Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-01
SAYS LET LAW STOP
THE HUGE MONOPOLY
Senate Committee on Inter-oceanio
Canals Sends for Mr.. Dickinson to
Throw Light on Subject-The o.
fetal Tells Of Surest Way fer Relief,
But Does Not Favor II.
CBy Associated press.)


WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb. 2S-Sec-
rotary Of War Dickinson proposes
that the antitrust laws be invoked
! upon the monopoly which the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company and the
Hartman Trans-continental lines
have on business between Pacific
coast points and the isthmns OF Pana-
ma When 1t was suggested today that
suit under the Sherman law might faii
because of lack of proof that the
steamship company. operated as an
independent line. would be considered
; competitor of the Southern Pacific
railroad, members OF the senate COM
mittee on inter Oceanic canals discuss.
| ed the ACCESSIBILITY of recommending
legislation that would reach the
merger.
The hearing today was held In or
der to give the secretary of war OPP
portunity to aTraign the criticism OF
Senator Bristow that the government
was giving aid to the trans-continentai
railroads by not encouraging the es-
Establishment of an independent line on
the Pacific coast. as was proposed by
M. N. Baker. of Baltimore.
Couto NOR De 6r6utco.
Secretary Dickinson produced the
proposed contract submitted to him to
show his understanding Of the offer
made by the syndicate, backed by Mf.
1 Baker. 1t indicated that the company
was to have an exclusive contract and
many other favors that Mr.. Dickinson
said could not be granted under au-
thority vested in him OF any other
member of the Presidents cabinet.
After this showing had been made.
Mr.. Br,stow acknowledged that such
contract would be unacceptable to
the government.
Peace was patched upSbetween the
war secretary and the 'insurgent
senator. although for an hour 1t was
apparent that the secretary had been
| highly incensed by the comment OF
Mr.. Bristow that his failure to accept
Mr.. Bakers proposition looked TO
him that the secret of the whole
business is that the government does
not propose to put In anything 10 COM
pete with the trans-ccntinentsi rail-
! ways"
Made Threats.
The statement had been made by
| MI IaChlnrOu ll4dt ne bdu III dtt4SattI
been ccerced by serious situation
| into conserving to the demand of the
Pacific Mail for 20 per cent OF the
Joint rate, The Pacific Mail had
threatened to withdraw its ships and
IL this had been done. he said. It
would have left the government line
without an outlet on the Pacific coast
and that no business could be obtain
ed for the government line on its
northbound trips on the Atlantic.
| IF the ships on the Pacific SIDE had
been withdrawn | felt that my posi-
ton would have been indefensible and
therefore | was forced to accept the
terms offered by the Pacific Mall.
sad the secretary.
Did you ever make an invest.ga-
ton to determine whether the Pacific
Mail Is controlled by the Hartman
rnes?- asked Chairman Flint
Mr.. Dickinson replied that he had
seen President Schwering, Of the
! Pacific Mail only cnce and they had
lad an unpleasant interview.
Schwering insisted, he said. that his
steamship line was independent Of
the Southern Pacific and upon that
rDlNl luty CyuiU nut dEfN-
Should Enforce Law.
Why, II II Is wrong for the South
arn Pacific to own the stock Of the
Pacific Nail. you have antitrust
laws secretary Dickinson said. 1T
Is not the bushes OF the secretary %
war 10 enforce antitrust laws
Several senator's pressed the secTe-
tary OF war for hrs opinion Of the
surest way to break up the Pacific
Mall monopoly He said that the sur
est way would be for the government
20 build ships and operate thcl. but
he would net say that such a course
would be- the wEsest way. He said
that The question was legislative one
and that he I'D not care 70 endorse
government Ownership.
We sent for you 10 tel rs What to
do said Chairman FLINT
That ] think. u what you would
do n you were a senator.
no ! would not ask any man to
tell me what 20 do IN the matter 81
government ownership replied the
secretary
IT Is I'D TO the war department or
-