Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-22

A, P. FLEMING
that could relieve prevailing conditions
here, demands 70 per cent of the
freight collections on goods shipped
from New York to Ancon and Colon
Notwithstanding the government yes
sells on the Atlantic carry the goods
over 1000 miles, while the Pacific Mai
company carries the same goods less
than 5000 miles"
From 10 to so per cent of the ship
ments received at San Diego are fo1
Los Angeles. This difference would
more than justify the Pacific Man
Steamship company in stopping at Los
Angeles, but as it is a southern Pa
cific company the water carrier DfancI
of the company prefers to favor the
railroad, so the land carrier can coliec'
the extra charges.
"Competition,' said Mr. Fleming
''is necessary properly to regulate the
service by water as we'll as by lahd
Just as two parallel rival roads VIII
facilitate traffic and lower rates, Sc
two rival steamship lines calling al
the same ports will have the same
effect Los Angeles not only neeos d
harbor at which all ships may stop
h1,t # needs a federal steamship line
that will act as a safety valve, insure
lust treatment expeditions service
reasonable rates, and prevent afpl-
trary or monopolistic abuses.
Roosevelt Orders investigation
"Joseph L. BristoW. appointed by
the government in 1905 to investigate
Pacific coast water carrier ana harpor
conditions, and whose first report SO
interested President Roosevelt that he
ordered him to conduct a second inves-
tigation, extending from Colon and An
con up to San Diego, San Pedro and
San francisco. cited the evils of the
conditions then prevailing. and more
or less still prevailing, and unhesl-
tatingly indicated the only remedy
as living in the federal ownership OF
steamship lines.
"Following this report, and because
the government realized the advan-
tages of owning its own freight car
riers, the United States acquired the
holdings of the Panama Railway and
Steamship company, and there was eX-
pended $3S, 100000 at Salina Cruz alone
in harbor development Electric cranes
wern installed, sheds constructed
warehouses built and other improve
ments made at nearly al the ports OF
the southern republic. Two new ships
were purchased, giving the government
line at Panama seven in all, and the
forty-seven mile railroad was modern
lied, This purchase alone, | believe,
has saved the government millions of
dollars.
"While at Washington I was in con-
sultation with George r. Baker, recog-
nized as the most expert shipper on
the Atlantic coast, who stated that he
hauled perishable goods at profit
from New York to Liverpool for $3.50
a ton.
wv. r. Wheeler. traffic manager of
the Merchants association of Los An
geles; Seth Mann, attorney for the
same association, with numerous other
prominent western representatives,
also were in Washington to promote
the coastwise federal steamship project.
This is important to consider, mas
much as it has been but a short time
since San Francisco took the stand
that a federal steamship line was not
wanted and opposed the project. San
Francisco, however, now realizes its
mistake, and is cooperating enthu-
siastically for the success of the plan.
1.-THE people of San Francisco" said
Mr. Fleming, "finally are convinced
that the Pacific coast must be pro-
tected as is the Atlantic. Competition
is necessary to insure reasonable rates,
and a federal steamship line is neces-
sary to prevent collusion and regulate
traffic and conditions.
George G. Dearborn, traffic manager
of the American Hawaiian Steamship
company, says his company is to make
every port on the Pacific port of call,
but this assurance only stimulates the
demand for a municipality owned har-
Dor and a government owned steamship
line, for it is the only solution to the
problem.
Must Invade Foreign Fields
'The Pacific must emulate the At
lantic, and we must hasten to invade
foreign markets, secure rates which
will permit us to do so at a profit, and
then begin our crusade of creating a
further demand for our wares and
products. Already the demand is far
in excess of our ability to supply, be-
cause of the handicap of the land and
water carriers system along the west
coast.
1.-THE congestion of the interior traffic
is responsible for the congestion of the
coast traffic and there is no outlet but
by water
Senator Flints bill appropriates
$10, 900, 900 for a federal steamship line,
and the people of California should CO.
operate in demanding the adoption or
the bill. The project is of vital import
ance, not only to Los Angeles, San
Francisco and San Diego, but to the
entire Pacific coast.
"It must be understood that the fed
eral coastwise laws prohibit any, for
eign vessel from entering United States
ports and taking freight or passengers
to other ports except it's own. At pres
ent a large number of the vessels ply
ing along the coast are foreign bot
toms, hence of no benefit to the Ameri-
can coastwise shippers"
Secretary Fleming in his address TO
the committee on commerce in the
United States senate summarized the
facts lucidly.
1--WE must bear in mind" he said,
that Senator Flint in introducing this
bill does not ask that an experiment
be made. at the public expense, for the
intention is to adopt only tested meth
DDS of protection from mergers, com
binations and excessive transportation
charges.
"The Sherman antitrust law SO tar
has failed to regulate or protect any
thing or anybody.
LOS Angeles harbor is the gateway