Whereas it is understood that many vessels now under the jurisdiction of the United States Maritime Commission, which are suitable for service in the intercoastal trade, are out of service: therefore be it Resolved, That the United States Maritime Commission be and is hereby earnestly requested to provide American shipping companies operating in the intercoastal trade with registered vessel tonnage sufficient to replace registered vessel tonnage which has been or may in the future be withdrawn from the United States intercoastal trade routes because of charter transfer to other services or trades or by transfer to foreign flags; be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Admiral Emory S. Land, chairman of the United States Maritime Commission and that copies be also forwarded to the Honorable Hiram Johnson, the Honorable Sheridan Downey, and the Honorable Ed. V. Izac, Washington, D. C. Passed and adopted by the board of supervisors of the county of San Diego, State of California, this 25th day of March 1940 by the following vote, to wit: Ayes: Supervisors Bellon, Richards, Faddis, and Warner. Noes: Supervisors, none. Absent: Supervisor Hart. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, County of San Diego, ss: I, J. B. McLees, do hereby certify that I am the county clerk of the county of San Diego, State of California, and ex officio clerk of the board of supervisors of said county; that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the board of supervisors at a regular meeting thereof, at the time and by the vote above stated. [SEAL] J. B. McLEES, County Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk or the Board of Supervisors. RESOLUTION NO. 71046 Deputy. Whereas the Harbor Commission of the City of San Diego, Calif., is vested with the responsibility of maintaining and developing the port of San Diego, its tidelands, marine terminal facilities, fishing industry, and the movement of domestic and foreign water-borne commerce to, from, and via this port; and Whereas registered steamship tonnage in the United States intercoastal trade has been and is being curtailed, restricted, and rapidly reduced by charter transfer of vessels to other service or trades, by sale of vessels to foreign governments and/or transfer of vessels to foreign flags; and Whereas domestic commerce moving in the intercoastal trade between United States Atlantic coast ports and the port of San Diego is an economical and an important mode of transportation to this port, the community and territory served by this port, and the shippers and receivers of intercoastal cargo using this port; and Whereas the United States intercoastal trade is said to be undertonnaged and shippers and receivers of water-borne cargo are said to be experiencing great difficulty in securing space for the transportation of commodities moving in this trade; and Whereas it is alleged that approximately 123 vessels, which are said to be under the 20-year statutory limit, are laid up by reason of war conditions, many of which are suitable for service in the intercoastal trade; Therefore be it Resolved, That the city council of the city of San Diego urge the United States Maritime Commission to provide to American shipping companies operating in the intercoastal trade, sufficient registered vessel tonnage, which may be available in the laid-up fleet, to replace registered vessel tonnage which has been, and may in the future be, withdrawn from the United States intercoastal trade route because of sale to foreign governments, transfer to foreign flags, or charter diversion to other services or trades; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution, with appropriate letter of transmittal, be forwarded to Chairman Emory S. Land, of the United States Maritime Commission. I hereby certify the above to be a full, true, and correct copy of resolution No. 71046 of the council of the city of San Diego, Calif., as adopted by said council March 26, 1940. FRED W. SICK, City Clerk. Rear Admiral J. R. DEFREES, Foot of Broadway, San Diego, Calif. MARCH 27, 1940. DEAR ADMIRAL DEFREES: We are attaching hereto a copy of a resolution passed by the harbor commission on March 21 which was sent to Admiral Land, Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Congressman Izac, and Senators Johnson and Downey, in regard to the shrinkage of deadweight tonnage in the intercoastal trade. We were advised yesterday that the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. will eliminate San Diego as a port of call in their South Atlantic service, effective with the sailing of the steamship Kansan from Baltimore on April 17. This leaves only the Quaker Line and the Isthmian Line in the service. Just how long either, or both, of these lines will maintain their schedules to San Diego is, of course, problematical, especially in the face of existing high charter markets. You will note from the copy of our air-mail letter to Congressman Izac, March 26, how serious we view this situation. It would seem, in our opinion, that the serious curtailment or total loss of intercoastal service to this port would likewise be quite inconvenient to the Navy, who have in the past used these schedules for the movement of supplies and materials. We would appreciate any assistance that you can give to us in placing this matter before the United States Maritime Commission with the hope that a solution to the situation may be found before it becomes too acute. With kindest regards. Sincerely yours, PORT OF SAN DIEGO, J. W. BRENNAN, Port Director. MARCH 27, 1940. United