The Washington herald., 1915-02-08
Washington PUT OK
ON DACIA PURCHASE
So Says Breitung. Claiming He Told
Government Officials He Didn't
Want to Embarrass Them.

Norfolk, Feb. THE American steamer
Dacia which is facing capture II she pro-
ceeds to Bremen with her cargo Of cot
ton arrived here today for coal.
Capt. George Mcdonald says he will
sail about noon tomorrow and will show
his colors-the Stars and Stripes-at both
ends OF his vessel.
New York, Feb. 7.-whiIe the steam
ship Dacia was proceeding along the
Atlantic Coast from Galveston. Tex. yes
terday on her way to Rotterdam via
Norfolk with a cargo of cotton intended
for Germany. Edward n. Breitung, her
owner. WAS telling members Of the Re-
publican Club here how he came to be
a party to the transfer Of the ship from
German to American registry.
He was one OF the speakers invited
by the club to discuss the subject. How
can We create an American merchant
marine commensurate with our needs?
The other speakers included Representa-
tive Rufus Hardy, of Texas. Of the Con-
gressional Committee on Merchant Ma
rine; Representative William f. Humph-
rey, of Seattle, Wash; William Harris
Douglas. of New York; James T. Nc
Cleary, Secretary of the Iron and Steel
Institute. and Dudley Field Malone COL
lector of the port.
I'm the purchase Of the Dacia It GER
tainIy was not our desire or intention
to create any trouble for anybody" said
Mr.. Breitung 'I got into the matter
quite unConsciously, and was away at
the time negotiations for the purchase
was begun. II il is anybody's fault that
trouble has resulted II is not mine or the
fault of my associates. l will not at
tempt to say whose fault it is. but under
the circumstances some one It at fault
H., -Nv,ur ha p1a M n
tiations for the transfer and purchase
of the vessel after We had clearly set
forth the conditions before the purchase.
my people showed the proposed con-
tracts to the proper official and sug-
gested at that time that he inform the
government that II the purchase of the
ship promised to embarrass the admisis-
tration in any way We would withdraw
from the negotiations. I presume 1t was
satisfactory. that it would not cause any
embarrassment to the government, for,
after the matter was looked up. We were
permitted to buy the vessel"
Mr.. Douglas favored the Presidents
bill. though he said it would be improved
If it provided a subsidy for the gradual
development of a merchant marine after
the present emergency had passed. Col
lector Malone said conditions Of tonnage
here made him favor the entry of the
government into the shipping business
Former Representative McCleary, oppos-
ing the bill advocated a subsidy to create
a merchant marine. Mr.. McCleary in de-
scrfbing the work of the lobbyists against
a subsidy bill said 1t was the right of
any one to lobby when he appealed to
no particular personal interest on a sub,
ject, but questioned the right when a
man had 1t in his power to give some
thing, even an office.
IF you mean by that a reference to
the President" interposed Collector Ma
lone, 81 will say it is unjust and un-
worthy of you
Are you trying to put the hat on the
PRESIDENT Mr.. McCleary asked.
Come, come. gentlemen" exclaimed
Edward F. Cragin, chairman of the
meeting. I'VE are here to discuss the
shipping BILL"