New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

conferences, pools and combinations, and te
ascertain whether any American steamship
.lncs belong to these combinations"
lt was significant, Mr.. Humphrey thought
that all the facts regarding these rings were
contained in English official publications
notably IN the report Of a royal commission
submitted in 1909, yet the story had never
ncen printed in any newspaper or other pub
llcation in the United States. He declared
that this country "grew hysterical over the
announced existence Of any small domestic
trust but endured complacently serious evils
perpetrated at our expense by foreigners fo,
the benefit Of foreign countries"
MIR. Humphreys
Futile Attack
IN 1910, he said the foreign commerce Of
thc United States would amount approximate
" 10 $4,000 100000, Of which more than 90
per cent would be carried by foreign ships
at prices fixed by the different shipping lines
among themselves without regard to the de-
sire OF the shipper. This was true of all the
ocean shipping lines throughout the world.
The Hamburg Packet Line" Mr..
humphrey declared, "is the greatest power in
thls steamship combination, the most gigantic
Crust and monopoly tina. exists in the world
With the possible exception of some Japanese
iires, the Hamburg-American Line is the
most heavily subsidized steamship line in the
world. II is supported by the influence and
wealth of the German government; it stands.
indeed for the German Empire. of which i
is the favorite child
The head of this worldwide trusto the
speaker continued, "is Herr Albert Balm, by
common consent the most influential man in
Germany, except only the Emperor Herr
Balm sits in Germany to-day and absolutely
fixes the price that the American merchants,
the American manufacturers, the American
farmers, must pay on every pound Of freight
sent to Europe or to South America He abb
solutely dictates what any American citizen
must pay to visit Europe or to visit South
America.
Herr Ballin and Herr Boas, the latter be-
ing the general manager in this country Of
the hamburg american company, Lave fre-
quently, through the American newspapers.
denounced the efforts made by the American
congress to do something to assist in build
ing up our merchant marine. Herr Ballin
came to this country few years ago and
made a speech to American business men in
New York City, insisting that America should
permit Germany to carry American commerce
on the seas. He and his New York repre-
sentative, Herr Boas, have attacked and de-
nounced all legislation looking to the up
building of our merchant marine. They have
opposed the ocean mail act of the majority
that is, OF the Republicans), and the dis
crminatory duty plan Of the (Democrat;cl
minority.
"The hired representative Of Herr Ballin
and his interests" Mr.. Humphrey announced,
rs here in Washington to-day on the staff of
ne Associated Press, the greatest newspaper
gathering agency in the world. This gentle
mans name is Mr.. j. j. Wilber, and when YOU
remember how close the German merchant
marine is to the German navy, it is at least
suggestive that this representative Of this
great foreign steamship trust should also be
the representative of The Associated Press
assigned to our State, War and Navy depart
mcnts.
when he was on the witness stand the
other day (before House committee) Mr..
Wllber refused to testify as to the amount of
money that he was being paid by the steam
ship company for his services. But the next
day Mr.. Boas, of New York, testified that Mr.
Wilber's compensation from the Hamburg
American company $4,000 year. What
are the services he has rendered this COM
pany?
This is the Herr Balln whose COMPANY
voluntarily withdrew two of its fastest and
best ships and sold them to Spain in 1898 to
sink, burn and destroy American commercel
This is the man, and this is the company.
that to-day absolutely dictate how and on
what terms our great nation shall TRANSPORT
3,oO0,OO0,00O worth Of commerce annually,
ms IS the man whose company, when
sued by American citizens for rebating and
pooling steamship charges so as to DESTROY
competition, answered that the HAMBURG
American company was a foreign CORPORA
tion and that Herr Ballin would do as no
liked!
No wonder that we are to-day. in our
trade relations with other nations, considered
the blind and strutting fool of the world,"
Mr.. Humphrey then argued that, in view of
the 1act that these determinations were prac-
'sed against United States interests by for
eien steamship companies controlled by for
el2n governments, the commercial treaties
with such governments were violated and
should therefore be abrogated by the United
States.
One thing he declared, ais certain: this
country can never have its fair share Of the
commerce Of the world until these combina-
tlons OF foreign steamship companies are de-
stroyed"
In accordance with his position. Mr..
Humphrey had introduced June IA. 1910 q
bill providing that discriminatory duty of
10 per cent ad vaorem should be placed upon
an lmportatlons carried foreign ships
pool.
ouO 'Ae country nad not yet awakened to
the danger of its situation, nor had the long
arm OF German intrigue lost its control Of
Washington. Mr. Humphreys proposal so
OBVIOUSLY proper and necessary, was prompt
~ Iald 10 rest III the custody of the Honso
Committee on Merchant Marine.
Hke tate was encountered by his joint
resolution, introduced the same day. which
called for formal inquiry into the matter
OF foreign steamship pools and their effect
uFen american commerce. The Committee
on Rules merely filed the resolution.