Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-15
HUMPHREY PRESENTS FACTS

Tells of Discrimination by. Foreign
Lines Against Ameri-
can Trade.
The House committee on rules today
began probing into the question of
sweeping Investigations into the So
called money, shipping and harvester
trusts. The Investigations were asked
in resolution regarding the money
trust by Representative Lindbergh of
Minnesota, shipping combine" by Rep.
resentatiye Humphrey Of Washington
and the International Harvester Com
pany by Representatives Foster of Illi-
nois and Lebeck of Nebraska.
The committee probably will suggest
the appointment of special commit
tee to conduct joint investigation of
the trio Of Industrial concerns.
Attorney General Wickersham was not
on hand when the committee met, but
Representative Humphrey Of Washington
was the bearer OF q letter from Mr..
Wickersham to Chairman Henry Of the
rules committee explaining that he was
OF long standing to speak in New York.
The letter Informed Mr.. Henry that in the
opinion of the Attorney General there
was nothing in the Humphrey resolution
which might interfere in any way with
the governments suit against the pooling
agreement between the North Atlantic
steamship lines, and that the investiga-
ton proposed would be OF public benefit.
Agreement of Pacific Lines.
.H
Mr.. Humphrey presented to the commit
tee a paper which he said was q copy of
the contract in force between the lines Of
the Pacific. He had obtained it, he said.
as result of some men quarreling
among themselves He added that 1t
was 1.-The ordinary. deferred rebate con-
tract" and that 1t embraced the Hill
steamship interest connected with the
Great Northern railroad and the steam
ship interests of the Southern Pacific.
rs that agreement made with the Hill
railroad?" asked Representative Foster
OF Illinois.
NO" replied Mr.. Humphrey, ''the rail-
roads do not enter into it,
You say they have nothing to do with
it," continued Mr.. Foster.
mo. didn't say that" responded Mr..
Humphrey. II suspect they have great
Mr.. Humphrey directed the attention of
the committee to the fact that all the
passenger rates between this country and
Europe are fixed in German money.
AS a result" he said. AN American
citizen travelling across the Atlantic ocean
pays per cent more than the foreigner
pays to sail on the same ship, owing to
the discount being against him. Four per
cent sounds small. but the annual total
Of such discounts is very large"
Injury to American Trade.
An American consul in Brazil was men
toned by Mr.. Humphrey as authority
for. the statement that, the foreign COM
panies charge 20 per cent more for carry
ing freight from the United States to
South America than for the same serv-
ice from Europe to. South America.
Why" he said. 1.-The rate from the
United States to South America, via Eu-
rope, Is about the same as the rate from
the United States to South America d.
rect. Also, these steamship lines will
carry passenger from Brazil to Europe
and from Europe over here for $40.
while the rate from Brazil directly to the
United States Is $780,
"Why Is that?' inquired Representa-
tive Wilson of Illinois.
ITO throw business to Europe" Mr..
Humphrey replied, Ito keep South Ameri-
delphia and other great markets in this
country until they have made their con-
tracts and bought their goods"
What power has this government to
regulate these Determinations" inquired
Representative Hardwick of Georgia.
Mr.. Humphrey, replying, expressed the
belief that the government might have
some power under the Sherman law
which might be strengthened by supple-
mental legislation.
Mr.. Hardwick referred to the fact that
the British government had appointed a
commission to inquire into the shipping
trust
That commission in its report" ex-
planned Mr.. Humphrey. expressed the
opinion that the trust operated for the
best interests OF British commerce and
recommended that 1t be permitted to con-
tinue."
Can we regulate this matter without
getting into trade wars all over the United
States?" asked Mr.. Hardwick. Wouldn't
it invite retaliation
mot at ALL" replied Mr.. Humphrey, II
don't think we would have any trouble
Of that sort. although, OF course, the for
eign steamship companies would fight our
effort to regulate to the very last min
ute''
Prohibitive Rate Charged.
Mr.. Humphrey gave another instance Of
alleged discrimination against the trade
of the United States with South America.
He said that Brazil, in an effort to build
up commerce between that country and
this had established a twenty percent
preferential OH cement and some other
commodities, which just about equalized
the twenty percent discrimination in