The Alaska daily empire., 1920-06-17

terruptod transportation of pas
 sengers or property from any { place in the United States ! through q foreign country to
 any other place in the United States, where the through rate
 or through charge by combina- ton of rates for such transpor-
 tation, whether by rebate, by
 absorption or storage charges,
 office charges, or any other
 charge, or charges, or in any
 manner whatsoever is less than
 the through rate or through
 charge by combination of rates
 between such points filed with
 the Interstate Commerce Com
 mission applying at such time
 for like transportation by the
 United States carriers by rail
 or water or by rail and wa
 ter.
 The Delegate from Alaska opposed his amendment on the floor of the House and succeeded in defeating it.
 Section 20 of the present bill was drawn in the interests of the two private steamship companies engaged in the Alaska trade It is included in the bill under the pretense that it is in accord with the purpose of the bill, viz: "To provide for the promotion and maintenance of the American Merchant Marine, etc"
 The following telegram received by the Delegate from Alaska from the Juneau Commedcial Club illus trates the views of the Alaskan peo- pie on this subject The section 25 referred to in the telegram cores ponds to Section 29 of the present bill:
 Juneau, Alaska, May A, 1920.
 Delegate George Grigsby,
 H. o. R., Washington, DC.
 Refer to H. R 10378 Senate
 Amendment Section 25 provid-
 ing elimination Canadian steam
 CT lines our only competition
 and elimination would result in
 poor service and high rates.
 Tine amendment must be killed.
 It's enactment would be crush
 ins blow to Alaska develop
 ment. We strongly protest
 against Senator Jones attempt
 10 throttle growth of Alaska for
 the benefit of American trans
 portation compar;es.
 Juneau Commercial Club. "
 NTor,, 4ai of tho same tenor protesting against this legisla- ton have hcen received by the Dele- gate Alaska has tbe benefit of no rai' comprIrion wish its steamship lines, except cyer the Canadian rail- ways in t-',nection with the Canad- ian steamship lines. There is noI water competition except the Canad- ian steamship lines. In the United States proper the coastwise trade is always in competition with railroad transportation. In Alaska, however, the only competition is the Canadian lines. The effect of the passage Of Section 29 will be to leave a mon opoly to the private carriers now en- saged in the Alaska trade, with the absolute power to fix rates, except 50 far as controlled by the Shipping 3card or the Interstate Commerce Commission to the extent of their inrisdictions The people of Alaska A) not feel and justifiably so, that the matter of freight regulation has so far been intelligently handled by the Shipping Board. Every applica- ton for permission to increase rates by private carriers has been granted. The applications are based upon figures submitted by the steamship companies, their investment being based upon war valuations, interest on investment, depreciation and in- surance on the same basis, so that naturally a sufficient showing has been made to justify the raising of rates. The Alaskan shipper, the merchant, is not represented, and ordinarily cannot De represented at