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Daily Edition, and The Alaska Weekly Post_ —
SEWARD. ALASKA. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1920. _TEN CENTS PER COPY
VOLUME XIII. NUMBER 25#. ’ ----~~-—
1
The following is from Governor
Thomas Riggs., Jr., at Washington,
as Chairman of the Territorial Sha
ping Board:
“The Alaska Territorial Shipping
Board has completed a most thoraipM
nine months study of the Alaska t’; ‘
fie situation. We have assembled data
showing the number ot passenevr>
and tons of freight for each port »•
Alaska in each direction during ev* »y
month of 1918 and 1919; Also costs
operation, fuel .oil, wages, demurra^*
and every other factor. We have stud
ies! the routing of ships, handling »>f
cargoes and other details and have
presented the Uni ted-States shipping
board in Washington a statem°nt
which they congratulate us b«'ing the
most complete and explicit ever sub
mitted.
“This statement was prepared un
der the direction of Maurice 1). Lee
hey. as special counsel, and R. M
Semmes, as traffic advisor, both ui
whom have had an intimate know
ledge of the Territory for twenty
years. Mr. Semmes is a steamship
man of lifelong practical experience
especially familiar with the Alaska
situation.
“It is utterly impossible at the
time to secure any authority from
congress for a territorial steams!.in
line on account of the opposition to
public ownership as evidenced by the
vote on the railroad bill. Even labot
unions which favor government own
ership of railroads are opposed to
public ownership of ships. Our traf
fic study shows there is enough Alas
ka business to give the Territorv a
splendid service at lower rates u tnat
business can be thoroughly co-ordirr.:
ed so as to be economically handsel.
I believe very few of us realize though
that more than seventy five percent
of Alaska’s ship tonnage is in private
service. This is one of the astounding
items which have been definitely es
tablished by the figures we have com
piled. “Those private carriers are lr^is
expensive to onernte and usually take
full cargoes. They servo only la»*ge
concerns owned by non-residents who
are thus enabled to handle the gro-'t
bulk of their traffic at lower cost than
the independAnt lines which mn-t
meet all the requirements of our nn
vigntion laws and which give the ter.
ritorv its year round service besides
taking care of the unprofitable traf
fic at out of the way places. “Tc<»
largest interests in the territory
should not be denied the right to car
ry their traffic by the cheapest met
hod but they shou’d contribute some
thing to the common service of which
they receive the benefit. In many
ways the entire territory is dependent
upon the common carriers for local
year round service, for mail and o' -
press matter, for law enforcement,
transportation of witnesses and jurrr;
provisions, for medical relief and all
those necessities of life which bene: t
the larger interests as well as the
smaller operators. We would not
deny the larger interests the right to
handle their traffic by the cheapest
methods but on the other hand they
ought not to object to contributing
something for the maintenance of a
year round service by the independent
carriers.
“We have developed a plan which
will provide this without unjust bur
don on anybody. The present annual
license tax on ships is one dollar net
registered ton but it applies only to
the common carriers engaged in lo
cal business for hire . Our bill in
creases this to three dollars and ap
plies it on every ship of more than
twenty tons. This revenue it to b.'
placed in a maritime fund and .nod
only for the improvement of A!:ts < i
transpo. tat ion conditions. The plan
for its’ disbursement is the s.inv*
which the Canadians have successful
ly used for twenty years in our Alas
kan waters and that is, by giving con
tracts to common carriers to main
tain in a service by definite schedu! •
at fixed rates on specified routes.
“In this way contracts can be giv
en by the territorial shipping board
for a regular service upon routes
which are otherwise unprofitable and
can adjust the service on a more eco
nomical basis. Many of the small plac
es can best be served by encouraging
local bouts from the larger towns in
Alaska and this in turn will keep the
big passenger lines on the regular
routes where they can maintain a de
finite schedule. In tftis way we can
secure the same splendid service to all
the principal towns in Alaska that the
Canadian lines have been giving to the
four principal towns in southeastern
Alaska. “We can help build up a lo
cal service out of the large towns to
smaller places but of course it is cer
tain other routes which are now un
profitable must be provided with a di
rect service from the outside. This
fund in the hands of the territorial
shipping board will provide the mo.-t
effectual conrol of the situation. It
will enable us to keep the best shi^s
on regulur routes giving a dependable
service. It will reduce costs such, a-*
demurage and marine insurance be
cause the best ships will be kept out
of the most dangerous waters where
most of the marine losses occur. “In
surance rates now average fifteen per
cent and one American line now pays
nearly a million dollars in premiums
each year. I am confident that by fhis
means we shall stabilize conditions so
that common carriers and the Post
Office department will gtt together
and give Alaska a proper mail ser
vice instead of as at present, treating
the United States mails as freight
with no obligation on the part of thi
carrier to maintain routes or regular
service. The Alaskans who are no"'
paying almost the entire revenue
which supports the common carriers
have neither the time nor money to
joui ney to Washington to submit com
plaints. No information can be com
piled at present bv any complainant
which would enable a proper presenta
tion of a cause, however just we seek
oniy such control of transportath n
facilities by fair means, in no way
conflicting with any national body and
always subject to review by the U.
shipping board. 1 think it is only fair
that the people of the territory who
alone pay the hills should be permitt
ed to handle their own problems. This
bill will enable them to do so. It is not
a novelty. We would simply increase
the present license tax, make all ves
sels of more than twenty tons pay it,
private shipments as well as common
carriers, and then assist the lines
which have no special interest to ser
ve to give the territory a satisfactoiy
regular service on the same plan that
Canada has successfully used for 10
years right in our own Alaska waters.
