The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-22
REPRESENTED FOREIGN LINES,
HUMPHREY MAKES DISCLOSURE
IN SUBSIDY SPEECH.
Charges Staff Member of Associated
Press With Representing Foreign
Investigation by "a. p" Results in
''ResignatiOn" of EmpIoyce-Sal-
ary for Services Was $4,000 Per An
mum.

tive Humphrey, of Washington, intro
spoke in the house upon various forms
of combinations among foreign steam
ship lines touching American ports
and referred to discriminatory rates
charged for sending American pro-
ducts abroad. In the course of his
speech, he charged that certain for
eign lines were represented in Wash
ington by member of the staff of the
Associated Press. In that connection
the following was issued by the Asso-
ciated Press:
'lt having come to the knowledge
of the executive officers Of the Asso-
ciated Press that an employee in the
Washington office has been engaged,
under salary by two steamship lines.
to furnish them with certain classes
of information, an investigation has
been made. 1t has been disclosed
that, While such employment did not
at any time involve any act on the
part of the employee, which could in
anyway affect the integrity Of the SER
vice, nor even interfere with his legit-
innate and proper work for the Asso-
ciated Press, nevertheless, such en-
plOyment is SO subject to misconcep-
ton as to seriously impair his useful
ness and his relation to the Associated
Press has in consequence ceased by
the acceptance Of his resignation.
"This termination of his long, use
full and honorable service does not
justify any assumption that he has
been consciously guilty Of any mis-
conduct, nor that in the work he has
performed for the steamship COM
panies he has done anything which
one not connected with the Asscciat-
ed Press might not have done with
perfect propriety."
This is what Mr.. Humphrey said on
this subject:
THE hired representative of Herr
Ballin and his interests is here in
Washington, today, on the staff of the
Associated Press, the greatest news
gentleman's name Is Mr.. Jerome j.
Wilber-and when you remember how
close the German merchant marine is
to the German navy, it is at least sug-
gestive that this representative of this
giant foreign steamship trust should
also be the Representatives Of the AS
sociated Press, assigned to our State,
war and navy departments.
when he was on the witness stand
to the amount of money that he was
being paid for this service. The next
day after that Mr. Boas, of New York,
(American general manager of the
Hamburg-American Packet Com
pany) was upon the witness stand and
he testified that Mr.. Wilber's compen-
sation was $4,000 a Year. What does
he do? What are the services that
he renders this company?"
Mr.. Humphreys statements had
reference to testimony given below
the house committee, which has been
investigating the alleged existence of
a lobby in opposition to the ship sub
sidy project.
In other parts of his ship subsidy
speech Mr. Humphrey said that by a
method Of fixing" the trade South
America buys from the United States
only about 5 per cent of what they i'm
port. Certain great American trusts,
said Mr.. Humphrey, received special
rates and privileges from the foreign
ships. He mentioned the Standard Oil
Company, the Steel Trust and the
Harvester combine" in this connec-
ton. The Hamburg American Pack
ct Company is the greatest power is
the most gigantic trust, combine and
monopoly that exists in the world"
declared Mr.. Humphrey. All the
different combines and companies on
the Atlantic Ocean are also under that
gigantic working scheme, and have a
common understanding. The hea} of
this greatest Of all trusts is the Ham
burg-American line. 1t is also prob
able that this line cXerts together
With Japan, 4 controlling interest in
all Of the Pacific conferences"
Boston ragmcn are having their
voices cultivated by a wealthy resident