Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-04-26
BRITISH ANNOYED At TRUST
Government is Taking Steps to Cope with
the Morgan Shipping Combine.
HOLD IT DETRlMENT TO THEIR INTEREST
Board of Trade officials signify Inten-
tion to Inquire Into situation as
Soon as Authoritative InfOr-
nation is obtained.

LONDON, April 25.-Further questions
in the House of Commons today on the sub
icct Of the shipping combine elected in
formation showing that the government
was taking steps to cope with the situation,
which eventually was ofncislly considered
detrimental to Great Britain.
The president Of the Board OF Trade,
Gerald Balfour, said the Board Of Trade hal
no oficial information about the combine.
but plenty OF unofficial intelligence hal
reached the board. The effect Of such
combination on British shipping generally
would receive the careful attention Of the
board, but any formal inquiry would he
premature.
No information regarding the arrange
ments made by the American syndicate to
control the Atlantic trsfic. including pas
senger. freight and the movements Of the
vessels 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
political interests Of the United Kingdom
and to prevent foreign interference with
British shipping. conflicting with engage
ments made with the admiralty, the mat
ter had occupied, and is occupying. the
governments attention.
Twenty-EIEht British ships.
The secretary Of the admiralty, Mr.. Ar
mold Foster, replying to Henry Norman,
liberal, said that the attention of the ad
miralty had been called to the formation
OF the Atlantic shipping combination or the
trust with capital OF s17O,OOo.O 900. mostly
held in the United States and with regis
tered Offices in America. The secretary
was informed that twenty-elght British
transatlantic steamships we're controlled
by this combination. among them being
three subsidized steamers and fve others
which were held at the admiralty's disposal
without subsidy. The White Star line gave
the admiralty no notice Of its intention to
enter the combination.
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 headlines.
Inquiry in Demand.
Satisfaction is expressed with the an
| nouncement of Mr.. Forester, secretary Of
the admiralty, In the House of Commons,
| Of the appointment of a committee to in
| quire into the whole subject as affecting
the admiralty. Much is made OF the fact
| that the Inman line steamers City of
| Paris (now the American line steamer
Philadelphia) and the City OF New York
| (now the American line steamer New
York;, after receiving e26, $50 (S134. .s50) in
subsidies, were transferred to the Ameri-
| can nag and 1t is contended that there is
nothing to prevent a repetition OF such
| action.
The Westminster Gazette, however,
soaces itself with the thought that II the
law by which only American built ships
are entitled to fly the American flag is
repealed the British, as ship builders, stand
a chance to gain what they will lose as
ship owners.
Sir James Fortescue Flannery, NJ. p,
once associate OF Lloyds and former presi-
dent Of the Institution Of Marine Engineers
takes a serious view of the situation. In
| the course of an interview he says the
| present movement Is part of a we'll defined
| scheme in American mercantile and naval
circles the ultimate object of which is to
foster American shipbuilding. He sees IN
the new shipbuilding yards important
factors In tho fast-maturing project for
enlarging the American navy. which. he
considers, must inevitably be extended in
proportion to the present enormous en-
largement OF the American mercantile
! marine.