Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1920-02-14
SENATORS, HEARST
ATTEMPT TO BLOCK
SALE OF SHIPPING
Former Charge Disposal of
German Lines Needless
Sacrifice
LATTER SEEKS TO
ENJOIN SALE MONDAY
Payne Flatly Denies Alleged Plan to
Transfer $500, OOO, 900 Vessels
to Single Buyer for
$28,000,00O

Washington, Feb. 13.--Vigorcus op-
position to shipping board plans for
the sale of 80 former German pas
senger liners, broke out in the SEN
ate today, expressed in sharply criti-
cal debate and presentation of sew
eral resolutions proposing to block
the action. While the debate was
in progress, :. other developments
came thick and fact.
John Barton Payne, chairman Of
the board, appeared before the sem
ate commerce committee to explain
the whole affair and after hearing
him the committee through it's chair
man, Senator Jones of Washington,
reported to the senate that no imme-
date action was necessary. No act
ion accordingly was taken.
At the White House there was made
public letter concerning the pro-
posed sale sent by Mr.. Payne to the
president which remarked on the
vicious byt characteristic attack
against the shipping board emanat-
ing irons D. certain quarter regarding
the sale of the ex-Gernan passenger
ships
ENGLISH Deal Hinted.
In the District Of Columbia SUI
preme court, William Randolph
Hearst of New York, appearing as
a tax payer. filed an application for
an injunction to prevent, the pro-
Monday. The court issued an order
ror ,;r;r1 he 81 - -
Monday why temporary injunction
should not be issued.
Chairman Payne assure dthe SEN
ate committee and his assurances
were repeated to the full senate that
the board would merely receive bids
Monday for the vessels, and would
report the vessels to single pur-
chaser for $2S, 100000 was intended,
with a flat denial, but repeated his
own conclusion that the sale Of the
vessels to American private owners
ate present time was to the advan-
tape of the government.
Senator Ashurst, democrat of Ari-
IONA, opened the debate and later
brought it to head by offering
concurrent resolution directing the
shipping board not to sell the ships
except through regular bidding after
three months advertising. He and
the senator's supporting his resolu-
ton declaring the boards action
would result in the sale of vessels
worth 5000 ton and more to pri-
vate interests for around $50 ton.
The possibility that they might Ro
to English ownership was strongly
intimated by opponents Of the imme-
diate sale.
Payne's Letter.
The resolution was offered in the
midst of debate ON the sale Of the
ships. Senator Ashurst declared
that it was fact that the shipping
board and the emergency fleet cor
poration intended to sell the vessels
to the international mercantile ma-
rine for s2s,O0O,O0O. He said the
vessels had pre-war value Of $154,
100000 and present value Of $780,
100000.
Chairman Jones Of the commerce
committee previously had told the
senate that he had no idea that II
story that the ships were to be sold
to the international mercantile ma
rine under secret understanding
between the board and British in
terests was true.
While the debate was proceedine
in the senate. Representative Mead.
democrat, of New York made public
a letter from Chairman Payne. ex-
planning the reasons for the sale "
the ships. 1t was learned that
Chairman Payne had written simi-s
lar letter to President Wilson.
The letter to Representative Mead
follows:
Answering your inquiry re sale At
the ex-German passenger ships the
reasons were principally these:
cit is the opinion Of the ahiu-I
ping board that we will probahly
not be able to operate paasenee&
ships under prohibition suceessfn11X
in competition with foreign shiQS
which sell liquor. The reason WilS
| is: In December we fitted ont ~
Moccasin to sail to South Am1yicGz
Her berths were all sold. Wh6H 4
announced that in view 81 thu polfGy
of congress Of the country. 9ov&x1$
ment ships would not be pexmitt1
to sell liquor one-half o. TIE 4SiI1nf3
| were Immediately eancelled ~ & SS'
"2-We advertised the ~ ekH