The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-26
Members of the Government Piled
with Questions in Regard to Eff
feet of the Combination.
INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL INTER-
EsTs TO BE PROTECTED.
j. II. Morgan, Jr., of Opinion the News
papers Are Making n Sensa-
ton Out of Nothing.

LONDON, April 25.-Further questions in
the House of Commons to-day on the sub
ject of the shipping combine elected infor-
nation showing that the government was
taking steps to cope with the situation
which, evidently, was officially considered
detrimental TO Great Britain. The president
of the Board of Trade. Gerald Balfour, said
the Board of Trade had no official informa-
ton about the combine, but plenty of un-
official intelligence had reached the board.
The effect of such combination on British
shipping would receive the careful atten-
ton of the board, but any formal inquiry
would be premature. No information re-
garding the arrangements made by the
American syndicate TO control the Atlantic
traffic, including passenger, freight and
other charges, and the movements of YES
sells, largely belonging to British COM
panies, had been submitted to the board
before the arrangements were made. AS TO
steps to secure the commercial and po-
litical interests of the United Kingdom and
to prevent foreign interference with Brit
ish shipping, conflicting with engagements
made with the Admiralty. the matter had
occupied and is occupying the govern
ment's attention.
The secretary of the Admiralty, Mr.. Ar
nOld-FOrster replying to Henry Norman,
Liberal, said the attention of the Admir-
atty had been called to the formation Of the
Atlantic shipping combination, or trust,
with capital of e34.O0O0O0 ($170, 900. 00O),
mostly held I'm the United States, and with
registered Offices in America. The secre-
tary was informed that twenty-eight Brit
ish transatlantic steamships were con-
trolled by this combination. among them
being three subsidized steamers and five
others, which were held at the Admiralty $
disposal without subsidy. The White Star
line gave the Admiralty no notice of its
intention to enter the combination.
J. T. Morgan. jr., said to a representative
of the Associated Press this afternoon:
There has not been a single development
in the shipping trust since the announce
ment of the Associated Press April TO- All
this agitation in England is quite unbiased.
We cannot transfer ships from the British
to the American flag, and what is more,
we have not contemplated ii. Some of the
serious papers here are certainly making
great fuss. but it all appears to us to
be very sensational journalism. We know
of no opposition to the combine, and
neither know, or particularly care, at the
present moment, what the Cunard and
OF time the agreement on which the trust
is based will be submitted 10 the share
holders of the individual companies con-
cerned. But good deal has got to be
When Mr.. Morgan, jr., was asked ques-
ton as to recurrence of the subsidy cases
Of the former City of Paris and former
too far-fetched for us. The idea had not
occurred to us. 1t is easy enough for peo-
pie who have nothing better to do than TO
sit down and invent all kinds of ingenious
objections which are remotely possible to
occur. We have tried to explain to the
people here the mutual benefit which may
be derived from the new organization, and
If they cannot understand it, why we can
not help it. That's all
The statements regarding the intentions
of the managers of the Atlantic shipping
combine vary with each edition of almost
every newspaper here, and most of them
entirely lack even the semblance of au-
thenticity, but they serve TO enhance the
general scare which is fully voiced by the
startling newspaper reporters and head
lines. Shipping circles express satisfac-
ton with the announcement of Mr. Arnold
Forster, the secretary of the Admiralty
in the House of Commons yesterday. of the
appointment of a committee to inquire into
the whole subject as affecting the Admir-
atty. Much is made of the fact that the
Inman line steamer City of Paris (now the
American line steamer Philadelphia) and
the City Of New York (now the American
line steamer New York;. after receiving
&26.999 (S13495O in subsidies, were trans
ferred to the American flag, and il is con
tended that there Is nothing to prevent q
repetition of such action. The Westmin-
Ster Gazette, however, solaces itself with
the InOuBnI Jndl II the law Dy winch only
American-built ships are entitled to fly
the American flag is repealed the British
as shipbuilders, stand 10 gain what they
will lose as shipOwners.
James Fortesque- Flanner, NJ p an as
sociate of Lloyds. and ex-president of the
Institution of Marine Engineers, takes q
serious view of the situation In the
course of an interview he says the present
movement is part of a well-defined scheme
in American mercantile and naval circles
the ultimate object of which is to foster
American shipbuilding. He sees in the
new shipbuiding yards important factors
in the fast-maturing project for enlarging
the American navy, which he considers
must inevitably be extended in proportion
to the present enormous enlargement OF
the American mercantile marine.
Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, the
Canadian high commissioner in London
has said in interview that he was disin-
clined to credit the reports that the ship
ping combine was attempting TO secure
control of the Canadian Pacific Railroad
Even If the combine secured majority OF
the Canadian Pacific Railroad stock, saiC
Lord Strathcona. there is adequate legisla-
ton to prevent their influence from going
beyond certain point
rumor is current in Liverpool shippins
circles that the shipping combine would
pay 10000 for each $1,000 share of the
White Star line.