Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-17
BUSINESS AND CONSUMERS SUI.
FER BECAUSE OF ALLIANCE
OF STEAMSHIP LINES.
RECENT REVELATIONS TO
HASTEN FEDERAL LINE
Congressman Stephens to Push Bill for
Establishment Of Steamers TO Play
Between Atlantic and Pacific Ports by
Way Of Panama canaI-only Part Of
Truth Revealed.
Especial Correspondence.1

Washington, June 17.-Because of
the revelations OF the existence OF
steamship combines in the Atlantic
and the Pacific and the disclosures OF
monopolist!c conditions as the result
OF the Investigations of the honse mer-
chant marine committee, Congressman
Stephens, OF California, said today ne
would press tor the enactment by this
congress OF his bill for government
owned line Of steamships to ply thru
the Panama canal between the Allan
TIC and Pacific coasts. touching the
more important parts in each coast.
MIR. Stephens. who as a member Oh
the house merchant marine committee,
took an important part IN the lnVestl-
CATION, declares the shipping business
Of the world is being carried on IN a
fashion harmful to the best interests OIL
the people of the world. Radical steps
for reform he believes must be taken,
the establishment of government
owned line being one of them. Further
more. he saws the revelations thus far
made are only part OF the truth and
that much more which is Objectionable
will be disclosed on ),rther inquiry.
1t is the intention to pursue the In
vestigation further
A Close Alliance.
Mr. Stephens said:
The steamship lines of the world
are tied up into a very few corpora
,ions. The freight and passenger
carrying business of the world is
blocked into a few divisions. 1t is
shown, as the result of the investiga-
tior that each division is controlled by
some particular steamship line or as
socia ton of lines and that they divide
the business either under contract with
each other. thru actual understanding
with each other, or on some plan that
amounts to the same thing.
For instance, practically no freight
goes from the United States to South
America without first obtaining rate
from Germany. The rate is given out
by the German Office and 1t can not be
varied until consent is obtained from
the German office. 1t 10 clearly DEM
onstrated that the shipping OF the
world is controlled adversely to the
best interests Of the people OF the
world. It 10 shown that these practical
! monopolies exist on the Pacific as we'll
as the Atlantic. The investigation has
gone farther into the situation in the
Atlantic than In the Pacific. The In
curry as far as 1t has gone convinces
me that a AFOREMENTIONED line ply
ing between Atlantic and Pacific coast
ports thru the Panama canal 10. to
say the least one OF the solutions. one
! of the ways Of correcting the condI-
tons which now exist. have no
thought of running private lines off the
ocean. no thought OF preventing any
privaA, line from making a reaonable
profit on the capital really invested bu:
believe government owned line
using the canal and plying both ways
will prevent extortionate transporta-
ton rates. freight and passenger. being
exacted by private or monopolistic
lines There 10 no question In my
mind this will come but 1t needs con-
stantly to be brought to the attention
of every man and woman in the United
States"