The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-08-06

Alaska could result, Skinner said but it hardly seems possible that legislation would be passed that would put our own unions out o1 work" when so much legislation has been advanced to give them work and it would be so much easier tC legislate merely to control them.
 Under Canadian Flag When Coles asked that Ee eX- clude the labor factor in consider ing the question, Skinner replied that his company probably would have to take steps to try to sail under the Canadian flag, as open Canadian ship competition could put American lines out of the Alaska trade That is to, he offer ed, because Canadian lines do not face the same labor difficulties,
 Attorney General Rivers inter- posed that his suggestion had pro- posed only removal of the re- striction from traffic through Prince Rupert.
 In reply to Delegate Bartlett, who asked the effect on earnings of Alaska ship operators if it were assumed that a 50 percent rate in- crease were given the companies and they were handed their ships back tomorrow under prevailing conditions, Skinner advanced the probability that tonnage handled by the lines would decrease and the effect upon the economy Of the Territory would be adverse.
 Compulsory Arbitration
 Asked if his company would agree to compulsory arbitration of labor disputes, Skinner said he could see no objection, if labor would live up to the results of arbitration. He thought it's results might be far better than the present situation. In answer to Rep. Herter, he said general labor agreements are reach ed in San Francisco, but the Alaska lines also make contracts within ports in Alaska We reach agree ments, he said. but they don't mean much Referring to tie-ups of ships in which no contract pro- vision was involved, he cited the occasion this summer when picket lines were thrown around the docks in Seattle because of cannery strike into which the shipping lines did net enter at all
 Skinner admitted agreements with Scoll arguments regarding need for more modern methods of loading and unloading, but said Long shoremen have set their own def initicn of an hours work and they handle only so much tonnage per hour, regardless of equipment-"at least that appears the way the thing works
 Don't Meet Problems
 Counsel Scoll had sunni arized testimony of witnesses he had call cd during the forenoon and early with added opinions of his own, by comparing efficiency of Alaska operations with what he called similar service on the Great Lakes. Alaska operators, he charg- ed, have not attempted to meet their problem by modern stowage methods. They are operating old ships on which the maintenance costs cross the line of efficient operation. They handle cargo the same way as 30 or 40 years ago, despite the fact that they are really in an express" business, handling cargo in small lots, for which ef- ficiency demands development of new handling methods.
 All testimony on the point of service, Scoll contended, has de- veloped that service provided is not 
 Asked by Bartlett his opinion of testimony laying 90 percent of the Alaska shipping problem upon the shoulders of labor, Scoll contended that several problems are involved, of which labor is but one element. of labor is no eX- cuse for mismanagement, he said. In answer to Rep. Bland, he de- clared: The public has the right to demand that both labor and management operate honestly and efficiently.
 "DtSorganised SerUice"
 Scoll concluded: All testimony points to the need of some form of public financial assistance by Congress, even if labor conditions are smoothed
 The present service, he said, is a