Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-14
SENATORS, HEARST
 ATTEMPT TO BLOCK SCALE OF VESSELS
(Continued From Page D.

] ships and for 20 were offered $20,- 100000. We had careful calcula tion made as to the cost of recondi- tioning these ships for passenger service, and reached the sum of $57,- OO0 900. In view of the present situ ation, it did not seem to us that we were justified in mourning so large an expense.
 "3-Conditions in the shipping ], world are such that it is our con- viction there will never be time when we can sell ships to better ad- vantage than now, and since it is our conviction that the ships can be sue cessfully operated in private owner ship, we believe the sale should be made.
 "4-Two conditions are insisted upon by the board: (a) that the ships shall remain under the Ameri- can flag; (b) that they are to be sailed in the routes indicated by the shipping board. This, we believe, will adequately protect the United States"
 Denies Secret Pact.
 Senator Ransdeil, democrat, of Louisiana told the senate it was "ri-
  board would sell the fleet at the nrice quoted" and Senator King, democrat. of Utah announced that while the debate was in progress he had talked with Chairman Payne of the shipping board on the telephone and that Mr. Payne had told him that the "charge is an absolute false hood and that no secret agreement had been arranged for the sale of the fleet"
 II talked to the board on the tele- phone this morning" said Senator Jones. "and they advised me that they simply proposed to open bids and consider proposals Monday. Aft CT that they propose to take into consideration all the circumstances and decide whether they will accept any of the bids or refuse all of them"
 In introducing the resolution, Sen ator Ashurst said he did not intend it as a reflection on the shipping board. He said, however, that he wanted to protest against the sale of the ships as they were neces- sary adjunct of the navy.
 If we are ever to have an Amer ican merchant marine, now is the
 
 Senator Simmons, democrat, of North Carolina. He declared that congress and not the shipping board should decide the national merchant marine policy.
 Senator Shoot, republican, of Utah interrupted to ask how England could offer $125 ton for the yes scls and still be unable to pay the interest on money borrowed from the United States. :.
 Senator Ashurst replied that if England "could get hold of this fleet it would earn her enough not only to pay the interest, but soon to pay the principal"
 Senator Ashurst broke into sem ate consideration of another subject q moment after his resolution had failed of passage.
 Chairman Payne has telephoned to a member of this body within the last 20 minutes that he is going to sell the ships Monday" he cried. "And the senate has again demon strated it's, inability to act efficient Nv in a moment of national emergen- cy."
 Senator Brandgee asked if the ob- feet of the Ashurst resolution could not be accomplished by changing it's wording to request" the shipping board to refrain from the sale, in stead of "directing." Senator Ash . urst promptly acted ton the sugges- ton, reintroduced his resolution in. to the senate, with request for unanimous consideration and the subject was taken up again.