The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-17
SAILING IN DARK
ON ship MEASURE
u. S. Ignorant Of Number Of
Boats Available, McAdoo
Admits.
BURTON HINTS DENIED
Secretary of Treasury Says No At
tempt to Buy Vessels Was
Made.
BURTON HINTS DENIED

The Federal government has taken
no steps 10 ascertain the number of
merchants ships available for pur-
chase in the event that the admins
tration shipping bill passes Congress.
according to a letter from Secretary
of the Treasury McAdoo to Senator
Fletcher.
Mr.. McAdoos letter is devoted to a
discussion of the questions raised by
the resolution introduced by Senator
Burton last week making inquiries as
to whether Secretary McAdoo or any
officials had secured options Oh in
termed belligerent vessels. The dis
closure in McAdoo's communication,
which is involved in his declaration
of his own innocence of the yelled
charges behind the Burton resolution
created something of a surprise even
in official Circles. for it had been as
sumed that the administration already
had prepared for the imemdiate es-
adjustment of the proposed merchant
marine by securing complete data as
to the tonnage available.
Denies Benton Questions.
According to Mr.. McAdoo's state
ments, the only information now in
the possession of the Treasury De-
partment regarding available ships
has been volunteered by two persons
Bernard NJ. Baker. of Baltimore, and
J. V. McCarty, manager Of the Mer-
chant Marine Agency of Boston. The
latter some time ago furnished the
Secretary with a list of fifteen Eng
lish an seven German ships, and more
recently has submitted lists of avail
able neutral ships Mr. Blair had To-
Gated and informed the Secretary
about a number of French and British
ships available for purchase.
Mr.. McAdoo denied categorically Ques-
tions embodied in the Burton resolution
designed to ascertain II the Secretary of
the Treasury or any other official acting
with his knowledge or consent had made
overtures or directed inquiries to the
owners of belliSerent ships. had received
tenders of sale of any such ships. or OF
neutral ships. or had secured options or
located persons who had secured options
on such ships. or had directly or indi-
reCtly taken steps to secure information
as TO the possibility OF purchasing such
ships.
He said that the only possible steps
which might have been taken in this d.
rection by any officials with whom he is
associated were the inquiries made by
the Secretary of War last fall when the
government relief board was considering
plans for bringing home the 10000
Americans in Europe at the outbreak or
the war
Hearing Opens This Morning.
The special committee of the Senate
to investigate the alleged influences at
work for and against the ship-purchase
bill held a preliminary meeting yester-
day morning and agreed to call as wit
nesses Bernard n. Baker and Sigsmond
Albert, of 45 Broadway. said to be at
torney for the Hamburg American Line.
The committee will begin taking testi-
mony this morning in the Senate Office
Building. Senator Walsh. of Montana,
presiding. The other members of the
special committee are Senators Reed
and Simmons, Democrats. and Senators
Burton and Sutherland. Republicans.
Senator Sutherland was named yester-
day as a member of the committee to
succeed Senator Weeks. of Massachu-
setts. who declined to serve.
Secretary McAdoo has prepared a
statement which will be read to the
committee. and he may not appear per-
sonally unless the committee expresses
q desire to crosS-eXamine him on his
statement. Senator Burton. who intro
duced the resolution for the investiga-
ton. gave the committee the names of
Mr.. Baker and Albert.