States Senator SHERIDAN DOWNEY, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR: We are enclosing a copy of our letter of March 26 to Congressman Izac in regard to the loss of intercoastal steamship service for this port. We wrote you on the same subject on March 22. We are now in receipt of information that the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. are to eliminate San Diego as a port of call in the west-bound intercoastal service, effective with the sailing of their steamship Kansan from Baltimore on April 17, 1940. If this action is a forerunner of what may hold for the future, the situation is indeed alarming, and not only the port but shippers and consignees throughout the entire territory in southern California will suffer an irreparable loss in essential transportation facilities. We hope that the United States Maritime Commission will appreciate how menacing this situation is and take immediate steps to remedy it. If the intercoastal carriers are to be permitted to withdraw vessels from service in this trade at will, regardless of the public interest and need involved, our regulatory laws must indeed be inadequate. Irrespective of this point, however, the United States Maritime Commission is, in our opinion, in a position to allocate vessels from the laid-up fleet to the intercoastal trade with the understanding that regular schedules and all ports of call in effect as of January 1, 1940, be protected. Our situation at San Diego is extremely serious and the loss of this service not only affects the public shipping interests, but will handicap the Navy which uses regularly, intercoastal schedules for the transportation of Navy supplies and materials. We will appreciate all the help that you can give us in solving this vitally important domestic shipping problem. Sincerely yours, Same letter sent to Senator Hiram Johnson. PORT OF SAN DIEGO, J. W. BRENNAN, Port Director. Congressman ED. V. IzAC, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. HARBOR DEPARTMENT, DEAR ED.: Please refer to my letter of March 22, and the resolution attached thereto, in regard to the shrinkage of deadweight steamship tonnage in the intercoastal trade. Well, the first blow has struck. The American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. that has served this port in the intercoastal trade for many years, are about to drop the port of San Diego as a scheduled port of call. We understand that their steamship Kansan scheduled to sail from Baltimore April 17, 1940, will be the last regular scheduled American-Hawaiian ship to call at this port. On January 1, 1940, the America-Hawaiian Steamship Co., was said to have had 39 vessels in their intercoastal service. Since then, we understand, the sale of 5 was authorized by the Maritime Commission. In addition, they have chartered out of the service to other companies or individuals, 12 ships, leaving a balance of only 22 in their fleet. There's the picture. This leaves only two lines calling at this port in the intercoastal trade, namely, the Quaker-California-Eastern Line and the Isthmian Line. The Quaker-California-Eastern Line has sold or chartered, out of the intercoastal trade, several of their vessels and there is nothing to prevent them from discontinuing regular calls at this port for the future. If this happens San Diego would have only one intercoastal steamship line left and how long that service would be maintained, we of course, would not know. This whole picture represents a very alarming situation and aside from the commercial shipping interests in this territory that will suffer from the loss of this service, it is bound to hit the Navy hard, because the regular scheduled intercoastal calls at San Diego are used regularly by the Navy Department. Not only the citizens but the Federal Government, has millions invested in this harbor and it will certainly be a tragedy to this territory if the present situation is permitted to drift and this important steamship service is destroyed. We understand that the United States Intercoastal Conference intends to file with the Maritime Commission the necessary supplements to Joseph A. Wells' west-bound freight tariff No. 1-C, canceling out American-Hawaiian Line terminal rates from Atlantic ports to San Diego, Calif., and eliminating San Diego as a regular scheduled port of call. We do not think the port of San Diego and citizens in this territory should be asked to bear the brunt of individual or collective steamship policies such as appears imminent. Unless the Maritime Commission can find an immediate solution to this situation, we may have a "ghost port" at San Diego as far as domestic intercoastal service is concerned. We are giving this situation wide publicity in this territory because we feel that our people out here should fully understand its seriousness. In the light of current developments we suggest that you again confer with Chairman Land, of the United States Maritime Commission, as well as naval authorities in Washington. It is vital that immediate action be taken if we are to prevent the destruction of intercoastal water-borne commerce through this port. This situation is of major importance to both San Diego and Imperial Counties. We know that you will leave nothing undone to safeguard our interests in this important matter. Please let me know by air mail the result of your conference with Admiral Land. Sincerely yours, Admiral EMORY S. LAND, PORT OF SAN DIEGO, MARCH 22, 1940. Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We are attaching hereto a copy of a resolution passed by the Harbor Commission, city of San Diego, on March 21, 1940, in regard to the shrinkage of registered vessel tonnage in the intercoastal trade. We appreciate that the United States Maritime Commission are fully informed in regard to the gradual shrinkage of tonnage in this trade and we trust that the solution to this problem may be developed before steamship service in the domestic trade between Atlantic and Pacific coast ports reaches a more serious stage. Inasmuch as this matter is of paramount importance to the Pacific coast and the territory served by the port of San Diego, we respectfully urge that the matter be given your consideration. Respectfully yours, Congressman ED. V. IZAC, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN IZAC: I am attaching hereto for your information, a copy of our letter date, to Chairman Land of the United States Maritime Commission. This matter is of major importance to San Diego and the entire territory that this port serves; in fact the entire Pacific coast is becoming quite alarmed. The Pacific Coast Association of Port Authorities expect to have a meeting in San Francisco the first week in April with representatives of agricultural, labor, commercial, and shipping interests, in the entire territory, for the purpose of combining the strength of the entire Pacific coast in a movement to send a delegate to Washington to discuss the matter with the Maritime Commission and congressional representatives. This situation is serious and unless immediate solution is found it will have disastrous effects upon the Pacific coast. I suggest that you personally discuss the matter with Admiral Land and urge that every effort be made by the Maritime Commission to remedy this condition before it becomes too acute. With kindest regards. Sincerely yours, PORT OF SAN DIEGO, J. W. BRENNAN, Port Director. Senator HIRAM JOHNSON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. Senator SHERIDAN DOWNEY, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: I am attaching hereto a copy of our communication to Chairman Emory S. Land, of the United States Maritime Commission, which is self-explanatory. The continued withdrawal of vessels from the Atlantic-Pacific coast port trade will create a very serious situation, not only in California, but on the entire Pacific coast. As an indication of how threatening this situation is, the Pacific Coast Association of Port Authorities propose to hold a meeting during the first week in April with representatives of agricultural, labor, manufacturers, and shipping interests, with the thought in mind of combining the strength of the entire Pacific coast in a movement to send a delegation to Washington. There is no question but what this situation is quite serious and unless a prompt solution can be found, the shortage of cargo space in the intercoastal trade between Atlantic ports and Pacific ports, will have a disastrous effect on the entire West coast. The harbor commission, city of San Diego, respectfully urge that you confer with Chairman Land, of the United States Maritime Commission, in the hope that the Maritime Commission will take steps to remedy this situation. Sincerely yours, Be it resolved by the Harbor Commission of the City of San Diego, as follows: Whearas, the Harbor Commission of the City of San Diego, Calif., is vested with the responsibility of maintaining and developing the port of San Diego, its tidelands, marine terminal facilities, fishing industry, and the movement of domestic and foreign water-borne commerce to, from, and via this port; and Whereas, registered steamship tonnage in the United States intercoastal trade has been, and is being, curtailed, restricted, and rapidly reduced by charter transfer of vessels to other services or trades, by sale of vessels to foreign governments and/or transfer of vessels to foreign flags; and Whereas, domestic commerce moving in the intercoastal trade between United States Atlantic coast ports and the port of San Diego is an economical and an important mode of transportation to this port, the community, and territory served by this port, and the shippers and receivers of intercoastal cargo using this port; and Whereas, the United States intercoastal trade is said to be under-tonnaged and shippers and receivers of water-borne cargo are said to be experiencing great difficulty in securing space for the transportation of commodities moving in this trade; and Whereas, it is alleged that approximately 123 vessels, which are said to be under the 20-year statutory limit, are laid up by reason of war conditions, many of which are suitable for service in the intercoastal trade: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Harbor Commission of the City of San Diego, urge the United States Maritime Commission to provide to American shipping companies operating in the intercoastal trade, sufficient registered vessel tonnage, which may be available in the laid-up fleet, to replace registered vessel tonnage which has been, and may in the future be, withdrawn from the United States intercoastal trade route, because of sale to foreign Governments, transfer to foreign flag, or charter diversion to other services or trades; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution, with appropriate letter of transmittal, be forwarded to Chairman Emory S. Land of the United States Maritime Commission. I hereby certify the above to be a full, true, and correct copy of Resolution No. 168 of the Harbor Commission of the City of San Diego, as adopted by the said Commission March 21, 1940. |