Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-16
New York Times Man Tells.
Senate Lobby Investigating.
Committee That It Exceeds.
its Rights,
SHIP PURCHASE. BILL
OPPOSITION QUESTIONED
Senator Walsh Sees Evidence
of Trusts Influence Because
News Item Is Not Given
Prominent Place on Page.

fHV NoRhtHa JOURNAL SPECIAL LGSsUp wlRUI
Washington. March IA vigorous
protest against what he termed an
invasion of the liberty of the press
was voiced today by Charles K. Mil
ler editor-in-chief of the New York
Tlmes. before the senate ship pur-
chase bill lobby inquiry committee.
Summoned as a witness, Mr. Miller
had been questioned in detail by SEN
ator Walsh, chairman Of the com
mittee, concerning editorial and news
articles appearing in the Times, re
lating 10 the ship purchase bin trust
prosecution, the European war and
compensation TO railroads for carry
ing mail. He declared with emphasis
that the news columns 'of his paper
were never influenced by its editorial
policies and that no outside influence
could make themselves felt in the
paper.
Mr.. Miller resented any insinuatlon
that there was any effect 80 prevent.
or suppress the news in the Times,
and. as he concluded the statement
protested against the committees pro-
cedure.
DenOunces InquisitiOn.
81 feel" he said. that inquisitorial
proceedings of this kind would have
a very marked tendency if continued
and adopted as q policy, to reduce the
press of the United states to the level
of the press in some of the central
European capitals, the press tnat has
been know as the reptile press that
crawls on its belly every day to the
foreign office and to the government
officials and ministers TO know what
it may say or shall say, to receive
its orders. For that reason | cannot
help feeling that a proceeding or TINS
kind and such questions and minute
inquries and | will not say insinua-
tions, but iutimauons as YOU have IN
the accomplishment Of your function
felt to be necessary, constitute an m
vasion of the liberty of the press
Reply by senator Walsh,
Senator Walsh replied that the
committee felt at liberty to prosecute
its inquiries when addressed TO the
head Of great and powerful news
paper i'm exactly the same way tna1
it would against the humplest lhol-
vdual.
MIR. Miller closed with comment
that the newspapers appeared before
"a Grand inmisitiOn every day.
I'VE feel.' he said, that if we were
improperly influenced by anybody
outside of the office, there is none
so quick to discover that as the read
crs of the paper. Your committee
would he left far behind in that race,
ana we should suffer the greatest
punishment that possibly could ne M
flicted upon us, namely, the loss VI
all standing ar,iole.
senator Walsh compared an artGIe
as nublished in the Times with aruciea
in other New York papers.
shorter Than in other Papers.
The article disclosed that there were
no sailings from New York TO ENG
land scheduled for week. Inc lliilc9
article. while it appeared on the llIs.
page. senator Walsh pointed out, was
shorter than those of the othet pa
pers. n,o
"rhis article would impress the
public with the fact that there was no
shipping facilities, would 1t not! ne
asked. -..,4,,
ct would impress the pubic WI"
the fact that there was war
piled Miller. There may ne tii"ns
mechanical or other reasons lor w
position of that item, besides a mar
row ana crooked soul. There can be
no possible implication that the IlineS
wanted to minimize its Importance
Senator Walsh asked why the IlineS
had not printed an account OF the tes-
timony of p. A. S. Franklin, OF the
International Mercantile Marine pe-
fore the committee. Miller said HV
knew nothing of the matter
No Effort to Suppress News.
Il must protest" he contlhueu,
against any attempt to lndicate %
insinuate that there has been any q
fort to suppress or pervert the news
appearing in the Times to accord WIN
our opposition to the shipping plll'
Tho nature of your questions lndlcaleS
that you have suspicion that We per
vert the physical appearance ol Tue
Times to accord with the pollcy eA-
pressed IN its editorial columns.
Nothing could he more erroneous
or more utterly without tonndaliot''
We. an deavor to make the news co'-
imne ,teflect the news OF the daS 40
o@on Is The editorial columns 90
thsfr ,fay and the news columns ~
Opposed shipping Bill.
M NNJiOer told the committee tle
Time. 4opposed the shipping blll uh-
der \ lifelong policy Of opposition 10
aoyarn Itnent ownership. In responsc
10 nnaqt Ations he denied that the liilleS
had 4, ssiness connections IN hns iditu " VI
beyonaFR it's correspondent oilice III
Iondon kand said there was no coiiile'.1 ne !
ton M IUtever between the paper an"
the InsRdon Times. Aof-
An EDITORIAL criticizing the postol
flee department as an insianIe ~
goyerr Ineat ownership led TO a dlsGus
sion Of Athe railway mail pay ,ias sit9atiOr. MT