Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-12
OUTLOOK GOOD
FOR NEW LINE
ON THE PACIFIC
ADVICES FROM WASHINGTON
ARE ENCOURAGING
PROTEST SENT BY ALEXANDER
is A BOOMERANG
Prominent Shippers Tired of Line That
Publishes Tariffs and Refuses
to Make Los Angeles
Port of Call


Advices from Washington we're re-
ceived by President Willis H. Booth
of the chamber of commerce late last
night, assuring him that the situation
surrounding the proposed establish
ment of a government steamship line
from Panama to ports on the tAelne
coast is most favorable,
The answer to President Both 5
ouerv which he wired TO Washing
ton Yesterday, and in which he asked
to be advised as TO what eitect, II any,
the eighteen-man protest sent TO SEN
ator Flint by ]. b. Alexander. local
freight agent for the American-Ha-
waiian steamship line, had had on the
situation, was eagerly awaited py
scores of Los Angeles commercial men.
Those who got into communication
with President Booth and learned the
full import of the reply are now opu-
n1istic over the chances for the new
lines establishment. Mr.. Booth SAID
last night:
For purely ethical reasons 1 would
rather not make public the wording
of the telegram I received tonight.
Won NAV state. however, that the stu
alton is most favorable. Things are
looking fine for u.s."
Petition Is Boomerang
Prominent shippers who We're ac-
ouaiuted with the situation last night
went so far as to state that Mr.. Alex
ander's petition wired to Senator Flint
Thursday. instead of having a retard-
ing effect on the proposed legislation,
had served rather to urge the passage
of the bill -,,..
American Steamship company to de-
feat the bill may have acted as reac-
tionary influence upon congress was
not made public last night, but as the
advices received by President Booth
were not wired until the adjournment
of Yesterdays hearing, it is inttmated
that certain facts which came to light
at washington yesterday are respon-
sible for it.
Mr.. Alexander's petition to Wash
ington while purporting to express
the desires of shipping and jobblng
interests in Los Angeles put WhIcn IS,l
was in reality the opposition or the
line which he represents here, was
the source Of much comment in this
citv Yesterday. It was generally
nointed out by commercial men that
the eighteen signers of the petition
were men whose interests are so inter-
woven with those of SpreckeIs ana
American Hawaiian interests ,that
thew could do nothing else. The petl-
lion So far as it succeeded, they argue,
was a cut and dried proceeding, and
Mr. Alexander need not have got out
of his chair to secure it. 1t is true
that the agent expended the better
part of two days getting the paper
ready. but the time he used up was
consumed in approaching over 6ol
shippers in Los Angeles who fatty
refused to sign it.
Situation Summed Up
one of the most prominent shippers
in Los Angeles summed up the situa-
tion in this way last night:
1T is absurd for steamship and rali-
road interests to talk to US ABOUT
rates-to tell US what they can give
us It isn't a question of rates as l
see it. What we want is service. we
want Los Angeles to be made port OF
call. We want a line which sends It's
ships into the harbOr and takes or dis
charges our freight, not one that sim
ply publishes a freight tariff list and
then does not come near US.
"A railroad might just as well post
a list in the Mojave desert at a point
where its trains never stop. It's the
same principle.
ut is also just as absurd for them
to say that we haven't business enough
to demand another line. There's al
most unlimited business along this Cal
ifornia coast, particularly in the south
ern portion. And to serve all of these
ports we must have steamship line
that isn't subsidized by transconti-
mental railroads, which, as we all
know, are doing their utmost every
day to discourage new waterway trans
portation.
"AlI these things We need we car
get through the medium OF a govern
Inent line. There is no question about
It. The government line can't be SUD
sidized, it can't be influenced by po-
litical favor, it can't be forced out OF
business by hostile amassing Of cor
porate interests. It's a remedy, sim
pie and, 1 think, infallible."
Only Fair Rate Demanded
Many shippers in Los Angeles have
gone out of their way to state thai
in urging the establishment of the
proposed government line they are
not looking for very low rate. They
want a. lower rate than the railroads
give them and a lower rate than the
American Hawaiian line offers, bu
they are not looking for an unusually
low one.
Speaking on this phase of the ques
tion, George H. Stewart, chairman o
the committee on commerce Of th'
chamber of commerce, said yesterday
Suppose we couldn't get a lowe
rate than the Hawaiian line could giv'
us. What of it? We need the addi
tional facilities. We want to avoit
these transfers, such as at San Diego
that we now have to put up with.
'The whole situation is this: The!
have a government line along the At
lantic seaboard. Results show that
IS a success and a vast benefit to man
ufacturers there. The rates on tina
line are making other transportation
lines sit up and take notice. Now VIII
shouldn't we have it? It is but fai
that we should have the same chanc
they have on the Atlantic side"