The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-08-20
Modification Would Pave Way
For the Total Destruction OF
Crippled Merchant Marine
SEAMEN'S ACT SHOULD
BE REPEALED At ONCE
Oceanic Line Will Continue Its
HonoluIu-San Francisco and
Australian Runs

John D. Spreckels arrived in his priv.
ate yacht Venstia from Hilo yesterday
morning, on his first visit here In ten
years. He will be here at least week,
and then may 10 to nauai before re-.
turning to the Coast Although he has
ed that island. .E
On the yacht, Yesterday afternoon,
Mr.. Spreckels talked on three subjects,
two OF which are of profound interest to
the Islands The other interests every
sectiCn of America, because IL was
politics. - - ..., ID -
But sugar and sh pping might be cal
led the great question-mar twins, Mr..
Sp-eekels is qualified admirably to
rpeak on both, for everyone knows what
he Spreekels family has meant in the
sugar industry of the Islands and the
whole country, and, as owner of the
Oceanic line, Mr.. Spreckels naturally
knows shipping, too. g.s
He hopes for a continuance Of the pre-
'ent duty on sugar.
No Better Oceanic Service
1t will be a disappointment to the
Islands to hear that the Oceanic line
plans no additional service because OF
the suspension Of the Pacific Mail. Mr.
Spreckels made that absolutely pfaip.
He confirmed the reports frSm the
Coast, and those originating here, that
the Sierra would go on the Australian
run II the United states government
would grant n mail subsidy of 81 an
outward mile, which is received by the
Ventura and Sonoma now.
If that isn't granted, the Sierra will
return to the Honolulu run when repairs
and alterations have been completed
AS to the shipping bill, Mr.. spreckels
IS decided. He considers it livery
unjust" but he hopes that the next
congress may repeal it, or, more prob
ably, modify II to eliminate objection
able features, such as the seventy five
per cent clause which requires that
that portion Of the crew be able to IN.
derstand orders given by the officers.
II was this provision to which tie Pa,
tcifc Mail objecte,, more strenuously.
Ans'relian Cargo Profitable
Formal notice of Pacific Mail suspen.
sion had been made by the San Frau,
cisco Office after Mr.. Spreckels left San
I DltEO' Dul III Eau ntuIu VI IL. ,
own the Oceanic line increase Its
/ se-v!ce to the Islands because Of tue
withdrawal of the pa.ific Mail steam
crsi' he was asked.
! "No," he replied. "There is too
/ little profit in the business. OF course,
With high rates to Australia ruling now,
we are doing well. We received sixty
dollars a ton fo- butter recently; it was
refrigerator freight and, accordingly, ii
Waid we'll, hut other classes of freight
are high, and we are taking all we can
/ handle. shippers are after us to handle
more. But this is extraordinary, be.
cause Of the severe drought in Austria.
liza. In normal times, business is not
sufficient to Justify more ships"
! 1t was pointed out TO Mr.. Spreckels
that there is great passenger oMgestiOn
now. both to and from the Islands.
, 'Let us compare the situation with
that of street car company" he re
. turned. In the morning and in the
>; evening when pereons are going to and
on their homes, cars are crowded, but
lone must look at the average service
and the average number of passengers
lravrl may be heavy now; yet If you
q
" ear sailings, and the number of pas
Ayngers in the same time, you will SO,
r. var tae th,ps are not filled.
? Shipping Needs Protection
& 81 SEQ by The Advertiser that Their,
is a movement TO reduce the fine to b,
paid by foreign ships for carrying pas
sengers between San Francisco and tn
Islands. believe that movemen
wrong. Enough has been done to low
er the American flag on the high seas
American shipping needs the protection
OF the eOastwise laws. j..
Only one American freighter her,
from the Panama Canal In year, ex
cept for the Amer can Havana
freighters, was cited to Mr.. Spreekels
g can tell you something worse thai
that he said. 'fAbout four year
ago, made voyage in this zach
from New Orleans to Havana, Marti
nique, Porto Rico, st. Thomas, Barba
dos, and, generally, throughout tn
West Indies; then to South America
Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires an,
through the Straits Of Magellan to Val
paraisO. ~.
" During this voyage, | saw one Am
cream flag, and il was ON anothe
yacht.
Modify SEamen's Act
eff the next congress will reliey
us Of the worst provisions Of the Sea
men S Act, we will be satisfied for tn
present, for it is folly to talk sub
sldy to Democrats, They throw NJ
their hands when they hear II men
toned But, with a Republican ~
minlstration, we might receive a sub
sldy, h"rau>c the war has taught les
sons. 1t has showed where We woul
be if We were at war We simpl!
would not have the ships we needed.
" France is not great maritime ma
t0n; but II has shins Whyi R"c"ns
the government helps with subsidies
The same is true Of other nations, sucl
as Italy, except the United State
alone.
nThe Seamen, n Act il onerOus. Tn