VOL. V. NO. 77 CORDOVA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH j^[920_PRICE TEN CENTS
1 I
RAILROADERS WILL ABIDE BY PROVISIONS OF NEW LEGISLATION
TERRITORIAL SHIPPING BOARD
PLANS TO INCREASE LICENSE
TAX ON VESSELS TO $3 PE TON
JUNEAU, March 2 (Special to the
Daily Times).—The following cable
gram has been received from Governor
^iggs, at Washington, as chairman or
the territorial shipping board:
“The Alaska territorial shipping
board has completed a most thorough
nine months’ study of the Alaska traf
fic situation. We have assembled data
showing the number of passengers and
tons of freight for each port in Alaska
in each direction during every month
of 1918 and 1919, and also the costs
of operation, fuel oil, wages, demur
rage, and every other factor. We have
studied the routing of ships, handling
of cargoes and other details, and have
presented the United States Shipping
Board in Washington with a statement
upon which they congratulate us as
the most complete and explicit ever
submitted. This statement was pre
pared under the direction of Maurice
D. Leehey, as special counsel, and R.
M. Semmes as traffic adviser, both of
whom have had an intimate knowledge
of the territory for twenty years. Mr.
Semmes is a steamship man of life
long practical experience, especially
familiar with the Alaska situation.
H “It is utterly impossible at this time
to secure any authority from congress
% a territorial steamship line, on {
account of the opposition to public
ownership, as evidenced by the vote
on the railroad bill. Even the labor
unions, which favor government own
ership of railroads, are opposed to
public ownership of ships.
“Our traffic study shows that there
is enough Alaska business to give the
territory a splendid service at lower
rates if that business can be properly
co-ordinated so as to be economically
handled.
“I believe very few of us realize,
though, that more than 75 per cent of
Alaska ship tonnage is in private serv
ice. This is one of the astounding
items which have been definitely
established by the statistics we have
compiled. These private carriers are
less expensive to operate and usually
take full cargoes. They serve only
large concerns owned by non-residents,
who are thus enabled to handle the
great bulk of their traffic at lower cost
than the independent lines, which
must meet all the requirements of our
navigation laws and which give the
territory its year-round service, be
sides taking care of the unprofitable
traffic at out-of-the-way places.
“The largest interests in the terri
tory should not be denied the right to
carry their traffic by the cheapest
method, but they should contribute
something 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 express matter, for law enforce
ment, transportation of witnesses and
jurors, provisions for medical relief,
and all the necessities of life, which
benefit the larger interests as well as
the smaller operators.
“I would not deny the larger inter
ests the right to handle their traffic
hy 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
den to anybody. The present annual
license tax on ships is $1 per net
registered ton, but it applies only to i
the common carriers engaged in local
business for hire. Our bill increases
this to $3 and applies it on every ship
of more than twenty tons. This rev
enue is to be placed in a maritime
fund and used only for the improve
ment of Alaska transportation condi
tions. The plan for its disbursement
is the same which the Canadians have
successfully^ used for twenty years in
our Alaska waters, and that is by giv
ing contracts to carriers to maintain
a service by a definite schedule at
fixed rates on specified routes. In this
YOUTHFUL WOBBLY WITNESS
' IS ARRESTED FOR PERJURY AT
CENTRAL1A MURDER TRIAL
MONTESANO, Wash., March 2 (by
Associated Press).—In the trial of the
Centralia murder case today the court
again cautioned Attorney Vanderveer
against endeavoring to prove threats
made by business men against the
“wobbly” hall until he had shown
that Warren Grimm, for whose murder
the defendants were on trial, had at
tacked the hall.
The court ruled that Vanderveer’s
attemepts to prove an overt act by ]
Grimm had failed so far. i
Gilbert Bray, 16 years old, a wit
ness for the defense, testified that
Grimm was shot in front of the “wob
b*” hall. Witnesses for the state pre
viously had testified that Grimm was
one hundred feet from the hall when
he was shot. Bray said he believed
he saw Grimm in front of the#hall,
but was not absolutely certain.
Defendants on the Stand
Bert Bland, one of the defendants,
testified in yesterday’s proceedings
that he fired from four to eight shots
from Seminary hill into the marchers.
He said Ole Hanson and Loren Roberts
also fired. He said he saw a man on
horseback and heard a command. He
saw men rush toward the hall and
heard glass break, and then shots. He
$aid a .38-55 rifle produced in evidence
belonged to Davis.
Elmer Smith, the lawyer-defendant,
testified that he was the lawyer Tor
individual “wobblies,” and not for the
organization. He said he was in
formed on the morning of November
11 that a raid was contemplated, and
said he went to the hall and then to
his office.
Varies from Previous Testimony
Dr. Frank Bickford, who testified at
the inquest, said that Grimm’s platoon
in the parade did not break ranks. He
said he heard shots and a commotion
behind him, and ran back. Men were
scattering, and some were rushing to
ward the hall. He heard shots. He
did not say they were the first, but
they w^re the first he heard.
