Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Average, ceU. ~, lolo, % 10 POI WI
September, 1912, 50 9S per ton.
We are now paying 50 Is per ton upon
apples or roc per barrel, or practically
soc upon every barrel above the average
rate In 1910. This SOC per barrel excess.
i've charge takes $l,500,000 this year
from the men of small means that grow
and handle apples and puts it into the
pockets of the multimillionaires that
o wn the great steamship lines.
How have these lines been able to
raise freights in this way? BY combines,
or as We commonly call thom Trusts.
These facts have all been brought out in
the evidence in the investigation now
going on before the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine aud Fisberies-H. Res. oS7.
In order to give a clear understanding
of their methods and the results, l Will
90 somewhat into details OF two of these
combines; the first from the testimony
of Mr.. w. G.. S;ckel, vice director In
charge of the Hamburg American Line,
Pages s31.S52-S5S H.. Res. 5S7, given Jan
nary 81. 1918, also from evidence in the
possession Of the committee which he
admitted was correct.
Six great lines, The Hamburg Ameri-
can, Hamburg South American, German
Company, G. Woerman, Ger
man East African Company, are In one
combine or conference, they divide up
business, regulate rates, pool their earn
ings, boycott the press that speaks
against them, and give advertising to
those that speak in their favor. They
Jointly own separate line known as the
Syndicate Rhederei, or fighting ships.
This line is used for the especial pur-
pose OF killing out any competitor re-
gardless of cost and when he is killed
the expense is divided among the lines.
On the other hand, II a competitor was
rich and powerful and could spend mil.
lions and not be crippled, they would
take him into their conference, give him
a part of the business, all parties giving
a heavy bond to conform to the estab.
lished rates. The committee have indi-
Gated that they have evidence to show
that the Hamburg American Line is
earning net dividend Of 25 per cent.
The next Is the International Mercan-
tile Marine. This 1. NJ. NJ. is holding
company or trust, its subsidiary com
panies are The White Star Line, The
Red Star Line, The American Line, The
Dominion Line, The Leyland Line, The
Atlantic Transport Line and stock hold
ings In other lines.
This International Mercantile Marine
is one of the New Jersey trusts, capital
lied as follows:
Common stock : 6o,oOO, ,oOC
Preferred stock 10000, ,00l
Ronds ,0OC
Mortgages & Col Bonds as,Ooo.ooC
Total : .OOC
Through the subsidiary companies the
M, NJ. owns one hundred twenty six
vessels, about l, 1856 900 tons of shipping.
They have their fighting ships to keep
out competition and work In complete
harmony with the German American
combine. Is 1t any wonder that freights
are highp
We Shall ship 100000 barrels this
season. Will that three million barrels
when sold at auction bring any more
money because we have paid SOC per
barrel more freight than we ought to?
After the sale, freight aud charges are
deducted and what you got, If anything,
was what was left, you paid the freight
This investigation has made the facts
go plain that there Is no longer any room
for doubt. Its purpose was to obtain
evidence upon which to enact legislation
Think of the situation moment. The
people of this great and glorious country
Of ours allowing themselves to be rob
bed of one hundred million year on ouI
commerce by shipping combines that are
about 90 percent foreign, when our owr
congress has undisputable right to con
troll them and FIX their rates. The only
reason that rates did not 60 to 76c pei
barrel this year was because the efforts
of few people prevented 1t. They viii
be raised another fall unless there is 8
movement to prevent 1t.
What are we going to do about itP II
you have any disposition to stand uI
for your rights as a man, and defend
your own pocket book against the en-
croachment OF others, come out to ouI
next Oxford County Fruit Growers
meeting and we will try to have man
to show what action should be taken
Don't be a shirk and leave 1t all for the
other man to do. Be there yourself, OF
it may not be done right.
r. l.. CUMMINGS.