The Alaska citizen., 1917-03-05

(3) Rebate Fraud and Contract Complaints distinctly charge that the rebate contract between the Northern Navigation Co. and the Yukon Navigation Co. oi April 3, 1914, is fraudulent con. tract, with the intent 10 impose upon the Interstate Commerce commission and upon the public d SIP rebate in favor of the Northern Commercial Co. until December II. 1920 IL is based upon a grossly excessive price for the sale of 45 "boneyard" boats | utterly without value, to cover the rebate. It's effect was and is tO give the transportation business of the great American interior of Al aska over To British corporation with power to eXtort rates from Am erican business men and miners there for a series or years IL Nil be reproach upon those cgunecrrG fIth the administration of justice here if such a false and flimsy cz cuse can be made to shield d cisa, against our citizens and enable the Northern Commercial Co. to hay tS own rebate and q ta% upon ii competitors of SIP per ton. Thts criminal contract creates m0nUpUG Il trdnsp portation on the Yukon river in the name of the White Pass ( Yukon Ky Co.,, Ltd. an Engllsl corporation which, while conuolhua our inland trade, yet denies the ja risdiction ot the Interstate CommeTc commission to control its rates. E. the same contract is created mes cantile monopoly there which. i'll vi. tue of it's SIP rebate and SIP tas upon it's competitors. Will be able to maintain its power and gather in re bates and unearned and dishonest profits until December 15. 1920.
 Examiner Wilson How many boats were turned over to the Aa.- erican-Y Yukon Navigation Co.,"
 MT. Sloss Some 40 odd steamers and 50 odd barges
 "Ex. Wilson -How many were i'll active operation then
 MT. Sloss-Out of the 10 odd a,eamers there are ten or tweIse III active operation.'
 "Ex Wilson, Where are they
 MT Sloss At different poIny5 oH the river
 "Ex. Wilson Where was the re nainder of the fleet.
 Mir SIoss The remainder Of the fleet was laid up at different points some at Andrealsky. and some al SL Michael, and some in the canal
 The evidence is clear and con yincing-it is admitted by the White Pass Co and the Northern Commer cial Co. otilcials-that out of the 45 steamers purchased at the sight uu seen sale" of April g, 1914, less than one-fourth are useful in the Yukon river trade. The others are janE gathered in 1901 and in years priol to 1914 in the effort of the Northern Commercial Co. to keep it's monopoly of the mercantile and transportation trade during the great gold strikes at Dawson, Nome and Fairbanks, when excessive prices could be demanded and were paid without complaint. The three-fourths of all this transportation junk is made up of book value stated by MT. SIoss as property conveyed to the White Pass Go. on April 9 1914. Assuming the book value oI this property-in trade, and paid fol by additional stock-to be the amount given by Mr. Sloss at page l074, Hearings, $2,403, ,36165. three-fourths of it Gin the number of boats, and probably more in the book value of specific boats) is useless.
 "Useless junk, $1,802 ,52124
 Useful boats, $600,SA041.
 Value of boats depend on their use fitness -. Page 1175.
 "Mr. Wickersham You mean by that it would be a low cash value if you had to go and rebuild all of it?'
 MT Sloss-I mean to say by that it was a low cash value to any