The Alaska daily empire., 1923-04-28
NO MORE FUNDS TO INVESTIGATE
 SAYS MAJORITY
Committee Report Intimates Transportation Charges
 Not Substantiated.

tee. Investigating charges against the Alaska steamship companies made by the Attorney General in his report to the Legislature. declared that In view Of the showing made by the At torney General il would be unw'ise to spend any further funds in continuing this investigation by the Attorney General" The report is signed by Senator E. E. Chlmherlin. chairman of the joint committee; E.. M Keys. Thomas C. Price. H. R. Shepard and Frank II. Foster. Sena- tors Dunn and Aver, and Representa- tive Raelson not concurring and bringing in a minorNy report
 The majority report is brief and refers, without going into detail, to the public hearings the committee detailed and asks that the Attorney General be instructed to continue his investigations.
 Rejects Recommendation
 At the conclusion of the public hearings, Attorney GeNNal Rnstgard, in response to an inquiry as to a remedy for the condition he alleged to exist, said the Territory should im- pose additional taxes on the canner- ies and with the proceeds subsidiza steamship lines operating both be- tween Seattle and Alaskan ports and in intra- Territorial traffic This recommendation was not acceptable to the majority.
 In concluding the report it is said:
 "Your committee is of the opinion that the hearings on the rate ques- ton wore of interest to the Legisla- ture and to the public and threw a good deal of light on the subject Of water transportation. We do not be- lcve, however. that the Attorney Gen eral was sufficiently thorough in the made by him and which were made the basis of his re- port on this subject to fairly present the matter to tho Legislature and to the public.
 Transportation is of vital interest to the people of tho Territory, for without adequate transportation 1t rates. the Territory ean- not be developed, but we are of the opinion that fts present stage of de- nothing can be gained by having the Territory embark in the transportation business to any ex- tent whatever.
 We recommend that in view of the showing made by the Attorney Gen eral in his report on this subject 10 tho Lcgislature, which your commit ice investigated. 1t would be unwise te spend any. further funds in con tinuing this investigation by the Al torncy General and we recommend that if in the future conditions so warrant any further investigation of steamship rates and the transporta- ton question, an expert who is thor oughly familiar with the transporta- ton subject be ongagcY fer the work"
 Operations Are Successful
 Quoting from statement of the operations of the Alaska Steamship Company. furnished the committee by General Manager Knickerboeker, the minority report declares Il IS evident that "the operations Of the Alaska Steamship Company have been a success" It declares also that the figures showing surplus and m divided profits of that company, 'tde committee fs of the opinion that the business in the waters of Alaska is safe and paying in- vestment."
 The minority recommends Shat the Attorney General be instructed to make an exhaustive investigation ana report his findings to the next Legis- la.ure. such study to be made With cost to the Territory other than thal entailed in the regular conduct oi his office; that he lay complaint before the U. s. Shipping Board on rateg if he believes such charge could be substantiated and sGgsesls further that it might be found pro fitable if the Territory and the Fed eral government. as copartners, were to engage in water transportation both ocean and in the inland water ways connecting With the Alaska Railroad.
 While the minority report praised the Attorney General for This honest ondeavor under adverse conditions to set out in his report to the Legs laturc. as he sees it, the inequtabie tarjlf charges of the Alaska steam shin lines and the unjust discrhniha7 + iion of freight charges between large and small shippers it finds lack of authentic data by which a reason able comparison of rates for like Aeryice elsewhere could be male. In this connection the report said:
 "That the short time limited to the committee for proper investigation in such an important question neces- sarily would mean the employment CT q tariff expert and a considerable lime in order to intelligently ar rive at an exhaustive report on the oucstion of transportation. Specific instances of unjust discrimination might be pointed out but for want oi
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