Tanana leader. [volume] (Tanana, Alaska) 1909-1910, 1910-01-20

the charges of the purser, to the appa-
rent dislike of some of the officers.
When near Tanana 1 was called upon
to pay S25 for freight on stock feed
consumed en- route between Seattle
and St. Michael. I pointed out that
stock feed consumed in passage was by
J my contract exempt from freight
charges. refused to pay freight and
salvage on feed that was no part of the
cargo of the Mackinaw at the time she
stranded. Besides, the per cent. of the
general levy was excessive. My pro
rata OF salvage charge being 10 per
cent. of the purchase value Of goods,
amounting to $50. The ratio if applied
to the whole cargo, according to the
published estimate of value Of cargo,
$3.50, 200, would be the neat sum of
S45,000-a very excessive rate for one
days. service for such 20 diminutive
craft as the Corwin. 1 offered to pay
what freight was. due. according to my
agreement in Seattle, but nothing in
excess. This they refused to accept on
arriving in Tanana. James Wicker
sham, our congressional delegate, hap
pened to be there en- route from Wash
ington, D. G. I made known the case
to him. He admitted that the com
pany was taking an unfair advantage
but as the company had possession OF
the goods, to pay under protest and
send notice to Schubach & Hamilton at
Seattle to refund these excesssscharges.
On my return.to. the John J. Healey
was reproached for having delayed the
boat and informed that had five min
utes. to decide whether would pay the
rates demanded.or have-smy.. freight
carried on to-. Fairbanks. With other
dissatisfied. customers I paid these ex-
cess charges under protest. My freight
was hastily checked off. The number
of packages was complete, but on ex
animation found they had substituted
several sacks of bran not belonging to
me in lieu of sacks of grass seed and
grain. When 1 called their attention
10 this mistake they took back the
sacks of bran, but failed to make good
the missing sacks of seed. Thus it was
that 1 was charged, full freight and
salvage on freight that was no part
of the cargo of the Mackinaw
at the time she got stranded, and again
I was charged full freight and salvage
for freight that they lost and failed to
make good. I wrote to Schubach &
Hamilton and explained the case to
them, but got no answer. then wrote
a more stringent letter and informed
them that if they..di not refund these
excess charges and make good the
missing freight l would report them
to the Seattle Chamber of Commerce
and take legal action to recover these
excess charges and lost freight, stating
also that in taking legal action I
would include claim fer the milk of
two cows supplied to the crew Of the
Mackinaw. The answer l received
was similar to the statement published
in the press; passing lightly ove!' my
claim for a return Of the excess freight
and salvage charges, they dwelt pro-
fusely on my incidental claim for milk
supplied to the crew Of the Mackinaw.
After their abbreviated version of the
case, they intimatcd that this claim is
one amongst thousand absurd claims
by which unprincipled patrons endeav-
or to take snap judgment agaiost ship
ping companies. Judged by their own
statements the frequent occurrence OF
such claims by, their patrons is dam
aging testimony against the business
integrity of their company. The city
of Seattle has been enriched by her
Alaska trade. Is this instance of Schu-
bach & Hamilton to be taken as an
exhibition of the Seattle spirit toward
their Alaska patrons? Will her au-
thorities permit...resident shippers by
extortion.-a and deceit..to exploit the
tributary avenues..of her trade?
.. JoHN.KEHoE.