Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-12

been given by the Los Angeles mer-
chants, and feel that the merchants
should also appreciate the good SER
vice as given by the steamship COM
pany. The stockholders are Ameri-
can citizens and have put their
American money into what has
been and is considered a legitimate
business and a business that is en-
couraged by almost all other coun-
tries, either by subsidy or in some
other way. The American Hawaiian
Steamship company has the finest
and best equipped freight steamers
in the world. The company is not
controlled by any railroad company.
The freight rates are low and the
service is admitted to be excellent
by most of the merchants of Los
Angeles. When the officials OF the
steamship company learned that
there was an effort being made at
Washington to get the government
to establish a federal steamship
line to the Pacific coast it was quite
natural and proper that the steam
ship company should draw up a
protest and give the shippers an
opportunity to sign same. We only
had a few hours in which to cir
culate the protest, and rs per cent
OF those interviewed signed it.
Most of those who did not sign the
petition stated they would probably
do so after considering the matter
carefully and comforting with their
associates. There were only two
merchants who were in favor OF
government ownership of trans
portation business. The majority of
the merchants of Los Angeles, and
- Se. IfgVNACnI q
be fair, will see the injustice of
the government establishing single
steamship or rail lines in opposition
to private lines now existing, as no
private corporation could compete
with the government. If federal
steamship line operating between
New York and the Pacific coast
could run behind and lose $10000,-
900 a year the people would have TO
make good the loss, while if the
Hawaiian American Steamship COM
pany should be unable to pay eX
penses the stockholders would have
to stand such loss. Whenever the
majority of the people of the United
States want the government to go
into the transportation business
and operate and control the rail-
road and steamship lines no doubt
the owners of the transportation
companies will be ready and willing
to sell at fair price, but at the
present time it seems that the ma
jority of the people are not in favor
of government ownership.
The American-H Hawaiian Steam
ship company and it's officials or
agents are not endeavoring to do
anything secretly or quietly, but on
the other hand are willing for the
press to give the public full infor-
nation; and we enclose herewith
copy of the protest which was tele-
graphed to Senator Flint, also copy
of letter addressed to the Associated
Jobbers of this city, as we'll as
COPY of q letter from the Pacific
coast manager, all of which you are
at liberty to publish if you so de-
sire.
In conclusion will state that there
is no monopoly in operating steam
ship lines between New York and
the Pacific coast. The ocean is free
and any individual or corporation
made up of individuals are at
liberty to start as many steamship
companies as they may desire. You
may rest assured the American
Hawaiian Steamship company will
not do anything to prevent legiti-
mate competition, but it does
claim it would be very unjust for
the government to start an opposi-
ton line to cripple or handicap
its company. Yours very truly,
SPRECKELS BROS CONNER
CIAL COMPANY.
]. B. ALEXANDER,
Manager