Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-17

when Senator AshurSt Arizona, asked
immediate consideration of his reso-
luton to defer the sale until con-
gress acts.
Senator Jones, of WASHINGTON,
chairman of the commerce commit
tee. objected on the ground that M
Payne assured the committee the
sale would not be made until the
committee had a chance to hear all
the facts.
THE committee will hear Chair
man Payne tomorrow said Senator
Jones' and get the facts from him
concerning the bids received today
In view of his assurances to us !
feel passage of any resolution by
the senate would be a reflection on
the board"
Senator Ashurst, resisting the eff
forts to sidetrack his resolution.
said:
In the Doldrulns
1--WE are in the doIdrums in a
place of peril because we have so
often taken orders from the various
departments. 1 don't care whether
the board wants congress to legislate
Or not. I've found that the depart.
ments are wrong about so per cent
of the time and congress right"
Senator Mcclellan then called ur
his resolution containing the same
provision as Senator Ashurst's. SEN
ator Jones also urged rejection Of
this resolution.
Senator Owen, Oklahoma, called at
tention to the enormous profits of
the international mercantile ma
rine." and declared he saw no rea-
son why the government should lose
money in operating the ships itself.
There is no excuse for the gov
eminent making such a sacrifice as
proposed" Senator Trammell agreed.
Senator Lodge said congress is en-
titled to know something about this
extraordinary transaction" and that
the shipping board ought to defer
action until congress investigates.
Il think it also very important to
know whether the president has
made any committals abroad as to
the disposition of those ships, for
such committal might very well
tie our hands," Mr.. Lodge added.
Chairman Jones, of the senate in
terstate committee, blocked imme-
date consideration of a resolution
by Senator AShurst, Democrat, Ari-
IONA, asking the board to defer any
sale until action by congress.
The senate again debated the sale,
with Senators Ashurst, and Mcclellan,
Democrat, Tennessee, seeking to put
the senate on record as opposing the
sale.
President Wilson will inform thu
senate emphatically that there is mo
basis" for the report of a secrel
agreement between the shipping
board and the British interests for
the sale of the thirty former Ger
man passenger liners, it was an
nounced today at the White House.
The presidents message will be in
reply to the resolution of Senator
Brandegee, Republican. of Connect
cut, asking for information regard
ing the report. The. resolution was
adopted by tile senate last Saturday.
Chairman Payne, of shipping board,
was summoned to appear in person
today in the District Of Columbia
supreme court to show cause why
an injunction should not be issued
on application of William Randolph
Hearst, of New York. to prevent the
sale of the thirty former German
passenger ships.
In NJ Payne's absence Commits
sioner Thomas A. Scott opened the
auction at which bids for the YES
sells We're received. They consist Of
twenty-nine German passenger YES
sells, and include the Leviathan,
George Washington and America. The
ships were seized by the United
States during the war.