Lamb, O. C. Bland and Mclnerney
also testified.
Arrested for Perjury
Bray was arrested on a charge of
perjury half an hour after he left the
witness stand. Assistant County Prose
cuting Attorney Jahnke of Lewis
county signed the complaint.
Bray was held in lieu of $500 bail.'
The prisoner had testified that Lieut.
Frank Van Gilder was within five feet
of the “wobbly” hall during the shoot
ing. Other witnesses said Van Gilder
was beside Grimm, half a block away.
way contracts can be given by the ter
ritorial shipping board for a regular
service upon routes which are other
wise unprofitable and can adjust the
service on a more economical basis.
“Many of the small places can best
be served by encouraging local boats
from the larger towns in Alaska, and
this in turn will keep the big passen
ger lines on the regular routes, where
they can maintain a definite sched
ule. In this way we can secure the
same splendid service to all the prin-,
cipal towns in Alaska that the Cana
dian lines have been giving to the
four principal towns in Southeast
Alaska.
“We can help build up a local serv
ice out of the large towns to smaller
places, but of course certain other
routes which are now unprofitable
must be provided with a direct service
from the Outside.
“This fund in the hands of the ter
ritorial shipping board will provide the
(Continued on Page Four)
S. S. DELIGHT
IS FIRED UPON
BY MISTAKE
SEATTLE, March 2 (by Associated
Press).—The steamship Delight has
arrived here from Vladivostok with its
superstructure bullet-scarred. The of
a
fleers of the ship said that troops ac
cidentally fired on the vessel in an
effort to hit a Russian vessel anchored
♦
near the Delight at Vladivostok on
January 2, to prevent the escape of
Ivan Kivan Giada, a rebel who had
taken refuge on the Russian ship.
The Delight was unloading rifles
when she was fired upon.
DEADLOCK ON
PEACETREATY
WASHINGTON, March 2 (by Asso
ciated Press).—The senate today re
adopted the Republican reservation de
claring the right, of the United States
to decide all domestic questions under
the League of Nations.
The Democrats endeavored vainly to
amend the reservation. Fourteen Dem
ocrats voted with the Republicans.
The senate leaders are convinced
that efforts to break the treaty dead
lock are a waste of time, and a move
ments to get it out of the way of pend
ing legislation and let it go into the
coming political campaign is under
consideration.
The plan is that the committee
promise that negotiations be dropped,
that a repetition of the reservation
program be readopted, a final vote
taken, and the outcome of the cam
paign be awaited.
LARGES SHIP IN
NAVY SOON TO
BE LAUNCHED
NEWPORT NEWS, March 2 (by As
sociated Press).—The supei'dread
naught Maryland, which will be
launched here on March 20, is the
largest ship ever built for the navy.
She has a displacement of 32,000 tons,
is 600 feet long, and has a main bat
tery composed of eight 16-inch rifles,
the heaviest guns used on any vessel.
Six 43,000-ton dreadnaughts are to
be built.
COACH D0BIE GOES TO
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
CHICAGO, March 2 (by Associated
Press).—It is announced that Gil
Dobie has signed a three^year con
tract to coach the football team of
Cornell University.
WRECK SINKS
AND SOME OF
CREW DROWN
i
HALIFAX, N. S., March 2 (by Asso
ciated Press).—The steamship Bo
hemian of the Leyland line, which
went ashore Sunday aurrng a storm,
broke in two and sank in two hundred
feet of water off shore. It is reported
that seven persons were drowned
when the crew abandoned the ship,
and several others were injured.
The passengers were rescued. It is
believed that the men were drowned
when a tug attemepted to rescue them
by means of a life line during the gale.
t _____
BITTER FIGHT
BEING WAGED
IN SEATTLE
SEATTLE, March 2 (by Associated
Press).—Clear skies today are draw
ing the voters out tor today’s city elec
tion, and a record vote is looked for.
The supporters of Caldwell are giv- j
ing odds of 2 to 1 against Duncan.
Many bets were made that Duncan
would run more than five thousand
votes behind.
The Times, Star and Post-Intelli
gencer supported Caldwell and the
Union Record supported Duncan.
!> - v ■
Duncan closed his mayoralty.; cam
paign last night with a down-town
open-air meeting. Duncan’s closing
speech was held at a mass meeting
at noon yesterday. The election today
ends the bitterest campaign in the j
history of the city.
Bets were being made last night at
average odds of 10 to 3^ that Cald
well would win.
NON-RESIDENTS
CAN BE TAXED,
SAYS COURT
WASHINGTON, March 2 (by Asso
ciated Press).—The supreme court
of the United States yesterday upheld
the right of states to impose income
taxes on non-residents, provided they
harmonize with those imposed upon
residents and are not of a discrimi
natory nature. Two cases were in
volved, one from Oklahoma and one
from New York.
