Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-03-16
STEAMSHIP LINES PROTEST

SfEAWSHIF LINES fhOEESI
Against Changing Interstate Law
Relating to Water Routes.
A protest against changing the present
interstate commerce law relating to water
routes has been fled with the attorney
general Of the United States by Daniel
II. Hayne, Of Baltimore, chairman Of the
independent water line meeting held at
Washington last month. In explaining
the position Of the independent shipping
interests Mr.. Hayne said:
| 1.-THE present interstate commerce law
provides that q water route can be joined
in through route, provided no reason
able or satisfactory through route exists.
In the proposed law the above proviso has
been eliminated, with the effect Of
subjugating the local business of all yes,
never contemplated by the people and to
an artificial regulation, preventing the
operation of natural competitive and
economic laws which regulate vessels on
free and open highways.
1.-THE amendment proposed by the ship
ping interest, which is contained in the
brief filed with Congress and the attor-
ney general, goes further than any re-
quest which has ever been made by the
public in an endeav0r to meet all public
requirements, and is intended to keep the
independent water lines free, under natu-
raj laws Of competition, and preserve their
| present position of high standard, salts
factory service to the people, with reason
able rates, lower differentlals and their
! regulative rate powers, and to preserve
them against character Of cheap, ire
| sponsible competition which would either
/ a rtxr<,t hnvv hn Anl I<<sxya kAtp
standards Of efficiency and safety which
the public demands.
s'This being the first step over the line
of demarcation between land carriage and
water carriage, established by the time
/ honored policy OF the people, its final ten
dency is more likely towards the complete
sffacement OF the proposed law as inexor-
ably as night follows day.
1.-THE amendment further contains de-
| hnitive language seeking to make it plain
that the local business OF water line is
not molested. Another provision OF the
amendment make it clear that the great
statutes passed in accordance with the
policy Of all nations, to protect our
merchant marine, may not, by Implication,
be repealed. 1t is the view of those in
formed on the difference between rail
transportation and water transportation,
and the unequal struggle Of the latter
under present laws that any further
burdens laid on the merchant marine
would more than neutraliZe the intense
effort Of the American people towards it's
encouragement and upbuilding."
Mr.. Hayne further urged: s'That the
tendency towards interfering with natural
competitive and economic laws, where
there are no abuses to correct, is destruc-
tive; that natural and open highways
should be as free to the people as the air
they breathe; that bound to this principle
are the vehicles OF transportation using
such free and open highways, which is a
God-given union, one wholly dependent
| upon the other, in giving their combined
benefits to the people. Such free water
| routes operate under fundamental natural
laws without unfair advantage or friction,
| and with their evolutions toward higher
and better standard; laws which cannot
but be weakened by human Intervention"
| 1t was his opinion that: 1.-THE
temper OF the American people has been
misunderstood, and in some instances
falsely interpreted, and that instead Of
cheap transportation, with all its attend
ant Inconvenience and dangers, it was
prompt, efficient and above all safe trans
| portation, at reasonable rates, which the
people demanded. The opening the doors
to the possibility Of unreasonable and
destructive cheap service, with unneces-
| sary competing routes, presents the same
conditions which threw so many rail lines
into receivers hands twenty years ago,
| for q community unable to support all the
lines running through its territory
suffers in the end BY the struggle OF the
weaker ones for existence"
| He was emphatic in the view: "That,
although q commission may be Influenced
! by the strictest standards in serving the
| people, the change Of personnel might
| change q proper administration of the
law, and that the law itself should first
be settled properly on principle. The eff
fort constantly being made to encourage
| and uphuild the merchant marine which
in the deepening Of channels alone will
run over PAS, 000, 900 per year, and other
work along the same line, will be Of no
avail without vessels unobstructed by
hurtful legislation.
ITO limit the free field OF operation of
such vessels is such blow at the ancient
and present policy OF the people, that leg
amazement. The policy Of the people is to
keep the vessel safe, but to facilitate her
employment, and that it seems to be the
popular view that any act or amendment
| of the commerce act seeking to regulate
one branch OF the service 1.-THE land car
riers] should be kept free from hurtful
embarrassment to the other class Of ser
vice (the water routes), service vastly
| more complicated than that by land, and
| which is admitted as the bulwark of the
| people in reasonable rate regulations
more potent influence than any admins
tration Of the law.
ssWhatever may be the wisdom in the
further regulation sought against the land
| carriers, water routes should be left un-
trammeled by artificial laws until the
methods applied against the land carriers
pass beyond the experimental stage, and
that any laws touching water routes
should be considered separately when
all of the intricate problems surrounding
the merchant marine may be fully,
| 1eiaurelv and carefully invo aft gated -