New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
LINES WELCOME U.S.. SUIT
Suggested 1t, Says Official, TO
Establish Legality Of Pool.
IDENIES STEERAGE MONOPOLY
No Unreasonable Profits from
This Business-Hamburg
Shippers Not Anxious.

In a statement made yesterday on be-
hal, OF the steamship companies named IN
} the suit of the government against the AT
lantic Conference, Philip A. 5 frahhh"
>,ice-presdent OF the International Mer'
camille Company. repeated the assei i'ion
made by an official of one OF the lmpiIca'eu
companies In yesterdays Tribune 'ha' 'he
suit had been brought at the suggestIon o'
the corporations TO test the legality OF 'lelr
business methods under the mutua' agree
ment
United states Attorney Wise denied tha'
the suit was friendly one. me sun
speaks for ITSELF he said, 'and was
brought by the government in all serious
ness for the purpose OF obtaining the rehei
asked for in the petition"
In his statement Mr. Franklin said:
Last spring the government began an
investigation before the grand jury WIN
regard to the business of the steamship
lines The lines at that time, through their
attorneys. informed the United States Al
,orpey that IL any Of their practices were
illegal they were perfectly willing to dis
continue the same. and suggested that d
suit be brought to determine the question.
The matter. we believe, was referred TO
the Attorney General. and, II being thought
that there was doubt as TO the legality OF
certain ways in which the steamship lines
were doing business, it was determined 10
bring an equity action which would raise
the whole question Of the legality OF the
practices. and we understand that this
suit Is the result.
We have not had sufficient opportunity
; 20 study the bill filed by the government tc
fully understand all its features, but we
gather that the bill alleges that the lines
are attempting 10 monopolize the steerage
passenger business, and that the govern
ment seeks to enjoin the lines from carry
ing out abroad an agreement made abroad
,by the foreign officers of the various lines.
Mr. Franklin contended that ocean car
riers can never have a monopoly of their
own. because the ocean is free. and, unlike
railroads. there are no franchises.
'Unrestrained competition in the steerage
psssenger business" Mr.. Franklin contin'
ued, means the allowing of unjust dis
elimination and rebates. and In the end
hardship upon those passengers by reason
of the practices of irresponsible parties.
We think, that. considering all the con-
veniences and comforts that are given to
the passengers upon the steamers of the
various lines. that il will be found upon
investigation that in no case has anything
moro than a easonab bic fare been charged,
and that no unreasonable profit has been
made b. any of the lines out Of the steer
age passage business"
Hamburg. Germany, Jan. b.-No anxiety
is expressed in local shipping circles con-
cerning the outcome Of the suit instituted
by the United states government TO close
American ports TO the vessels of the COM
panies comprising the Atlantic Conference.
statement was issued from the offices
of the HamburC-American Line to-day.
The foreign companies themselves.
reads the statement desired legal ac-
ton for the purpose of testing whether the
American antitrust law affects their posi-
tion. They are convinced that the suit VII
serve only 10 clear up the situation ant
prove that the law Is inapplicahle. and thus
nut an end 10 the agitation of competing
companies, which are the sole instlgatorS
Of the movement against the foreign com
panics."