GENERAL STRIKE IN
FRANCE CALLED OFF
PARIS, March 2 (by Associate^
Press).—The general railroad strike
ended yesterday, the men having
reached an understanding with the
railway directors.
BROTHERHOODS DECIDE NOT
TO TEST CONSTITUTIONALITY
OF NEW RAILROAD MEASURE
WASHINGTON, March 2 (by Asso
ciated Press).—It is understood that!
representatives of the railroad broth- j
erhoods have voted to give the new j
railroad law a trial in bringing about'
a settlement of their wage demands, j
and will not test the law’s constitu-1
tionality at present.
This means that the danger of a
general strike has been removed.
One of the brotherhood officials
said: “We are good Americans, and
desire to go with the President as far!
as we can.”
It is understood that President Wil
son is preparing to name a commis
sion to settle the wage demands.
Regrets Its Signing
MIAMI, Fla., March 2 (by Associated
Press).—Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
discussing the newly-enacted railroad
legislation here yesterday, said that
while organized labor regretted the
signing of the railroad bill, no further
action would be taken in regard to it.
improvements Must Wait
OMAHA, March 2 (by Associated
Press).—President Carl Gray of the
Union Pacific railroad said yesterday
thaet building and improvements must
wait until the road had been restored
to its former standard.
NAVALBASEAT
FRISCO NOT TO
BE APPROVED
-.—
WASHINGTON, March 2 (by Asso-;
dated Press).—The house committee!
on naval affairs has indicated that it
i
will not recommened the appropriation
of money for the construction of a
I
great naval base in San Francisco bay,
as recommended by the navy general
board.
The committee thinks that every
thing can not be provided for in the
present state of the finances.
The board recommended the estab
lishment of submarine bases at Port i
Angeles, Wash., and on the Columbia j
river, and the enlargement of the Pu
get Sound naval station at Bremerton.
It is unknown what the attitude of the i
committee is on these recommenda- j
tions.
LEGION WANTS
HELP FOR ALL
SERVICE MEN
WASHINGTON, March 2 (hy Asso
ciated Press).—Franklin D’Olier, na
tional commander of the American Le
gion, told , the house ways and means
committee today that the legion want
ed no bonus for the soldiers, but that
it did want assistance for the men in
overcoming financial disadvantages.
He said that the veterans felt that
the government owed an obligation to
all persons who had been handicapped
physically and financially by war serv
ice. The disabled men, he said, want
ed relief legislation to prevent them
from becoming objects of charity.
The legion favored laws providing
farm settlements in all the states,
and wanted aid for the soldiers in buy
ing homes, and also wanted vocational
training, said Mr. D’Olier.
PALMER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
FOR PRESIDENCY-M’ADOO ALSO
GETS BOOST-HOOVER LOOMS UP
ATLANTA, Ga.. March 2 (by Asso
ciated Press).—Attorney General A.
Mitchell Palmer yesterday formally
announced his candidacy for the presi
dency in a telegram sent to the Demo
cratic state central committee of
Georgia, in which he said it was highly
important that an opportunity be
given at the primary elections to pass
upon the record of the present ad
ministration.
In his letter to Hiram Gardner, sec
retary of the Georgia state Democratic
committee, announcing his candidacy
for the presidency, Mr. Palmer says
that if the Georgia Democrats choose .
him he will receive the honor with
deep appreciation.
It is expected that more open Dem
ocratic declarations will follow. The
candidates talked of include Hoover,
McAdoo, Bryan, Governor Cox of Ohio,
Gerard, Champ Clark and Senator
Owen.
McAdoo’s Hat in the Ring
PORTLAND, Ore., March 2 (by As
I
sociated Press).—Newton McCoy, a
local Democratic leader, announces
that he has opened presidential cam
paign headqriarters here for W. G.
McAdoo, and that petitions for placing
the name of the former secretary of
the treasury upon the primary ballots
will be circulated immediately
throughout Oregon.
An Active Hoover Club
TACOMA. March 2 (by Associated
Press).—The Pierce County Hoover
Club was formed here last night. It
is the announced intention of the club
to hold Hoover rallies throughout the
county. The organization is non
partisan.
Wood Changes His Mind
BISMARCK, N. D„ March 2 (by As
sociated Press$.—It is announced that
Major General Leonard Wood will not
file his candidacy for the presidential
nomination in the North Dakota pri
maries.
FISH QUOTATIONS
SEATTLE, March 2.—Prices for fish
at noon yesterday were: Halibut,
13c; sablefish, 5c.
. Ju* i
PHILADELPHIA, March 2 (by As
sociated Press).—Mike O’Dowd, mid
dleweight champion, last night stopped
Jack McCurron in the second round of
a scheduled six-round bout, when Mc
Curron’s seconds threw up the towel.