The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-11-29
NOTHING IMPROPER
IN RE SHIP SUBSIDY
The Committee Investigating
Charges Will Report That
All Was Correct.

WASHINGTON November 1.-THE
apparent expectation of most of those
who were connected with the ship sub
sidy inquiry of last spring now evident
ly is that that investigation snail not
be resumed during the current fall.
The committee itself is yet to be heard
from in any definite and official way,
but the fact that there has been no
announcement of hearings and that the
congressman who were under charges
last year have not retained anyone to
continue their defense indicates the in
difference of the accused men toward
the situation and the fact that they
feel that they have been already vindi-
Gated. The shipping interests have not
been notified of an intent to continue
Investigations further, and their repre-
sentatives in Washington assert that
such information as has reached them
is to the effect that nothing further is
likely to be done. This is taken to
assure an early report on the part of
the committee of investigation, and it
is supposed that this report will be
turned in very soon after the. assem-.
bling of congress for the winter session.
Thus ship subsidy situation of even
mere interest than that which would
probably grow out of additional hear
ings is likely to be created.
Scope of Report.
The scope of the new report is in
part plain. The accused congressman
were not convicted of any of the inn
proprieties which had been charged
| :. Al 81 ,rN1x
ated by the testimony. Their attorney
feels that he has received what amounts
to an assurance to this effect, and,
therefore, it is clear on all grounds that
congress will practically be obliged to
regard them as relieved of the charges.
That the committee will explicitly so
state in its report is about as certain
as anything can be. The testimony that
was received last spring, but to which
relatively little attention was paid by
the public at the time, also showed
that the second phase of the subjects
committed to the inquirers-whether
there had been any improper methods
of lobbying also have to be an
swered on the basis of the data already
available. The testimony showed that
nothing whatever had been done by the
| shipping IIdut OE VI ~
that could be classed as improper lob
bying and it is doubtful whether the
work done by the Merchant Marine
League for the purpose of influencing
/ congress was much worse than is CON
stantly being done by other organiza-
tions. While it was true that congress
sional dinners were given and that
literature" on the subsidy question
was disseminated, other organizations
have pursued the same plan so extern
| sively as to make it almost self-evident
that any condemnation of general legis-
lative methods as now pursued. 1t is
not likely that the committee will lend
itself to any Qu44otism and, therefore,
the forthcoming report may be expect
ed to exonerate both sides with respect
to alleged improperly. There may be
reference to the fact that certain
shipping firms were regularly supplied
through paid agents in Washington with
information about legislation, and it is
possible that some reference will be
made to the winning and dining done
by the Merchant Marine League, but
the present view is that not much polit-
| zeal capital can be made of either of
these things. This leaves open simply
the question whether anything is to be
reported regarding alleged steamship
"rings" and "poOls''