Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-16
BENSON KEPI-Es TO CRITICS
 OF THE SHIPPING BOARD

Charleston. $. C. Nor: i5.-,Gy T.e A. P)-Rep.ying 10 critics of the S'l'n ping Board and Emergency Fleet Cor porat,on. Rear Admiral v. 2. Benson. chairman of the board. declared in an address here today before the South Ar lantic Ports Association that his 'fel- low countrymea could depend upon it that no wrongdoer connected with the board. will escape If his w-ongdoins $ called 10 my attention"
 ''N9i only have I insisted upon ths clos est watch upon all matters" said Chair man Benson, but I nave followed the work of the Shipping Board in every port of the world with the one thought in mind that We are now reaching that crucial moment which spells either the success or failure of permanent merchant ma rine.
 "There is no effort or our part to shirk whatever responsibility We have assum- ed. We have insisted that at all times the records are open to the public. Every facility is offered 10 those who desire in formation.
 Tt is an easy matter for anyone tc pick flaws in an organization like the ! Shipping Board. We had to train 300.- 900 shipbuilders and in the manning of our ships We have had to train thous- | a1ds of men. or course, in an organiz- alton of this magnitude, you will find here and there evidences of wrongdoine and now and then you will uncover a ! systematic effort to defraud. It was nee essary for the Shipping Board to euIplo! men whose sole responsibility was the uncovering of wrongdoing and these mel : were charged with a heavy responsibility { -te men who We depend upon to bt checks upon those who might be tempt ed to do wrong bear heavy Tesponsi 1 bility if they failed us, but in an or | sanization spending more than three bil lion dollars. where as the largest steam 1 ship operator in the world, millions o ! dollars are expended from day to day, i ] would be humanly impossible to preven ! all wrongdoing or to do business withou i suffering financial losses from time |, time"
 Men Of vision will take into considera tion the whole picture presented by ship :! ping problems. Chairman Benson as serted, recalling the work done by tn American merchant marine during th Il war and praising the vision of Edwar ' N. Hurley, who as chairman of the boar after the armistice. went ahead with th j shipbuilding programme.
 ii My predecessor, John Barton Payn, had heavy responsibility placed upo him when he stepped into the office mad
 vacant through Mir. Hurley's resignation,
 Admiral Benson continued. Thousand
 of claims amounting to millions of do
 lars, the jobs of more than 900 GOO ne
 involved in the settlement of these claim
 problems of reconstruction, are only
 few of the many pressing matters tha
 came before him in a days work"
 ! Responsibility for the establishment | a permanent marine rests with the Arne
 ican people as well as with the boar
 Chairman Benson declared. adding tn:
 Tt is the responsibility of every new
 paper publisher in America, and I ha'
 time and again called upon the press ar
 they have me' me in noble manner spread this message before the world that America is now ship independent I'eclaring that he was charged as u chairman [ the board, with great ' s?onsibliity. Chairman Benson said
 would be cowardly if he refused to e ercise to the, best of his judgment, q | powers vested in him.
 [ If misiakcs have been made | said. "tEey were mistakes that natural i may be expected in such stupendous e . terprises involving as it does. the acti l employment of more than 1.6o0 sea-g , | ing vessels with the manifold probler ] involved in ship operation, the compl v ton of a huge shipbuilding program 9 1 embracing the payment of millions of q,
 lars and the settlement of thousands
 1 claims which come as Q result of an
 fort to be fair to those men who. wh E we needed them placed their facilities l. our disposal and endeavored to do ever thing within their. power to help q :. country in its shipbuildinG programme. Ia We are engaged in no child's play, o - effort is worldwide. Our work reach I, into every part of the world. it affe, -. every interest. It is your business.
 watch this development and to critica
 examine our work from day to day. It = your business to question what We
 It is a good thing that men are awaken
 to the splendid opportunity shipping
 lords, but while it is no ch;ld's play
 build up this vast worldwide organi;
 Jion, l do say it is 9 child's play
 the part of anyone who heedlessiy spres
 erroneous impressions which tend to
 stroy confidence in our ability to ma
 tain, support and develop 9 pcrnan'
 merchant marine, privately owned.
 we ask is constructive criticism" e. Mushrooms, a worldwide produ s. are as plentiful in Siberia as in 5tro