The Alaska daily empire., 1919-04-08

Theatre. in New York. Then they l depart for London and will rehearse l their new English accents on the way over All their "h's" will be | dropped overheard
 handing you herewith blank copy of Government Form Time Charter
 which you desired for information.
 "'Yours very truly,
 (Signed) "'G. w. ROSTER, "'Director of Operations "At this time I took the legal l question of Territorial ship operation
 up with the Attorney General of Al | aska, who was in Washington in at tendance upon the Supreme Court | n connection with the fish cases. In formally he advised me that he saw
 10 legal objections to the Territory | of Alaska embarking in the trans.
 portation business.
 | About this time a committee Of ] Alaskans called upon the Second As. sistant Postmaster General in an en
 deavor to obtain relief from oppres sive mail conditions. The commit | tee consisted of MT. Sulzer, MT | Grigsby, MT. Charles Goldstein, MT | Clifford Moeers, an Alaska aviator and myself MT. Praeger promised ] to do anything possible to alleviate l the unsatisfactory mail conditions. l "'At another time MT Rossiter
 and I called on MT Prager, at which | time MT. Rossiter called attention to the fact that the United States
 is now subsidizing two steamship lines for the carrying of mails, and | the same thing could be done in Al. | aska. It seems that the Post Of | tice Department and the steamship | companies cannot come to any agree | ment regarding mail contracts and each party has become distrustful of | the other. MT. Praeger stated to me hat in event either the Engineering Commission or the Territory should enter into the transportation busi- ness, he would give them most ia, vorable consideration and assist by every means in his power, either by I mail contract on most liberal terms or, if possible, by direct subsidy. During the Washington confer ence, information needed from Seat tie was being procured. as shown by the following correspondence: '"Alaskan Engineering Commission "'Seattle, Wash, Jan. 6, 1919 "'Mr. dear MT. Edes: . MT. Estes left this morning for Seward on the s. s. Alameda. ] net MT. Baxter of the Alaska Steam ship Company on the dock and had luite an extended talk with him in regard to the Commission shipping arrangements for this year
 "'His first inquiry was in regard
 10 the s. s. Anyox, desiring to know If it was the intention to use this
 vessel. or other similar vessels, in
 competition with the regular lines
 whenever we could obtain clover
 rates. It seems he has had some
 lIOHl ulo pIcSl
 dent in New York in regard to the
 reasons for the Commission using
 he Anyox. He has also had up the
 matter of the mail contract and, believe, desires to coordinate all branches of Government transporta tion to Alaska in dealing with the situation. He expressed the opinion that the business of the Alaskan Engineering Commission should be divided between his company and the Pacific Steamship Company and that we should discontinue charter ing tramp steamships, or other inde- pent service; otherwise, it seems probable his company would be ob liged to discontinue their service to Alaskan points beyond Cordova, in fact. even making their voyages out side, eliminating stops on the inside passage He is of the opinion that if his company does this the Pacific Steamship Company will discontinue altogether their Alaskan service. He suggested that he might be called to Washington at any time on this matter, but hoped to arrive at an un ierstanding here without going East.
 "I did not express any opinion or make any suggestions to him as to what the Commission might do in connection with an agreement with his company or the Pacific Steam ship Company, or suggest that we had any other plan or means of transportation He expressed the opinion that the subject is one for early consideration. will be glad to have you advise if you desire any action taken by this office.
 "'Very truly yours,
 (Signed) "'C. F. DOLE.
 General Purchasing Agent "'Mr Wm. c. Edes, Chairman,
 "sAlaskan Engineering Commission