New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-26
Manager of "The Journal of
Commerce" Says Sum Was
Promised for Papers Support.
BY SUBSIDY INTERESTS"
Witness Says on Other Occasions
John Roach and the Spanish
Government Tried to Infu-
ence Editorial Policy.
From The Tribune Bureau

p an alleged steamship trust" of gigantic
. proportions and the failure of a herald
cd witness to make good" upon his al
legations that the shipping interests have
been attempting 10 bribe the press.
marked the hearing to-day of the special
House committee which is investigating
the dual subject OF a steamship trust"
and a subsidy lobby.
Statements regarding several attempts
t. buy the editorial support of THE New
York Journal Of Commerce" in favor OF
ship subsidy legislation, which that pa
per has consistently opposed, were made
to the committee to-day by Alfred w.
DodswOrth. business manager Of THE
Journal Of Commerce and Commercial
Bulletin
Paul 9. Fourman. representing the
Uranium Steamship Line. against which
the so called conference lines controlling
what is alleged to he 9S per cent Of the
Atlantic passenger traffic are arrayed
told earlier In the day how railroad
authorities in this country. notably the
Central Passenger Association at Chi
Cago. had refused to sell tickets over the
independent lines unless the independ-
ents obtained the sanction of tho confer
ence lines.
Mr.. Fourman told the committee that
practically ALL the American and Euro
pean steamship lines have entered into
a conference" agreement and that the
trust has been cutting rates in such
manner as TO put the smaller companies
out Of business. He said that the ships
! comprising what Is known as the Cont
mental Conference and the North Allan
tic Conference have vi.tually squeezed
out all competition from independent
steamers.
It is Impossible 10 get agents. MI
Fourmar said. for the independent lines,
and the steerage rates are cut TO the
bone by the big steamship lines upon
the DAYS when an independent boat Il
10 sail. He produced circulars 70 show
that the conference had reduced rates
from s3S To S21 upon such occasions,
making competition almost impossible.
Have YOU applied for admission to
the conference" asked Mr. Longworth'
a committee member.
IT think not. We would likely be re-
fused. anyway. as the trust figures 1t is
easier TO XIII us than 20 take US IN" said
| Mr.. F'ourman.
As a result Of to-day's evidence Mr.
Dodsworth's brother. John ". Dods-
worth. the editor Of The Journal of
! commerce" will he recalled to Wash
ington to explain why he failed to en-
tighten the committee during his recent
testimony.
It is probable that Charles \. Conant.
Of New York. a former Washington cor
respondent may ne asked to throw light
on an offer TO subsidizc the paper, said
/ 10 have been forwarded through him to
! The Journal Of Commerce which he
then represented. and the federal au-
thorities may take note Of the evidence
as 10 the railroads discrimination
against the independcnt steamship lines
on foreign tickets.
100000 for an Article.
Alfred ". Dodsvorth arrived at the
committee room with a carefully pre-
pared list Of questions he wanted To
have propounded to him. impelled by
what he regarded as misrepresentation
Of the attitude Of his paper. The testi-
mony. however. suddenly broadened in
scope and the witness sought refuge in
referring the committee TO his brother,
now i'm New York, for detailed enlight
enment. The witness said that his paper
never had been subsidized by any inter-
ests whatever. and its business and edi-
torial columns had no relation.
But. he testified, about six years ago
an unknown man came into his office
and offered to pay The Journal Of Com
merce" 100000, and take l.GOOOOO cop
les Of the paper for the insertion of an
article in one issue supporting the ship
subsidy legislation. This man refused to
disclose his identity unless his PROPOSE
ton was t. be accepted.
The stranger proposed. in the event of
| acceptance, 10 make out certified
check Immediately for $4,000 10 bind
the agreement and TO pay the balance
Of $4,000 upon publica ;ion Of the arti-
! cle Mr.. Dodsworth said he Immediately
called his brother. John w. into his Of
flee as a witness to the conversation and
the proposition was turned down as an
attempt 10 make an improper arrange
mcnt.
who made the bribe Offer" asked the
chairman, Mr.. Olcott.
Il don't know the mans name" said
Mr.. Dodsworth.
Members Of the committee sat M in
startled fashion inasmuch as Mr. Dods-
worth's testimony was expected TO he
sensational.
You don't know his name" asked |
members Of the committee in surprise
| Mr.. Dodsworth admitted that he didn't. |
Other Offers Of Bribes.
That however, was only one such |
event. Pressed by the committee. Mr. |
Dodsworth said that about thirty years /,
ago his father was sitting i'm his office |
that of the same publication. and John /
Roach, the shipbuilder. who was then
| building ships and was active in behalf
Of q ship subsidy bill. entered the office |
laid down a blank check. asked the elder
Dodsworth TO fiji out the check and stop
writing against ship subsidy. The offer
was refused.
Another man, about two years ago. |
Dodsworth said. tried to buy the support
~ the paper for S40OoO. and during the
! spanish American war the Spanish gov |
ornment tried TO buy the papers infu- |