New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Senators Nav
Reject New
ShiipBoard
Wilson Names New Tri-
bunal With Benson as
Head; Criticism Direct
ed at Three Republicans

Fyon, The Tribnne's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13-The long,
delayed appointment OF new Ship
ping Board, with Admiral William S.
Benson reappointed as chairman, was
announced to-day at the White House.
Admiral Benson announced that the
members would organize without de-
lay and start serving as recess ap-
pointees before December /.
In addition to Admiral Benson, who
was named as a Democrat from Geor-
ga, for term Of six years, the mem
bers are:
Frederick I. Thompson, Alabama,
Democrat, five years.
Joseph N. Teal, Oregon, Democrat,
four years.
John A. Donald, New York, Democrat,
three years.
Chester H. Rowell, California, Re-
publican, two years.
Guy D. Goff, Wisconsin, Republican,
one year.
Charles Suffer. Missouri, Republican,
one year.
The makeup Of the new board met
with immediate criticism. and predic-
tions were freely made that the Senate
will not confirm the appointments. Es-
pecial criticism was directed against
the three named as Republican men,
bers. The Jones shipping act requires
that not more than four of the seven
members shall be of one political party.
Chester H. Rowell, it was pointed out,
supported Governor Cox. He formerly
was an ardent friend and political asso-
ciate of Senator Hiram w. Johnson,
Of California. He was once Republi-
can National Committeeman. from Cal
ifornia, and became Progressive Ma
tonal Committeeman in 1912.
He reentered the Republican party
In 1915, but remained inactive during
the early stages of the recent cam
paign. Two weeks before election he
sold his newspaper at Fresno, Calf,
which was a Republican organ, and
came out for Governor Cox.
Mr ::cf Is unknown to Republican
Leaders Ia Washington, and MIR. Sutter
was described as a St. Louis business
man who has never been very active in
the Republican party. Mr.. Gotf is now
general counsel of the board and is a
son Of the late Senator Goff,. of West
Virginia.
Admiral Benson and Mr.. Donald are
the only members of the present board.
They have been directing the work Of
the board since the passage Of the
Jones act.
Mr.. Teal is a lawyer and banker of
Portland, Ore, and has written numer-
Gus pamphlets and articles on transpor-
tation and shipping problems. Mr..
Mobile.
Grouped by Geography
Admiral Benson and Mr.. Donald
on the new board Mr.. RoweIl and Mr..
Teal are the Pacific Coast representa-
tives; Mr.. Thompson is the member
from the Gulf Coast; Mr.. Golf the
! member from the Great Lakes region,
and Mr.. Sutter, the member from the
| interior. This geographical grouping
is required by the Jones act.
The reappointment of Admiral Ben
son and Mr.. Donald was made some
time ago, when Mr.. Thompson and Mr.
Teal also were named. At the time
however, three members declined to
serve. The three men who declined ap-
pointment We're Gavin McNaiR Of San
Francisco. Democrat; Martin J. Gillen
of Wisconsin. Republican, and Theo-
dore Marburg. of Baltimore. Re-
publican.
The investigation into the charges of
graft and waste in the operations of
the Shipping Board, now being made in
New York by the Walsh committee OF
Congress, FASTENED the appointments.
An immediate readjustment of the
boards affairs and a Strengthening OF
its financial accounts will follow the
organization of the new board These
are matters that have been pressing
for long time, Admiral Benson SAID
to-day in outlining the plans of the
board. The Jones act requires that all
/ seven members shall be qualified be
fore any members Of the new board car
act.
Questions Awaiting Decision
II expect the board will be organ.
lied and will have started its work
before December l." Admiral Benson
said
"The board must take some actor
act, applying to discriminatory rates
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has suspended the operation of thai
section until January l.
"The contracts between the Harri
man line and the Hamburg American
line and between the North German
Lloyd line and the United Stalks Mai
Steamship Company also are pending
and must be acted upon.
"a policy for the sale and leasing O
the boards ships must. be determined
upon, and a survey made of the pres
ent operations Of the Shipping Boart
vessels.
"The case of the Leviathan also mus
be disposed Of. The vessel has bee,
tied up for long time now. with ne
buyer. The new board must decid,
what to do with the ship.
"The disposition Of the Hog Islant
shipyard is another matter requiring
early attention. Bids have been en-
tircly too low, and the board must de
eide If 1t cannot find market for it,
sale or lease it. There are many othe