Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-11-11
MORE EVIDENCE
GIVEN IN SHIP
BOARD INQUIRY
Irregularities and Mis-
management Charged
by Committee Expert.
Commander Clements,
Assistant to Benson to
Be Called Next.

New York. Nov. 10.-Additional evil
dence of alleged irregularities and mis-
management in the affairs of the United
States shipping board were introduced
here Wednesday before the congression-
al committee investigating the affairs Of
the board, by J. r. Richardson assistant
SECRETARY ard statistician uf the COM
mittee, fl concluding his direct testi-
mony. The investigation is based large
" on report submitted by Mr.. Richard
son and A. NJ Fisher. secretary and
statistician of the committee, after q
years work.
At the conclusion of the session.
Chairman Walsh announced that Com
mander A. Il. Clements, executive assist
ant TO Admiral Benson, chairman of the
shipping board, would be witness
Thursday.
Steel is Gross Examined
The hearings will be continued in
New York for two weeks and then 1t Is
likely, Chairman Walsh said, that the
committee will go to Philadelphia and
Washington to continue it's work
Cross examination by Representative
Henry J, Steel Of Mr.. Richardson took
up a considerable part of the afternoon
session. Characterizing the witness
previous testimony as q general in
dictment.' Mr.. Steele sought to bring
out specific instances of alleged "politi
cal influence" favoritism, etc.
The witness prefaced his reply to the
first question asked with the statement
that his report did not purport to fix
any illegal act on the part of any person.
Delay In Settlement.
Answering questions as to specific in
stances of alleged political influence he
recited that he had been informed a
firm in Texas had threat
ened' to appeal to a senator from that
state to bring about what was claimed by
the company to be delay in a settle
ment of an account, He added that he
had no knowledge as to what, if any
thing. the senator did.
Another instance recited was that the |
former congressman had accompanied an
officer of a shipbuilding firm to Wash |
lngton to assist in securing contract. |
The witness also brought out in his |
testimony incidents of what he termed !,
in the handling and pre-
serving of shipping boards records.
Charges improper Inventories.
He also charged sales of materials |
had been made without proper inyen
tory. Regarding amortiZing of plants, |
he said be had found instances where
here were many thousands of dollars
difference between accounts rendered to
he shipping board and those rendered to
private or municipal bodies of the same
properties. He also said he had found
,ases where rentals" were included in
Taluations presented for settlement.
The sale of liberty bonds also came
nto the testimony of Mr.. Richardson.
3onds were bought. he said, by some
# the companies with advance funds and
afterwards sold at discount. Efforts on
he part of these companies to be re-
by the board for the discount
osses were not allowed and the claims
as were charges of per-
entage in selling to cover cost of SELL
ng campaigns.
Operators who run their own vessels
n addition to ships of the board, Mr..
richardson said, usually send the gov
rnmcnt ships on the least favorable
outes.