“President Furscth of the Seamens
union vigorously opposed any public
operation of ships before the Senate
committee Monday, saying “Govern
ment ownership and operation of
ships is government ownership of men
and means slavery for seamen."
_*_
MOXTESANO, March 3— One of
of the witnesses for the defense, Jay
Cook a farmer, was arrested today on
the prosecution's charge of perjury.
Cook testified he saw the head of the
parade in front of the Wobbly hall.
Other state witnesses said the head of
the parade was half a block from the
hall when the shooting started. Geo
rge Vanderveer today furnished $1,
000 bail for Cook and Bray, who was
arrested yesterday on the charge of
perjury. Vanderveer charges Sheriff
Berry, of Lewis county, is trying to
intimidate the defense prisoners by
arresting them. The charge was made
in the Sheriff's office and Vander
veer and Berry called each other
liars. Vanderveer struck Berry on the
wrist and Vanderveer knocked a cig
arette from Vanderveer’s hand.
Friends then interferred .
GOVERNMENT OPERATION
OF FISH INDUSTRY URGED
VICTORIA, B. C. Mar., 3— Gov.
eminent operation of British Colum
bia’s north Pacific Fishing industry
has been urged by William Sloan, p* o
vincial minister of fisheries, as a
means of preventng the depletion of
the salmon runs.
l)r. Sloan recently asked the Cana
dian federal government at Ottawa lo
take over and operate the fisheries.
He told Ottawa that if the federal
government did not want to take up
the task the British Columbia govern
ment would like to have the privilve
of doing so.
“Nationalization of the fishing in
dustry would prevent depletion of Jit
Salmon fisheries, would insure con
tinuance of the fishing industry and
would eliminate useless competition
and excessive overhead charges,” Mr.
Sloan declared in explaining his idea.
Fear that private operation of fish
eries will wipe out the ocean salmon
just as the Fraser River salmon runs
were wiped out was expressed by the
minister. The Fraser River, once the
greatest salmon river in the world,
Mr. Sloan asserted, is practically fish
out.
-*
James Wickersham was in a Wash
ington, D. C. hospital recently for the
removal of a cataract from one of hii
eyes.
SEATTLE, March., .3— A special
dispatch today to the Post-Intclligenc
er says Representative Curry, of Cal
ifornia, Chairman of the committee on*
Territories, has introduced a bill for
the elimination of the bureaus of for
estry, fisheries, education and geo
logical survey from the present ac
tivities* of Alaska and transfer the ad
ministration of Aiaskan lands, miner
al and agricultural, to the jurisdiction
of the General land office, and to the
administration of the Alaska Develop
ment Board, residents of Alaska. This
follows closely the suggestions of for
mer Secretary of the Interior Lane
and also piovides for a bi-partisavi
board of three members to whom ,s
transferred all of the powers and dut
ics of the bureaus now in Washington.
The bill also creates a fund from the
Federal Treasury to be known as the
Alaska fund. Appeals can be made '.o
the Secretary' of the Interior from de
cision of the Development Board. Re
presentative Curry said the purpose
of the bill was to open Alaska for a
genuine pioneer development move
ment with every safeguard against
exploitation of a dangerous characte *.
TO PROBE
CHARGES:
4
~ 4
WASHINGTON, March 3— The
Senate Foreign Relations committee
is to investigate the charge that fo *m
er Gov. Hunt, of Arizona, publicly de
clared his sympathy with the Indus
trial Workers of the World. Hunt has
been nominated Minister to Siam.
« »
ROW IS STARTED
WASHINGTON. Marrh 3— A rr.w
occurred today at the ways and means
committee hearing on the soldier re
lief measure. Edward S. Hale, repre
* pnr the veterans of foreign wars. t
told the committee the statements (
made to the committee yesterday by 1
President Dolier, of the American T.c- j
gion, were erroneous and should be
contradicted. A storm of protest
arose. Chairman Dicknett ruled the
'ntness should not criticise other or
ganizations. Hale urged Congress
should pay the men $30 for every
month in the service with a bonus (.{ t
SI00 to the overseas men. Hale said *
the money could be raised by taxing 1
the big incomes.
