The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-16
Excitement at Auction When
GoethaIS Offers Lump Sum
Of $1O,000,00O for Boats.
FRANKLIN RAISED BID
Top Prices Received by U. s.
Shipping Board for Ger
man Vessels Announced


Washington, Feb. 16.-The first
sign of life in the auction sale of the
ex German liners by the shipping
board today came when the Ameri-
can ship and Commerce corporation,
through Gen. George w. Goethals.
offered a lump sum of $10,000,00O for
the George Washington, Martha
Washington, America, President
Grant. Niansemond and Callao, for
the Hamburg and Bremen service.
The bid was promptly raised to Sl0,-
5000 by the International Mercan-
tile Marine, through y. A. r. Frank
lin. Roth bidders stipulated that
81, 500, ,00G would be in cash on doliv-
cry of the ships, the balance to be in
equal payments over a period OF ten
years and the Callao 10 be delivered
after she is rcconditioned by the
shipping board.
In the competitive bidding between
Goethals and Franklin final bid OF
$13, 100000 was offered by Franklin.
The board indicated that Il would
rearrange the urour ing OF the ships
and would not accept this bid. The
board adjourned until late this after
noon.
Top Prices.
Amphion. $512,450; Black Arrow.
S025,000; Philippine, no bid Princess
Matoika. S1,126000; Pocahontas, ST.
425, 5,000 Aeoleus $1,04S.160 DeKnlb,
S6l5.790; Moccasin, SS60,000; Otzgo
no bid: Leviathan, $4000.00 Mount
Vernon. $1,250,000; Agamemnon. no
bid; Nansemond. 100000 Antigonc,
Sl,200,000. President Grant. $2,25o,
600; Susquehnnna, 100000; Artomis,
S1,010.000 George Washington, S3,-
100000; Martha Washington, $2,1S0,-
600; Won Steuben, $72T620; America.
100000; Powhatan. no bid; Ma
dawska, S1.000,000.
These prices, II was pointed out,
are not auction bids. They are the
bids received under the call for sealed
proposals
For Black Sea Fleet.
One bid for one of the Black sea
fleet was received. II wns 500 600 for
tho Black Arrow and WAS made by
the Oriental Navigation company.
j. A. $. Franklin. president OF the
International Mercantile Marine, Of
forcd conditional bid of Sl4,050.000
for nine vessels for service to the
United Kingdom and northern Euro
poan ports.
| The vessels covered by the bid
were the Loviathnn. George Wash
inston, America, President Grant,
Nnnsemond. Antigono. PoCahontas.
Princess Mntoika and Callao. The
onor was conditional upon an agree
ment by the shipping board not to
enter into competition with these
vessels IN this service Moore 4 Nc
Cormack offered A,50O,0OO for ave
vessels for the South American sorv-
ice and the Munson steamship line
conditional bid. approXimntlnE
$3.50, $50 for the samo vessels, the
Martha Washington, Aoolus, Huron.
Princess Matoika and tho poca-
hontas.
Gen. GocthalH, representing the
American ship ana Commerce cor
poratlon, then raised his bid 10 So
$50 900, whcrcupon Franklin. repre-
scntinE the International Mercantile
Marine, jumped his bid to s10,sb0, 600.
The successive bids then were ne
follows.
Goothals, $1,000. .OO0 Franklin,
Ii,l00.000 Gocthnls, &il,250.0OO.
Franklin, $1l350000. Goethnls, sll,-
500,000:; Franklin, Sll,G00,0 900
Gen. Goothnls stated this bid would
iugton nt the expense Of tho shipping
board, Franklin made the same stip-
ulntion. Commissioner Scott stated
Tint repairs on the Martha Washing
ton were started on lecb 4. and that
The estimated cost would be
N,iS5,35f
As 10 Competition.
Franklin asked " there was amy
Likelihood Of the shipping board COM
pctinE In the German Hamburg
service. Commissioner scott said hc
thought it WAS not likcly there would
hc amy such competition. Commis-
! sioncr Stevens said that of course
The board could give no assurances
ns 20 this competition. adding
! ''you'll have 90 trust 10 tho govern
monts sense Of fair play In this
matter"
When the Mediterranean group.
! consisting of the AntiFone. President
! Giant Susquohana and Artcmis. were
oncrod there were no bids made
'ommissioncr Scott then rcunorod
tho Baltic group 10 be grouped nc-
cordinE to the desires Of the bidders.
and the FIRST bid Of the auction was
offered by Thlip Derundc. of the
oriental Navigation service. who bid
N'o0,OO0 Tor tho Black Arrow under
~" terms ~ nvc years FOR payment
Bid for LeViathan.
\ conditional bid wus offered by
The International Mercantile Marine
Tor the Lcvathnu. George washing
ton. America. President Grant
Nmscmond. Antironr. PoclhnntuH
Princess Matoik1. and the Callno. Of
'li.Oau.h0O. 20 per cent - which viii
Zoe cash. Through T.. A. s. Franklin.
This company suggested that the
southampton service FOR which those
ships arc offered hc changed to tho
United Kingdom and continental
service. Among the conditions were
That the shipping board do not COM
I'tr ~ this service. title ~ the shlpr
hc protected Among the ports that
would hc covered by this sertlc, arc
southampton. ihcrhourF Utyr,.
Hamburg. Antwerp and Bremen Df
thr nine ships bid ON hy this COM
rauN nte. namely. the America.
President Grant Auurouc. Pocu-
h.uins and Princess Mat0if1. uro
NOW lu tho hands of thc war depart
wfrt Acting chairman Scott stated
ilat the shipping board hclieyed that
me- war department Will soon rricas,
these vessel.
Congress IN Doldrums
'THl comm ftss ls only creation.
90 child uf ihr senate Azhurst r,-
pi.e1 what the committee may or
funE r.f al. Ia NOT Hft sru frnUYs.