Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-17
WILSON SOLUTION OF ADRIAT|C
TO Be ASKED IN ALLIED REPLY
SPIRITED BIDDING ON GERMAN
Liners WHILE CONTROVERSY
over SALE GOES MERRILY ON

thi-ty-four German liners occupied
today three government agencies
the v hite House, the Senate and The
District Supreme Cuu-t-presldents
Of shipping companies were bidding
II tens Of millions against each other
for the craft a. the shipping board :.
acurion. For one group Of SIX vessels
the bidders fought with .50, 900 boosts
N price until Major Genera George
". GoethaIs retired, now head Of the
American Ship and Commerce Com
pany, dropped out az sIS4 .ose, 900
which he SAID was his limit and P,
A s. Franklin, president Of the In
Merchanrile Marine, rails
ed the pr1ce 10 s134 a08, 800. Commits
sinnsr Scott had announced II OPEN
ing the auction that Il was only for
the purpose Of Receiving bids. final
action 70 await approval Of the sen
ate committee, and the house mer-
chant marine and the outcome CT
William P. Eearst's application To
prevent the sale.
In the district supreme court, as
soc;ace justice Bailey took under ad-
visemenr Mr.. Eaarst's application az
Ter hearing contention Of counsel that
the shipping board lacked iegal
power u dispose Of the vessels. He
will render ms decision Friday.
4 At the White House II was said the
president would answer promptly,
With q decided negative, the resolu-
riur adopted by the senate Saturday
asking # there existed reported
ecreI understanding with Great
Arilian as to the ultimate disposition
OF former German craft
Bidding al he auction was SLOW n
getting under way at the morning
session when groups of ships were
being offered but became spirited il
the afternoon when individual yes
sells were considered The highest
group bid was s14.5O6 600 by the Inter-
national MerctlanCile Marine for nine
ships including the Leylathan, which
went unOpposeG and the record BIC
for a single snip was 5000, 00t for the
Cauao by the American Ship and
Commerce Company, a doubling in
one BID the offer of the ln-erna tiona!
Mercantile Marine for the vessel.
The highest group bid covered the
-eviathan. George astling-0n.
President Grant Nansemond.
Antigone. Pocanontas. Princess Ma
rnika and Calloa offered By the In
ternarional Mercantile Marine the
vessels to be put II the European
service.
The next highest group was the
International Mercantile Marine :
bid Of sI2, 100000 for the George
" Washington. Martha " dshlngton.
America. President Grant, Ansenond
and the Catlao for service to Ham
burg and Bremen. Moore and NJ
C0r1nack offered $4,000, l,0a for five
vessels the Martina Washington.
Aeolus. Huron. Princess Ma7oika and
the Pocahonras for South American
service.
For individual ships the higt bids
were as follows:
Black Arrow sTGa GOO. Oriental Navi-
CATION Company; Princess MatoiSa
s-50. 900. International Mercantile
Marine; Susquehanna s65a 900. c. &
Richard & Company; Artenis. $3.50
0aG. Interna tiunal Mercantile Marine
Amphion. sI25. DOE. c. B. Richard and
COMPANY; Anrigone. $500. 900. Inter
national Bureau of supplies; Ellen.
S-D0, 9s9 Oriental Navigation Co;
Madawaslza. s75G O0o Oriental Navi-
cation Co: Pocahertas. s9.5.0G0. In
rernational Mercantile Marine: Cal
lac s2,000,a0 American Ship and
Commerce Commission.
After making 500 .oan, 006 bid for the
group Of SIX ships Mr.. Franklin was
asked by Commissioner Scott IL he
would make any statement regard
ing ownership Of company 10 which
ne replied that the International
Mercantile Marine was 90 per cenr
owned and controlled IN the United
States
Bids submitted b~ the International
Mercantile Marine on January ~ have
been withdrawn II the request of Mr..
Franklin. Chairman Payne announced
tonight "'hese bids include one of s2S,-
10000 for the entire feet Of - yes
sells and one bid or $i.a0G.deo for the LIE
via.hau. Chairman PAYNE said the 9TH
er companies offering bids at thai time
would have the privilege Of withdraw
ing the irreguiars. In general the bids
made today for Individual ships were
much lower than the ones received in
january.
Terms proposed by the bidders for the
purchase OF the ships offered today VA
RED from the regular shipping board
terms of q per cent on delivery and the
remainder in five years. 10 payments
over a period Of Ii years. Conditions
made by the bidders covered ASSURANCES
that the shipping board would not COM
pete with lines into which the shipH
were put and payment of the expenses
of repairing vessels which had been h
the transport service Commissioner
Scott would not bind the board not 70
compete with the private lines but de-
ciared that the bidders wnuId nave 70
trust To the governments judgments.