La libera parola. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1918-1969, 1920-08-29

New York, August 18th, 1920.
Mr. A. Giuseppe Di SHrestro,
Editor Of the "Libera Parola"
1926 South 4tb Street.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Sir: .-
Since | assumed the presidency of
the Italian Star Line, Inc, I have
continually interested myself in
reading your articles concerning
same and of some of the officers.
would have been very glad to COM
municate the information that you
very often requested, except that at
the time ] could not advise you of
anything with absolute certainty, as
everything in appearance was good
To me, it was APPARENT, that wha-
tever you said was for the benefit
Of the public and heartily congratu-
late you for the interest that you
take in them, including those who
became interested in the Italian
Star Line, Inc. namely stockholders
and prospective stockholders.
At present after having thorough
ly Investigated unseen intentions of
some of the officers and employees
of the Company, ! was able to de-
monstrate same to the members Of
the Board of Directors, who had
been appointed by the officers re-
ferred to, and for which it made it
very difficult for me to prove my
contention. Finally | succeeded in
convincing them and thereby was
able to reorganize the personnel of
the Company, eliminating the three
original organizers, namely: Ing
F. Bartocci, Paul Chelini, C. Gen
Til. together with a few others Of
less Importance.
/ noted that you continually desi-
re to know the reason for Captain
Sapelli's resignation. l have no he
station in telling you why, which
in substance is as follows
Immediately after | accepted the
presidency Of the Italian Star Lii
ne, Inc Cat that time the intentions
of the organizers apparently were
absolutely void of any selfish pur-
pose), | made search for a treasurer
and knowing Captain Sapelh very
we'll, l suggested his name to Ing
Bartocci and had them meet each
other with the idea of having Capt
Sapelli accept the trcasurership. At
that time | told Capt Sapelli that
the salary the Italian Star Line,
Inc could afford to pay would be
$500 per month, but as the Com
ny would progress it would increase
the salary accordingly. OF course he
was not to give his entire time to
the company. and could have atten-
ded to his private business at the
same time: which condition Captain
SapelI accepted,
Shortly prior to the purchase Of
the SIS. Liberty Land" from the
United States Shipping Board and
prior to a meeting of the Board Of
Directors, Captain SapelG together
with Ing. F. Bartocci, suggested to
me that their salary together with
mine be made the same and that
the amount be $4,000 per year each.
Captain Sapelli contending that his
name alone was worth that much to
the Company. ! consentend to then
suggestion and at the Meeting OF
the Board of Directors, through the
efforts of Ing F. Bartocci, $4,000
were given to 2 Of the original pro
moters, namely C. Gentili and Pau
Chelini, above referred to; when il
came to establish the salary for Mr.
Bartocci, Capt. Sapelli and myself
it was suggested that a figure O.
$4,000 per year be adopted, whicf
was to be given from the momen
the Company would start to ope
rate. I stated at that time that i
such salaries were to be given t.
Ing. Bartocci and Capt Sapelli
that the former should 90 into tn
field as organizer and producer, anC
the latter should be ready to max
speeches in Meetings which woult
be arranged for the purpose of sci
ling stock.
Captain Sapelli made no effort
whatsoever to do anything else bu
sign the checks and stock certifi
Gates, while drawing the abov
mentioned salary, therefore a mont
later, / called Capt. Sapelli's atten
ton to the fact that the salary h
was getting was too high for a ma
who only signed checks and stoc
certificates and asked why he mad
no effort to make speeches. He sts
ted that he would not 60 out an
make speeches and that had notl
ing to do with his salary, becau'
that was voted to him by the men
bers of the Board of Directors.
stated that nevertheless, / had Il
power TO make recommendations
the Board Of Directors and that