The Washington herald., 1910-03-05
FATAL TO SHIP BILL
Stevenson Inquiry Will Pre-
vent Action This Session.
EXPECTS TO BARE SCANDAL
subcommittee Of judiciary Named
to Hear Representative from Min
Press Bureau Against American
Merchant Marine Service.

/
terday that the hullabaloo raised over
the Stevenson resolution, in which 1t is
charged that improper means have been
used in an effort 10 force the passage of
the Humphrey ship subsidy bill, would
prevent action on the measure at this
session.
| While the leaders will not oppose the
appointment Of a committee of inquiry
to inquire into this scandal IL Repre-
sentative Stevenson makes a strong ex-
parte case they are Of opinion that the
preliminary examination will show that
the supporters Of the ship subsidy bill
outside Of Congress were overzealous,
but not guilty OF acts that would
bring them in conflict with the criminal
statutes
Representative Stevenson. OF Mime
sofa. the author OF the resolution Of in
curry. is convinced that a go0d-sized
scandal is about to be laid bare. At
meeting of the Committee on the Judi
ciary held yesterday a subcommittee was
appointed to inquire into the matter.
VIII Meet This Morning.
The subcommittee comprises Represen-
tative Sterling. Of Illinois. chairman, and
Malby. OF New York. Republicans. and
Brantley. Of Georgia, Democrat Mr..
STEVENSON was notified that the subcom-
mittee would meet at 1880 o'clock this
morning 10 hear his side Of the story OF
the alleged scandal
| Mr.. Stevenson said that he had pre-
pared list Of witnesses that ne intends
TO ask the subcommittee 10 subpoena,
some Of them supposed TO have knowI-
edge OF things that have been done 20
further ship subsidy legislation. and
others said to be in possession OF facts
tending TO show that a lobby has been
maintained In Washington by the foreign
shipping interests 10 place obstacles in
the way Of such legislation.
Among those whom Representative
Stevenson will ask the committee to sub
poena are ev-Govs. Myron p Herrick. of
/ Ohio. and Samuel Van SAINT. of Mime
/ sofa, the latter now commander-in-chief
Of the Grand Army of the Republic. They
are connected with the Merchant Marine
/ League Members OF the House that he
| will name as witnesses are Representa-
| tives Fassett, of New York; Kustermann,
| OF Wisconsin, and Borland, of Missouri
/ He will also name ex-Representative
James T. MeCIeary, OF Minnesota, who is
supposed TO have been active in Wash
ington as the representative Of the Mer-
chant Marine League.
Steamship Men Witnesses.
John Hays Hammond. president of the
National League of Republican Clubs.
will be included in the list OF witnesses
prepared by Mr.. Stevenson, as will r. p
schwerin. vice president Of the Pacific
Steamship Company; John Barneson, of
the Pacific Coast Steamship Company,
and George ". Dickle. of the Union Iron
Works.
II is apparent that IL the House author
ICES an investigation of what Mr. Steen-
erson believes TO be a scandal that It will
embrace the opposition to the subsidy bill.
as well as those who support it,
Representative Fassett said yesterday
that Representative Stevenson was in
error when he made the statement that
he (FassetO had expressed purpose to
introduce resolution to inquire into the
activities OF foreign shipping interests, on
the ground that he believed they main
tanned in Washington a lobby opposed to
subsidy legislation.
II told Mr. STEVENSON" Mr.. Fassett
said. that I had seen large number of
clippings couched In almost identcally
the same language which had appeared
in many different newspapers scattered
all over the United States disparaging
the movement for the rehabilitation of
the merchant marine. I told him further
that this looked TO me as If an aggressive
press bureau was maintained in the in
terests Of the foreign ship owners
Mr.. Stevenson said he had no thought
OF misrepresenting the nature of the con-
versation that took place between him
self and Mr.. Fassett, but his recollection
was that the New York member had sug-
gested a resolution of inquiry.