Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-16
Auction Goes on in Spite
Of Injunction and Sen
ate Objection.

Washington, ttD. lD.-ltPpit'
,rotests voiced in the senate ant
slsewhere and court proceeding
designed to withstay action, th'
sbipping board today received bids
ior The 30 former German liners.
When the ships first were Offered
bv groups in the services in which
the board had planned original.
m operate them no bids were re
reiyed. but spirited bidding develop
ID later for individual vessels o.
selected groups to run in specified
services.
Developments Are Rapid.
While the bidding was III progress
these developments came:
Associate Justice Bailey, Of
the district supreme court, took
under adyisement the appliea-
ton OF William Randolph
Hearst of New York for an
Injunction to stop the sale of
the vessels. He will give de-
cision Friday.
White house officials an
nounced that President Wilson
would inform the senate that
there was no basis for the
reports that a there was an
agreement between the ship
ping board and British inter-
ests for the sale of the ves-
sells. Information as to this
report is asked in a resolution
by Senator Brandegee, Repub-
lican, Connecticut.
Block Senate Action.
Chairman Jones of the senate
commerce committee. blocked
Immediate consideration of a
resolution by Senator Ashurst,
Democrat, Arizona, asking the
board to defer any sale until
action by congress-
The senate again debated the
sale. with Senators Ashurst and
Mcclellan, Dimocrat, Tennes-
see, seeking to put the senate
on record as opposing the sale,
Washington. Feb. 16. - Presiden
Wilson will inform the senate EN-
phatically that there is mo basis
Tor the report Of secret agree
aent between the shipping boar
and the British interests for I'll
sale of the so former German pas
senger liners, it was announced to
day at the White house.
The presidents message will b
IN reply TO the resolution OF Sena
Tor Brandegee, Republican. Con
necticut, asking for information re
garding the report. The resolution
was adopted by the senate last Sat
urday
Auction Begins.
Just before the White house an
nouncement was made the publi
auction at which bids for the ship
we're received began at the ship
ping board, with representatives 0
more than a score Of shipping com
panies present.
Chairman Payne was unable Il
conduct the auction, as he had beel
summoned to appear in person il
The district supreme court in pro
eeedings brought by William Ran
aOlph Hearst of New York, for al
Injunction TO stop the sale. Com
missioner Thomas a. Scott actet
for him.
Subject to Congress-.
IN opening the auction, Mr.. Scot
read a memorandum from Chair
man Payne, which said the highes
uns would nave to be approved b.
'le senate commerce committe
and The house merchant marin
eonmittee and that acceptance o
sny dds would depend upon tn
ou'eome of the injunction proceed
'ass IN the district court.
Inc memorandum said these pro
vsealngs were expected to be con
'laoed within two or three days.
commissioner Scott said th
srmS OF the sale would be arrang
su 10 suit the convenience of tn
ward and the prospective purchas
ols and that all ships sold must b
'pefa'ed under the American f1as
among the shipping men presen
seie 7. A. s. Franklin of the Inter
Ss"onal NJ Mercantile Marine; Georg
:. ". 1oethals, the American Ship ,
o,Vialheree :, n company; A. V. Moor
y, lne Moore e Mccormack com
na,y. caay. and Philip Peronde of tn
'''ea'ai Navigation company.
~ No Bids ut First.
~ 'ne hrst vessels offered wer
Se M hiack Arrow, the Amphion an
s,e ne philippines. composing tn
Ssp SMsup OF the Black sea service. N
'ss u, were offered for them.
.,. me group composing the Sout
saN sefican service, the Aeolius, De
hNs., ho, frlncess Matoika and Poca
TS.as' was then offered.
,a' w dds were received for thes
s,' sseis' nor for the Colombia. Ver
m MA and Brazilian service ship.
Son,s ,nsoecasin and the Otzego: th
Isss;saanpton service vessels. th
n,'a'han, NJ, Mount Vernon. Agameu
ss,r a and Nansemond: the Hambur
Inn ',e ships, the George Washing
han martha Washington, Won Stel
can AN and America; the Mediterrar
Sus,ssei service vessels. the Antigon,
l,.suehanna. President Grant an
sh;sa" and the Baltic servic
tan. 'e"asha ana fo"ns
finally SLS "a