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Show FOREIGN CONTROL OP U. S. SHIPPING NEW YORK. Nov. 2D. Testimony tliat steamship companies owned abroad absolutely control American shipping ami have spent muuey freely to foster feeling against an American marine, was offereJ today before the congressional committee holding missions mis-sions here, to Investigate charges that a steamship lobby was maintained at Washington William II. Douglas, who formerly represented a New York district In I congress, was the witness who made tkeso statements. "As conditions aro now,'" ho testified, testi-fied, "the. American merchant Is handicapped. handi-capped. The foreign 6tcamshlp owners own-ers make a rate at Hamburg, Ixmdon and Paris that controls tho export shipment of nn article to this country. coun-try. Even If the American should charter a steamer for his own freight, be would not be able to obtain additional addi-tional freight to make up a cargo." Similar conditions govern trade between be-tween tho United States and South America, Mr. Douglas said, as all tho lines plying between tho two countries coun-tries are owned abroad; and foreign steamship companies, he asserted, had spent money freely to Influence sentiment against American shipping. "While you were a member of congress, con-gress, did you ever know of money Icing Bpcnt there by agents to influence in-fluence legislation, through Iho giving of dinners or anything elsu?" "I think there was." Mr. Douglas added th;it although foreign companies had used whatever Influence they possessed in shipping legislation and had paid men to represent rep-resent them in Washington, he believed be-lieved that strictly speaking, they had not violated any law. |