The Alaska daily empire., 1919-09-09
OFFERED
 SHIPPING BOARD
 BY STEAMSHIPS
]. H. Kline Gives His Views of Raise in Rates to AL aska and Why Another
 Raise is Coming

| An explanation of the present high passenger rates on Alaska vessels
 and the necessity of raising them
 another 20 per cent, as we'll as the | offers made to Maurice D. Leehey and Richard M Semmes, attorney and representative of the Alaska | Shipping Board by the Pacific Steam ship Company, to sell the Shipping Board their vessels, charter them to
 the Shipping Board or to run them
 under the direction of the Shipping Board on commission basis is giver by J. H. Kline, local agent of the Pacific Steamship Company.
 | There has been considerable pub licity of late given to the Alaskr Shipping Board.' said MT. Kline | "and the steamship companies operat | ing between Seattle and Alaska have come in for a great deal of criticism regarding freight and passenger
 rates applying between the state' and here, and by some we have been accused and convicted without even trial. The preamble of the Ship ping Board Act passed by the las Legislature states that the freigh' and passenger rates of the steamship companies engaged in transportation to the ports of Alaska have becomi excessive and exhorbitant or word to that effect This law was passe before there wne an of eial investiga ton as to whether the rates apply ing between Seattle and Alaska were really excessive or not. I will admi, that the rates charged by us are higher now than ever before, but tell me something that is not. I have pair of shoes on now l paid $15 for that two years ago I could have
 bought for $7, and everything else in proportion, groceries, clothing and everything we use is higher now than at any time since just after the Civil war.
 When Mir. Leehey and Mir. Sem
 mes, of the Alaska Shipping Board were in Seattle, the officials of ou company told them that we welcomef any investigation by any authorized competent body. and that all wt want is fair and reasonable return on the capital invested, and if an shipping board or other regulation can bring about this result we shouh be more than happy. Our record show that we lost heavily on oui | Alaska business last year and have Ialso lost considerable money so fal | this year.
 we have just been forced t., | grant, effective August 1, increased | wages to all unions with which we dc business, including all individuals aboard the ships and the longshore men and work Ing forces ashore. az gregating a million dollars increased exp -nses 10 this company per a,'num We must get thiS money 10 pay th' wages. We are not making it a present, therefore we have two lire If action; first. raise the rates D | freight and passage at least twenty per cent immediately, or, second withdraw the service and tie tho vessels up We are now preparinr l tariffs making increases for the solo | purpose of making two ends nee' but until we successfully do so, th | people of Alaska cannot expect an | better or any additional service; is | fact, it is sure to be curtailed. Thc American coastwise shipping bus' ness is in a precarious condition anf it is up to the people of Alaska r. pay for their steamship service, whict they have not been doing of late The private companies cannot go or much longer under the present con9i tions.
 "Our management made the follow | ing offers to the Shipping Board rc presentatives in Seattle:
 First. Sell 10 the board the yes sells now in the Alaska service a' their appraised value.
 Second Charter at rate of ( per cent per year of their appraised valuation
 Third, We to operate our flask boats under the supervision of the Alaska Shipping Board on com
 mission basis.
 Alaska must have steamship ser | vice and it goes without saying tha' | Alaska will have steamship service It is too valuable territory aud there are too many people interested to permit of its isolation. Alaska iF also able 10 pay for steamship ser vice and we, as steamship owners and operators, are quite willing to | provide the vessels and vastly bet
 ter service than the present, provided we are assured of an ordinary de. cent return on the money involved"