The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-17

and when you remember how close the
German merchant marine is TO the Ger
man navy it is at least suggestive that
this representative OF this giant foreign
steamship trust should also be the repre-
sentative Of the Associated Press as
signed to our State, War, and Navy de-
partments.
when he was on the witness stand
the other day he refused 20 testify. as
to the amount Of money that he was
being paid for this service. The next
day Mr. Boas. of New York, was on
the witness stand and testified that MT
Wilbur's compensation was 5000 a year.
What did he do? What are the services
he rendered his company?
This Is the Herr Balm whose COM
pany voluntarily withdrew two OF its
fastest and best ships and sold them
to Spain TO sink, burn. and destroy
American commerce.
Dictates Traffic Rates,
This is the man and this is the COM
pany that to-day absolutely dictate how
and on what terms this great nation
shall transport 50. 500 OO0, 600 annually.
THE fact that these things have never
been fully published in the press Of this
the power and influence of these great
combinations. What method they have
used TO suppress these facts is something
that so far has not been made public"
Mr.. Humphrey challenged any one to
deny that 80 per cent of American COM
merce is carried by a giant monopoly Of
foreign ships between which there is not
the slightest competition; that these lines
constitute monopoly OF the sea, pledged
to destroy any competitive line; that
there is not a regular line of foreign YES
sells carrying American commerce but
taat is in a trust that there is not q
single foreign vessel carrying American
commerce but that discriminates against
American products whenever these prod
ucts compete with those of the country
whose flag the vessel flies.
His information, Mr.. Humphrey said
was that American lines on the Pacific
coast had Joined the trust. He was
uncertain whether the Atlantic lines had
Joined. but was inclined to believe that
all lines running between this country
and Europe were in on the Conference"
or trust agreement
Statement Is Issued.
Soon after Mr.. Humphrey had finished
his speech 1t became known that the
Associated Press correspondent referred
10 by him had resigned his position. Last
evening the following statement was
given out here by the Associated Press:
Involves No Lack OF Integrity,
It having come to the knowledge Of the executive
officers Ct the Associated Press that an employs in
tbs Washington oiee has been engaged under salary
Of the foreign steamship lines to furnish them with
certain classes Of information. an Investigation has
been made.
It has been disclosed that. while such employ
ment did not at any tine involve any act on the
part Of the eInpl0ye which could In any way affect
the Integrity Of the service even interfere with
bis legitimate and proper work for the Associated
Press, nevertheless such employment is so subject
70 mlsconcepion seriously to impair his ,rseful-
ness, and his relation TO the Associated Press has
IN Consequence ceased by the sccePancs Of bis
resignation.
This termination of lis long. useful. and honor
able services does rot justify any assumption that
he has been consciously guilty Of any misconduct
nor that in tbs work which be has Performed for
the steamship companies le has done ANYTHING
which one not connected with the Associated Press
might not hsFs done with uerfecf ,,snuristv