The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-13
VIZ NOT
ALL ON
DRY SHIP
Half the Bookings to South
America We're Cancelled
When Bar Was Re-
moved.
GOVERNMENT TIC SELL
Constitutional Prohibition Given as
Reason for Uncle Sam Offering
His Fleet for
r.,s Sale.
GOVERNMENT TIC SELL

United Press Leased Wire Service. |
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-Constitu.
tionaI prohibition which makes gov
ernmenl owned passenger vessels dry
was given today by John Barton
Payne, chairman or the shipping
board, as the main reason for the
sale Of twenty-nlne former German
liners to be auctioned next Monday
Government operation Of these YES.
sells unuer such conditions cannot be
successful and the ships can be sold
to better advantage now than later, in
the opinion of the board. Payne de
clared in letter to Representative
Mead, New York, today.
Payne pointed out that the cost oi
reconditioning twenty of the liners
would be $4,000, ,00u, while the bids
for these vessels were S20,000U00.
Z In view of the present situation
Payne wrote, "it did not seem to us
we were justified in incurring SO large
an expense"
The shipping board chairman de-
MED that the vessels would fall into
the hands of foreign interests, be-
cause the vessels will be sold only
under the conditions that they shall
remain under the American flag and
be sailed in routes indicated, by the
shipping board. r-
This, we believe, will adequately
protect the United States" Payne
wrote. al
1T is the opinion of the shipping
board that we will probably not be
able to operate passenger ships under
prohibition successfully in competi-
ton with foreign ships which sell
liquor.
THE reason why is this: In Decem.
ber the Moccasin was to sail to South
America. Her berths were all sold.
When l announced that in view of the
policy of the congress. government
ships would not be permitted to sell
liquor, one half of the sailings were
cancelled.
Conditions in the shipping world are
such that it is our conviction that
there will never be a time when we
will sell our ships to better advantage
than now, and since it Is our convic-
ton that the ships can be successful
ly operated in private ownership. we
believe the sale should be made"
Lively discussion of the proposal to
sell the German ships broke out in
the senate where Senator Ashurst,
Arizona, introduced resolution for
bidding disposal of ships except at
public sale to the highest bidder three
after notice of intention to
sell.
Ashurst also had Payne's letter
read. He declared flatly that the
board does purpose selling
for $28,000,00O fleet which at pre-
war prices is worth 54,O00,0O0 and
at present rates worth $300,O00,000.
THE price at which they propose
TO sell these ships Is about $50 ton,"
said Ashurt. England offered s125
a ton for them"
Senator Jones, Washington, stated
he had asked Payne concerning the
reported purpose to sell the ships
next Monday Payne, according to
James, announced that bids will be
opened Monday and after that the
board will consider whether to sell
the ships or not.
Senator King went to the telephone
during the discussion and asked
Payne regarding the alleged purpose
to sell the fleet for $2S,000,0O0.
Judge Payne assures me-" said
King, that there is not scintilla Of
ruth in the charge that an agreement
has been made with the International
Mercantile Marine to sell 1t the Ger
man ships for $2S.000,OOO."
Ashurst urged immediate action on
the resolution.