The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-25
Secretary Of Navy Daniels Can
GELS Contract With Virginia
Navigation Co. Promptly
WESTERN SHORE
PEOPLE FILE PETITION
Ask Order Be Entered Restor-
ing Daily Service on Mobiack
Bay and Tributary Rivers.
Hearing Fixed for May 10

The Virginia Navigation company
yesterday afternoon notified Chairman
T. b. Gsrnett. of the state corporation
commission. that il would resume the
operation of their day steamers on the
James river tomorrow morning This
action OF the company was brought by
the Efforts OF the commission. In which
the members Of that body. Secretary
or the Navy Josephus Daniels. Senator
Claude A. Swanson. Admiral Benson,
of the navy. and other officers both
in Washington and in Norfolk, figured
1t wa. brought out in the informa-
tion gathered by the corporation COM
mission, that the government did not
reauisition the steamers of the Vir-
ginia Navigation company. but that
they were taken over only after they
were offered in an answer to an adver-
tisement asking for bids for the use
of steamers. Secretary Daniels stat
cd 20 the commission that he did NOT
known for what purpose the steamers
OF the company were used when taken
over, and II is considered doubtful II
the government would have accepted
the vessels. had their Importance and
necessity in the James river service
been known
sr Contract Promptly Cancelled.
With all the facts in the case
before him. Secretary Daniels wired the
company as follows: The state cor
poration OF Virginia, having inform ed
the navy department that the charter
ing of the steamers Pocahontas and
Smithfsld very much interferes with
the business of the community served,
the navy department exercises its priv
ilege under the contract and will can
Gel Immediately the contracts entered
into for the steamers. unless the state
corporation commission Will give their
approval for the leasing or ehaYtering
Of these steamers" Following the re-
ceipt of this communication the COM
pany notified the commission that II
would replace its steamers.
The ships Of the Virginia Navigation
company are engaged in day service
on the James river from Richmond to
Norfolk. and from Norfolk to Smith
field. They carry mail. passengers and
freight. Through them II. Is the only
means by which the residents along
the river can communicate with the
outside world. and the discontinuance
of the steamers caused the greatest
inconvenience and interfered seriously
with the business of the territory adj
jacent to the river.
state corporation commission was no
tined OF the fact that the steamers
would cease operation. This came 10
the commission through the railroads.
which on account of the discontinuance
Of the steamers. asked the commission
for a cancellation OF the joint rates be-
tween the railroads and the steamship
company. The commission had not
been notified, a. required by law. ~
the proposed stoppage of the steam
ers. and they Immediately started in
vestigations. E. S. Palen. general
manager Of the company. and W. n.
Taylor. attorney, notified AR Garrett.
the chairman of the commission, that
the steamers had been reauisitioned
by the government.
Asked for higher Rate.
On April 6 the company appeared be-
fore the commission and indicated they
would ask for an increase of rates.