The Alaska daily empire., 1920-06-22
NOT AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION

While the consolidation of the two American steamship companies operating to Alaskan ports, as proposed by the Interdepartmental Committee, would undoubtedly result in greater economy of op- eraton and a bettermen of existing schedules, and possibly, if strictly supervised by the U. s. Ship ping Board, bring about lower freight rates and passenger tariffs still the results procured would be such would be obtained by the passage of bill proposed by the Territorial Shipping Board. Such consolidation, if affected, would leave unprovded for the most important feature contained in the plan of the latter organization There still would remain service to be built up to outlying communities where the competition of non-contri- outing private carriers handling the bulk of the private business keeps out lines handling public business.
 Feeder lines present unproductve routes only be built up by absorbing losses incurred during slack periods of the These feeder lines have the place in the upbuifiing and develop ment of the coastal sections of Alaska that roads and trails connecting outlying camps in the hn- terland to trunk routes have in the development of those camps Both are absolutely vital and until such feeders be had development going to be at standstill consolidation of common riers offers relief except to the main ports of call and 75 per cent. of the tonnage operating in Alaska will continue to only private interests without contributing in any way to public welfare It will not in any way help the situation in the h. teror of Alaska, the islands west of Seward. the small settlements in Southeastern Alaska, unless the steamship company should voluntarily subsidize mosquito fleet operate at loss neither of which is hardly probable. For the carrier lines themselves consolidation is good business and to the public should result in better schedules and tariffs It will be up to the U. s. Shipping Board at Washington enforce such beterments
 As far the Canadian ships concerned, if the American lines really wish to eliminate foreign competition, they easily do by putting the run to Southeastern Alaska sufficient number of ships which the equal of Canadian vessels in equipment and service and which maintain a clock like schedule Practically the only competition of fered by the latter ships is in passenger traffic The freight competition is negligible and such by them is nearly all freight originating in Canada consigned to points in the Yukon Territory The present passenger situation is an illustration of the inadequacy of American transportation. Canad- ian ships handling large numbers of tourists out O. Vancouver which American vessels could not pos silly handle Reservations all ships coming North out of Seattle sold weeks ahead of sailing dates and consolidation without increase in car rer vessels would affect the situation but little if any at all
 The Territorial bill in no wise attacks any ser vice but treats domestic and foreign ships alike and places them under the control merely demand ing from every carrier compliance with certain con ditions to be covered in valid contract Opposition to the bill by Canadian lines is perfectly under standable, it is quite natural any foreign car rter to resent degree of control from American sources, either Federal Territorial
 It is understood that the plan for consolidation is but tentative and that the Interdepartmenta Committee is making recommendations which can be put into effect under existing legislation The full details of the report have received vet but from fairly comprehensive summaries so far avail able it would seem that it has made recommen- dation for permanent transportation legislation merely working with available laws as to them seems best.