Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-25
COAST SHIPPING
TRUST MAY HAVE
FEDERAL RIVAL
M'LACHLAN ADVOCATES LINE
FOR PACIFIC
ASKS GOVERNMENT TO. BREAK
MONOPOLY
Representative in Congress- from Pas
adena Introduces Measure Appro-
priatins $4,000, 900 to Equip
Steamship Company

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Congress-
man James McLachlan took the bull by
the horns in the interest of Pacific
shipping today by introducing in the
house bill providing that the Panama
Railroad company establish and oper-
ate a government line of steamers be
tween the canal and San Pedro and
other important Pacific coast ports.
The bill appropriates $1O,0OO,OOO if that
sum is necessary to equip and begin
operation Of a line of ten steamers.
each of capacity of 5000 tons and a
speed of twelve knots
provision of the bill which will
probably add to it's popularity calls for
the return of the cost Of the steamship
line to the government treasury from
the net earnings of the Panama rail-
road. The government Investigations
nave shown that the establishment of
adequate Pacific coast shipping to COM
plete the loop of traffic by way of Pam
anna will greatly augment the earnings
Uf the Panama railroad.
Enterprise Profitable
"The property of the Panama Rail-
road company" said Representative
McLachlan in advocating the bill
consists of a double track railroad
across the isthmus of Panama between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and a
line of steamers operating between the
city of New York and Colon in con-
junction with the said railroad. The
stock OF said railroad company is
owned by the United States govern
ment, which it now operates through
officers appointed for that purpose
The steamers of this line as rule
are now taxed to their full capacity to
carry westbOund freight from New
York to Colon, but the same steamers
under existing conditions, return with
one-fourth cargo Of eaStbound freight
from Colon to New York. Even under
these conditions it has been a profit
able enterprise
Eleven days to Panama from Los
Angeles will be the service if Congress-
man McLachlanS bill is made a law.
At present the quickest way to get to
the western terminus of the Panama
railroad from Los Angeles is to go by
way of FL Paso and New Orleans, TAX
ing the steamer to Colon. A regular
service every five days with coast
coast stops as far north as Puget
sound is contemplated by Mr.. McLach-
lan's provisions.
This will stimulate commercial ac-
tivity, too long stified on the Pacific
coast, as nothing else can do said
Mr.. McLachlan in discussing his meas
ure before the house of representa-
tives. TT will cost less to install this
line than the price of single battle
ship, which requires the expenditure of
more than a half million yearly to
maintain and that will Become obsolete
in ten years.
ut will complete the great CONNER
cial highway from and to all the great
commercial centers Of the Pacific and
Atlantic coasts, assuring reasonable
and fixed rates at all times to all alike.
1T will be free from all great cor
poration combinations and dominators.
Regulate Rates
1T will automatically regulate and
give stability to all transcontinental
rates and accomplish that desideratum
more effectually than all the laws that
have been or can be enacted for that
purpose.
eat some future and more opportdne
time l shall address the house more
fully upon this subject"
Men in Los Angeles who have been
working hard for a free municipal har-
Dor think that Congressman McLach-
lan'S measure Will emphasize the Inn
portance of allowing Los Angeles
county to show preparedness when the
Panama canal service is made avail
able at San Pedro. Joseph H. Call, A.
P. Fleming, Capt. Amos A. Fries and
other leaders in the Municipal Water
ways association have frequently point
ed out the law of harbor development
that shipping trade will pass by
place not prepared in advance to care
for it and the parallel law that ocean
traffic once diverted is almost impos-
sible to wean back. This was the sub
ject of speeches made months ago,
when the foresight of the workers for
a free harbor told them the Panama
commerce would soon be coming to San
Pedro as the first principal port, or if
the Los Angeles harbor is found de-
ficient it would be landed elsewhere,
as the Tehuantepec route commerce is
now handled. :.