-❖-1
FIRE IN SEATTLE t
SEATTLE, March 3— Fire do
ctroyed a Ballard apartment house at
midnight and incendiarism is suspect
ed. The fifteen tenants escaped when £
dogs barking aroused them. The ten- (
ants carried Mrs. Otto Wendland. and t
her hahv from the building when she 1
collapsed in the haUwnv trying to es- f
cape. The loss is estimated at $25,000. f
_* •> (
EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT :
SPRTNGFTELO. Mar^h 3— Cover- i
nor Edwards, of New Jersey, the wet i
presidential candidate, has fi!»d Ms f
petitfon which is signed by 4900 Chi- 1
cagoana.
* MARY IS DIVORCED
( 4
’* CARSON CITY, March 3— 4
* Mary Pickford was today granted
* a divorce from Owen Moore on
* the grounds of desertion. The
* film star wept while testifying.
* Moore was not in the court room *
* although in the city. The divorce
* follows the sensational escapade
* of Mary Pickford and Douglas
* Fairbanks. Mrs. Fairbanks strut*.
* ed a divorce but Moore said In*
' would not, but allow his wife to *
* do so. to saw* her name from
* scandal.
WASHINGTON, March 6— Prod
dent Wilson went auto riding this
forenoon. Dr. Grayson said daily trip*
would now be made. The ride to lay
>enefitted the President wonderfully
tnd many waved their hand at him as
le rode along the Potomac route. Wil
ton and Borah w'aved their hand at
is they passed. Mrs. Wilson, Dr.
jiayson, Private secretary Tumulty
ind secret service men accompanied
die President on his trip today. The
veather was ideal. Photographers
verc barred from any place along th *
*oute.
-*
FORM NEW
REPUBLIC
Madrid, March 3— It is reportc 1
he Portuguese workmen have p:o
laimed a Soviet Republic. The pntal,
elegraphic and other workers nave
oined the railroaders in the move.
__*_
:arpentier to wed
A YOUNG ACTRESS WHO
PROTESTS FIGHT GAME
PARIS, March 3— George Carpen
ter, the prize fighter, is to marry
lademoisellc Georgette Elsasse, aged
8. The marriage will take place next
rlonday. It is understood the future
>Irs. Carpcntier does not favor prize
ighting.
--
CONVICT 35 WOBBLIES
TACOMA, March 3— Thirty five
illeged wobblies have been convict** 1
»f criminal syndicalism and fined $250
o $500 or sentenced to jail for eigh
een months to ten years. Eight were
riven three year sentences; five were
riven two year sentences; eight given
‘ighteen months; twelve were finod
md two sentenced to ten years. Twon
y one sentences were suspended dur
ng good behavior. This is the largest
lumber of Wobblies yet convicted and
sentenced under the state syndicalism
aws.
-♦
SEATTLE, March 3— Hugh Cald
well was yesterday elected mayor of
Seattle over James Duncan, Triple
Alliance candidate, by the largest ma
jority ever given a local mayoralty
candidate. The final count on the vot
es for Caldwell is 55,850 and Duncan
34.490.
Lieutenant Phillip Tindall, wound
ed overseas veteran, led in the couit
cilmanic race with 18,000 votes and
defeated W. I). Lane, present Presi
dent of the city council Erickson, Hes
keth, Drake and Carroll were re-elec
ted defeating Lou Cohen, Charles Ga!
Inn. Phil Reeves anil Ren N'auman.
It is est’mated that 85 per cent ’f
the registered voters went to the
polls.
In the primaries, Tindall ran last
but a strong fight at the last of the
campaign brought out a heavy vote
for the veteran.
The four Triple Alliance candidates,
Duncan, Lane, Gallan and Nauman
wnvp dpfrated, and one candidate,
Erickson, was elected.
The voters favored the issuance of
one million and a half dollar bondi to
build a new bridge at West Seattle ct
Spokane avenue.
Caldwell will be inaugurated on
March 15th.
SEATTLE, March 3— Hugh Cald
"•pll in a statement this noon said:
“The Seattle voters emphatically told
th£ world that Seattle is safe and sane
aed 100 per cent American and that
Seattle is a good place to,live. The
voters buried the factional domination
forever. “The amendments including
the salaries of the councilmen, Treas
urer and corporation counsel were de
feated.
The amendment giving former ser
vice men preferred places on the civil
service list was passed.
-•>
ASKS AID
TO SETTI:
DISPUTES
WASHINGTON, March 3— Presi
dent Wilson has asked the Railway
Executives and employees to join in
selecting representatives for the bi
partisan board to confer upon the so
lution of the railway wage problem,
under the provisions contained in un
Railroad bill.
FREED
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., March
3— Judge Sessions, on his own ac
cord, this forenoon freed fifteen de
fendants in the Newberry case leav
ing 85 defendants. The fifth count of
the indictment was dismissed. The
Judge denied motion of the defense
to dismiss #two other counts and ad
vised the defense it would be useless
to argue the motion for a directed
verdict as he would deny it
-+