The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-05-01
Biu Protest Is Made 10 Seattle Steamship Companies Having
 Exclusive Righfs 10 Alaska

AlaSka, oregon ana CallIOrnla Op- position to domination of Alaskan steamship service by Seattle steam ship companies was brought into the open today when representa- tives of three states demanded Se- attle companies not be given ex- elusive right to operate steamship service to the Territory.
 They urged at a conference of members of Congress from those states, Alaskan officials and repre- sentatives of Chambers of Com merce of Oregon and California that the Maritime Commission be compelled to eliminate from the proposed plan for interim service to Alaska a clause giving Seattle companies an exclusive right to business.
 The conference, presided over by Rep. Willis w. Bradley (R-Calif) was told by witnesses a coastwise steamship company operating be- tween Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland was not planning to discuss with the Commission a plan to enter Alaska service.
 The Commission announced last week it had approved a contract with the Alaska Steamship Com pany Northland Steamship Com pany and Alaska Transportation Company for interim service.
 Exclusive Rights Given It provides for the government to charter government-owned ves- sells to companies at nominal char ter hire, to pay insurance costs and receive 75 percent profits with the companies sl1oulderii.g any loss. It provides that the three companies shall have exclusive right to oper- ate Alaskan service.
 Senator Gordon tR-Ore) said Congress had not granted the Mar itime Commission the right to give l Seattle lines an exclusive contract and that this should be eliminated from the contract, now before the Seattle lines for acceptance.
 The Governor of Alaska said AL aSka would rather do without ser vice than have the Seattle com- panieS given exclusive rights to op- crate the service. He said their ser vice to the Territory has been un- satisfactory
 Monopoly "Unlawfur'
 Competition from Portland and California the Governor said, would benefit not only Alaska but the whole northwest. Alaska is not going to grow if everything sent there is funnelled through Se- attle. Some folks in Seattle seem to think that city should have mon opcly on transportation to Alaska, but our people are anxious to trade with Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles"
 :, Rep. Angel (R-Ore) said the action of the Maritime Commission in putting the exclusive clause in the contract was unlawful" He said service furnished Alaska by Seattle companies was poor and transportation charges Alaska has i to pay are outrageous"
 Threaten Rate Increase
 The Seattle companies, in agree ing to operate interim service, de- manded that they be allowed ap- proximately 35 percent increase in rates. Delegate Bartlett of AL aska said the three companies had told Alaskans that if they opposed the increase, they would not oper- ate the service
 Alaska shipping service was oper- { ated by the government during the war and it is planned to return it i to private operation when compan- ies take their lines back from gov ernment, which must be done by June 30 under present law.
 Joseph K. Carson. member of the Maritime Commission and George Talmadge, Alaska rate ex- pert, attended the conference. 9th CTS attending were Representatives Welch, tR-CaliD, Havenner (D- Calif), John J. Allen, Jr., CR-Calif) Engle (D-Calif). Jackson (D-Wash) w. B. D. Dodson and Arthur J. Farmer, Portland Chamber of Com merce, Louis Lunberg, General Manager and Frank Mckee, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and John Costello, Los Angeles Chamber Of Commerce.