The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24
Theo. Marburg. Baltimore.
Oh Wilson's Slate Under
False Political COlors.
PROTESTS HALT PLANS
New Antagonism Shown to
Merchant Marine as Aided
by Jones Law.
SENATE Is DEFIED AGAIN
War Department Gets Hobo
ken Piers to Operate Its
Line of Civil Ships.
PROTESTS HALT PLANS
SENATE is DEFIED AGAIN
Svectoa Despatch 60 THE NEw YORK HnsALr,
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. Oct. SS.

syeciol Despatch TO THE NEw YORK HnsALp,
New York Herald Bureau,l
Washington, ID. c.. Oct. sS.
UnofYicial announcement of the ap-
pointment Of new members Of the
United States Shipping Board, made
through the Associated Press. has
raised a new storm of protest over
the manner in which the american
merchant marine is being treated by
the Administration. So forceful has
been the protest that official an
nouncement Of the new appointments
has been withheld and change is
expected when the list is made public
from the White House.
The appointments, as uncificially
announced, carry the suggestion Of
rewards for partisan service and are
not regarded as having had In mind
the necessities Of the merchant ma
rine.
That these necessities are great is
freely acknowledged. America has
built ships, but ships alone do not
constitute O. merchant marine, and II
is realized something must be done to
meet the cutthroat competition which
has started all over the world. pre-
sumably with the design Of making
the upbuiiding of the American mer-
chant marine impossible. Ocean trans
portation has been turned topsy tury-y.
Ships are grouped where they are no
cargoes, while cargoes are assembled
where there are no ships.
Rival Marine In Operated.
In addition 70 the delay IN building
tho plans Of the American merchant ma
rine, due TO the dilatory tactics adopted
bv tho President, ii, isssundsrstood the
War Department ie operating ner-
chart marine OF It's own In opposition to
the Shipping Board and With the sane
tlor OF the President.
While these contradictory aud diiatory
policies are being pursued. the affairs Of
the Shipping Board are becoming moro
ruuddied daily owing to the fact that Ad-
ulrai Benson and John A. Donald, the
oai, two present members OF the board
lave been opposed TO adopting policy
which might not meet the approval OF
the new board when appointed
In selecting the members OF the board.
as unofficially announced, President Will
son has challenged the Senate. and par
ilcularly the Senate Committee OF Com
marce, of which Senator Harding is a
ricmber Both BY his delay IN making
TIE appointments and In his selection OF
the men he has shown. II is stated here.
complete lack OF sympathy with the
Jones Merchant Marine law.
The nature OF the appointments is re-
garded as In keeping with the attitude
the President demonstrated 10 this law
when he point blank refused TO obey the
laws mandate in the matter OF abrosat-
ing provisions OF commercial treaties
which would have made Il possible for
preferential treatment TO be accorded 10
American shipping.
Shipping men who are deeply con-
cerned say he has named men TO the
new Shipping Board whom he knows
cannot be confirmed by the Senate.
when he had opportunities 10 name a
board so rnanifestly we'll qualified that
even Senate intent on holding up all
Of his important appointments until
after March would hesitate to refuse
to do so. because by so doing II. would
be charged with extreme partsanship.
IN fact. tho Senate regarded tho early
appointment Of a Shipping Board so I'M
portant that informal assurances were
given BY the Senate Committee on Corn
nerce. which will pass on the confiruia-
tions. that IL he would appoint a well
qualified board and would appoint /;
soon confirmation would be assured.
Law Provided for Early Action.
The law which was approved June 8
provided that the commissioners shnll
be appointed az soon as practicable
after the enactment OF this act" Al
though wcighty and grave questions az
fecting the whole future OF the rnerchan;
marine we're at stake the President dis
regarded this mandate and has waited
more than four months before malsing
the appointments.
There has been no question about die.
ficulty in finding available men. A list
OF highly recommended men is before the
President and has been there for a long
time. They are men who know about the
shipping business and all OF them have
been discarded The law provided that
the commissioners shall be appointed
with regard TO their fitness for the OF
fetal disl srge OF the duties imposed
on them b. this act"
The Pres ent, unless change is
made, will appoint Theodore MarburR o,
Baltimore. writer OF note and for
me. tobacco manufacturer. but who 50
fsr as known never has had anything
10 do with shipping which IL highly
technical business.
Another aprointee, unofuaslly an.
nounoed, is Frederick, l.. Thompson. for.
...sriy New York dvertising agent ard
!, &c 1909 editor Of = newspaper al
.uobit Ala.
"N more than four OF the commits.
scns shalt lie appointed from the same
nolit,cal party" the Law recitcs.
In order 20 make room for deserving
Democrats" the President In naming Nj
Nrarburg for comniissionershlp write:
lin down as a Republican" just "a ,,
aid In tho case Of Bainbridse Cobb,