Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-17
BIDS RECEIVED
FOR HUGE SUMS
: FOR 80 FORMER
GERMAN LINERS
Controversy Over Their Sale
Does Not Halt Shipping
Board From Going Ahead
With Its Original Plans,
BIDDING SPIRITED
IN THE AFTERN0C
Highest Group Offer is 81
050,000 for Nine Shi
and So, 100000 Is 0ffer
For a Single Vessel,

Washington, Feb 16. - w 6
controversy over the proposed
Of thirty former German liners
occupied today three government
agencies, the White House, the sem
ate and the district supreme court
presidents of great shipping COM
panies were bidding in tens of mill
lions against each other for the
craft at the shipping boards auet-
ion. For one group of six vessels
the bidders fought with $250,00
boosts in price, until Major Gen-
eral George w. Goethals. retired,
now head of the American ship
and commerce company. dropped
out at S13,000,000, which he said
was his limit, and p, A. S. Frank
lin, president of the international
mercantile marine, HSised the price
to S13,100,000,
Commissioner Scott had an
nounced in opening the auction
that it was only for the purpose of
receiving bids, final action to await
approval of the senate commerce
committee and the house merchant
marine committee and the outcome
of William Randolph Hearts appli-
cation for an injunction to prevent
the sale. While the bidding was in
progress the senate further COM
plicated the situation, adopting
resolution requesting that the sale
he postponed but at the conclusion
of the bidding today II was am
nounced that the auction would
continue at 10 o'clock tomorrow.
In the district supreme court. As
sociate Justice Bailey took under
edvisement Mr.. Hearsts applica-
ton after hearing contention of
counsel that the shipping board
lacked legal power TO dispose OF
the vessels. He will render his de-
c'sion Friday.
At the Write House 1t was said
| that the president would answer
promptly with q decided negative
the resolution adopted by the SEN
ate Saturday asking IL there existed
n secret understanding with Great
Britain as to the ultimate disposi-
| tion of former German craft.
Bidding at the auction was slow
at the morning session when groups
of the ships were being offered but
became spirited in the afternoon
when individual vessels were con-
sidered. The highest group bid was
$l4, ,050,000 by the International
| Mercantile Marine for nire ships
which went unopposed, and the rec
ord bid for a single ship was 3d.
| 600 eco for the Callao, by the Am
erican Ship & Commerce company,
double the offer of the Internatlon-
al Mercantile Marine for the ves-
sci.
The highest group bid covered
| the Leviathan, George Washington.
America, President Grant, Nanse-
mond, Antigone, Pocahontas, Prin-
cess Matoika and the Callao offers
ed by the International Mercantile
Marine, the vessels to be put in the
European service. The next high
est group offer was the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marines bid of
$13, 100000 for the George Wash
ington, Martha Washington, Amer
iica, President Grant, Nansemond
and the Callao for service to Ham
| burg and Bremen. Moore & Nc
Cormack offered $4,000. 900 for five
vessels, the Martha Washington,
! Aeolus, Huron, Princess Matoika
and the Pocahontas for South Am
eflCdn service anu the SAINT coiH-
pany bid $4.000.O00 for the Prin-
cess Matoika and the Pocahontas
for service to the Baltic. III
After making the $l3.100,000 bid
for the group of six ships, MH.,
Franklin was asked by Commis-
sioner Scott If he desired to make
any statement regarding the own-
ership of his company to which he
replied that the International Mer-
camille Marine was 80 per cent
owned and controlled in the United
| States.