The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1920-12-03
49,. 49," GARD HELD UP
BY WASTE SCANDAL
Senate VIII Not 0. K. APP
pointment Of Southern
Democrats.

Washington, Nov. 27-Because of
revelations of waste on the pars OF the
present Administration of more than
$4,000, 100000 in its shipbuilding
program, the new Shipping Board APP
pointed by the President will be held
mp by the Senate until such time as
President Harding may name a new
and more satisfactory one.
On the board the President has
placed Rear Admiral Benson, of
Georgia, Democrat, under whom
many of the scandals have occurred,
for a term of seven years; Frederick
4. Thompson, of Alabama, another
Democrat, for a term of five years;
Joseph N. Teal, of Oregon, a Demo-
crat, for four years; John A. Donald,
OF New York, Democrat, for three
years; Chester H. Rowell, of Califor-
mia, a Progressive who is labeled as
a Republican, but really supported
Cox, for two years; Guy D. Golf, of
Wisconsin, also labeled as a Repub-
lican, for one year, and Charles SUIT
ter, of Missouri, with the same label,
but friendly to the President, for one
year.
Pursuant to the Presidents usual
policy throuout his administration, as
exemplified in his fixing the price of
wheat and not of cotton during the
war. the South is highly favored in
the naming of the new board. As the
Republican Congress will make
thorough housekeeping of the ship
ping activities of the Government, it
is considered here that these newly
appointed Southern Democrats are
out of luck.
Following are some of the reasons
why the Senate will not confirm an
administration shipping board:
Thirteen hundred government-built
ships are today worth less than one
half of what the government spent to
build them.
It cost the governemnt S3,0O0,0O0,- !
900 to produce these vessels and their
Valne is today $500, 900, 900 or less
Losses incurred by the United |
States Shipping Board, thru the utter
collapse of it's accounting system, thru
inefficiency, thru overcharges, thru /
amortization and all other causes are
estimated at $4,000, 900 accord I
ing to Martin ]. Gillen, former special !
executive assistant to John Barton !
Payne, former chairman.
Hundreds of millions of dollars be-
longing to the board floated around |
the country without anyone knowing |
Just where they had gone.
Other hundreds of millions were !
in banks without any record |
of their whereabouts.
Many millions were lost in over
payments, in one case amounting to |
$23,OOO,OOO on a payment of S34,-
100000.
dollars was placed in the hands of OPP
orators and not a single record was
kept of it-not even the names of
the operators.
Profits of 81 per cent on the job |
was allowed to operators for the
building of the government ships.
In August 1919, more than s2,500,-,
100000 had been disbursed thru the
Shipping Board and not record was
available to show how this enormous
fund had been distributed.
The office of treasurer likewise
possessed no record to show where
$243, 900 900 worth of securities held
by the Shipping Board had been de-
posted, and these subsequently were
found in the vaults of trust COM
pany in Philadelphia.
The sum of $623,0OO was paid
twice for the same work.
One hundred and sixteen thousand
loaned to build one plant was used
in a different place to build another
plant.
The price agreed upon in a contract
was increased 900 after the con-
tract had been signed and the work