines. the establishment
of which has probably meant a NE
Il TIM Of work and the expenditure or
millions OF dollars.
The ruling says that steamship
line cannot unite with railway cont
pany in through billing and through
l,icketing on particular traffic with.
out subjecting all Of its interstate
traffic to the jurisdiction of the com
|mission. In other words, ;ha Detroit
l. Cleveland line 'annDt sell pas
nge.. for his own convenience.
|thrtlgh ticket to Grand ttap,d*, Mich..
without subj citing its entire business
between Cleveland and Detroit TO The
Jurisdiction of the commission with
the necessity OF publishing tariffs that
cannot be revoked or altered without
due nCtica. On the other hand anf-
one could charter a steamer and EN-
gage in int rstate traffic between
Cleveland ard Detroit. underwriting
and underselling the established line.
without the commission having the
slightest jurisdiction over it, AMI
without the ID. & c. lin having any
redress whatever. since 1t could not
alter its rate s TO meet the new COM
petition without extended notice.
Nor over. the wild or tramp vessel
is in no way affected by this ruling.
II seeks its cargo wherever it can
find II and accepts whatever rat II
can get on the Theory that any rate
Is better than no rate at all.
This is the kind OF competition that
established lines would have to m ct
unless they abandoned their through
business altogether. Why should tn y
be subjected to this annoyance? The
practice of through billing is design
&c for the convenience of the mtr-
chant and manufacturer and Tor the
FACILITY OF comm rec. II is con-
venient arrangement and spares Tn :
shipper the annoyance Of looking az |
ter the transfer OF his goods at /
distant point. Wry. because of this
practice. should the commission sex
10 extend its jurisdiction over the
port TO port commerce Of the steam
chip companies as we'll TO do so ,
Is to harass ANA ambarrass a bust
ness which is beset with many in
htr, mt vicissitudes and legislativel
hanGicaps already. There is no busi-
ness on earth that is hedged about
by legislative restriction as SNIP |
ping by water The ship is sub
ject to a system Of Law that has no |
counterpart on land. HI Cwn RS, o.
ficers and crew have liabilities I'M
known in land carriages. She IS even
subject to confiscation for various in
fractions and by the maritime world
is treated as a sentient b ing. answer
able fer her acts as though she were
human. In her construction she Is !,
subject to government approval ane
must bear annual inspection by gov
RIM mt officials. She must be Off,
cered by men licensed by the govern
ment and must carry the number OF
crew directed. She must be IN
piOyed only as licensed and cacnot
either enter or leave port without
government sanction. Every move
she makes is known.
The fixed policy OF the law is TO
make h r safe. but 1t is also to facii- |
tate her employment To seek now
10 limit the field Of her operation is +;
q blow at a privilege that was ancient !
when Rome was young and which has
stood unchanging through all the
ages. The right OF the ship 10 pur-
sue her calling has been safeguarded
by natinns since time immemorlai, /,
but now she is asked under this rcl-
ing to SURF nder her through bust
ness. both passenger anu freight. or
forego her independence as water D.,
carrier. Both OF these services are
interviewer In the fabric OF her bust
NJ IS and both are necessary to her
profitable existence. Neither the one
nor the other could singiy. support
the costly machinery Of an establish |
ed line. The building Of thess lines
has not been the work o: a day Or
Of a year. but OF long RODS o: time.
The trade has demanded steamers o:
splendid proportions. costly to build
and costly to op rate. and II Ia
them These steamers rcpEcs nj Sh
enormous outlay Of capital and couii
not be profitaSly operated on
through business alone port 'ol
port brgins 50 alCEc. and - !: ,ais