Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-23
MAY PROSECUTE
FISH TRUST MEN
CONTINUED from First Page.)

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been mentioned to lead him to be-
lieve that such was the case. Then
the Long Island man volunteered the
statement that he was mistaken. He
was asked by Congressman Minahan
who managed to get the floor first, II
he was opposed to the bill that was
being discussed known as the Lin
| thicum bill, that placed the control
of food fish in the hands of the Fed
eral government.
He then admitted that he and his
association of fishermen were not OPP
posed to the principle of the measure.
When Congressman Townsend, OF
New Jersey, introduced the New Jer-
sey delegation to the members of the
committee he brought out the point
that every one who proposed to speak
could qualify as an expert. He also
told his fellow representatives of the
interest he had taken in the matter.
This smoothed the way for the more
or less timid speakers to come.
"Star" Man questioned.
1t took but a few minutes for the
truth of Congressman Townsend's re-
marks to be made manifest. AS soon
as the first of The Stars representa-
tives got started he was bombarded
by questions from all sides. Some
times there was as many at ten con-
gressmen desiring to ask questions at
the same time. Then the speaker be-
gan to quote figures that had been
gathered during The Stars investi-
COTTON. The figures were carefully
gone over
When the members of the commit
tee were informed that in 1904 the
DO kld net fishermen of New Jersey
res ived cents a pound for their
cstch while the fish was sold to the
consumer for IL cents and that In 1918
the same fisheries received IL cents
a pound less, or 2iz cents a pound for
their catch, and that the consumer
was forced to pay 20 cents a pound,
or an increase of cents to the con-
sumner and a decrease to the fisher
men, they were amazed. The speaker
was asked if he would present such
facts to the attorney general and the
committee was told that
the Newark Star through its repre-
sentatives was ready to prove every
statement.
Antitrust Law Violation.
This brought out the fact that the
members of the committee referred
to the Sherman act against trusts
They made it plain that if the people
of New Jersey or any other State
were being treated in this manner,
then it was time that the govern
ment acted to protect them and an
investigation was in order If the at
thought one would de-
velop the fact that there was a re-
straint in trade of food fish.
Every figure given by The Star
to- % "a
served. At the end of an hour, ow-
ing to the many witnesses to be
heard, the speaker was urged to make
a continued statement and submit it
for record.
One of the peculiar things about the
meeting was the fact tEat everybody
urged the passage of the Linthicum
bill as the best means of preserving
and conserving food fish to the peo-
pie. When the opponents of the bill
was called for not a man appeared.
This was very agreeable surprise to
every one present as the opinion OF
the committee had seemed tn change
from one of disinterest to that of
realizing that the situation was most
serious. With this in view the
hearing was adjourned until a later
day when many others will be heard
from the Pacific coast where the mar
ket fishermen have Joined with the
people in this movement.
Other phases of the hearing as they
appealed to The Star representatives
will be set forth later on in hopes
that the members of the State Iegis-
lature will see the Importance of this
matter and take it up with the same
object in view as that held by the
members of Congress, who, once they
start in this matter, will not stop I'M
til every piece of evidence is as an
open book to the people.