New-York tribune., 1920-10-18
Congress May
ActtO Abolish
Shipping Board
Government Department To
Be Substituted for the
Present Administration of
Nations Marine Affairs
wilson Not Likely to Act
Will Leave 1t to Harding to
Pick New Board, if Latter
Is Elected, Is the Report
From The rriou~s,s wosasnoto~ sureo.

, WASHINGTON, Oct. 17.-The United
States Shipping Board will not be re-
orran;zcd to comply with the provi-
,sns of the Jones act until after the
Presidential election, shipping men
Who have come TO Washington during
the last few days have been told.
The reorganization of the board had
been looked for until few days ago,
but shipping men now are being in
formed that at will be some time" be-
fore the new board required by the
Jones act is appointed and functioning.
President Wilson had gone so far as
10 offer places on the board to Secre-
tary of Commerce Alexander and
others before he changed his plans and
word was sent out that the board would
not be named until after Election Day.
Secretary Alexander, incidentally, had
expressed willingness to accept q
place on the board, and it had been
tentatively arranged that while acting
as commissioner on the board he would
also be permitted to fill out his term of
office as Secretary of Commerce.
The Jones act provides for the com
plete reorganization of the Shipping
Board, with enlarged powers over those
previously held by the board. The size
Of the board also is to be increased
from five TO seven members.
Benson Urges Appointments
N,1l;o,, Dop,1,,
man, and John A. Donald are the only
members of the board at present and
both are holdover appointments. They
have been carrying out the full duties
that would devolve upon the reor-
ganized board, and although Admiral
Benson has not objected, it was said
to-day that he had asked the White
House several times to hurry the reor-
ganizaton and relieve him of some of
the multitudinous details of the
boards work.
Definite announcement that the new
board would be appointed without fur
ther delay was made in White House
circles a month ago. The change in
the plans, according TO persons close to
the Admin istration, is due to the lack
Of confidence of Administrator leaders
IN the approaching election. This, it
was said by an Administration leader
to-day made it difficult to find seven
men capable of sitting on the board
who would accept appointments at the
hands of President Wilson at the pres
ent time The reorganization of the
Shipping Board therefore, has been
left to the winner on November 2.
Should Governor Cox be elected. the
nsw ShiDninr Board probably would be
nominated before March s, 1921, by
President Wilson,, with the approval
Of Governor Cox, it was said, but in
the event of the election of Senator
Harding nothing would be done toward
naming the new board until after
President Wilson left the White House.
Plan to Abolish the Board
There is strong opposition among
Republicans to the Shipping Board
Itself as 4 bureau Of the Federal gov
eminent, and it is probable that in
the event of Republican victory in
November an effort will be made to
abolish the board altogether.
Durlng the last two sessions Of Con-
gress when the Republicans have been
IN control in both houses, "a fight has
been made against the board by
strong group of representatives. and
Senators, and this fight probably will
De revived IN case Senator Harding is
elected and the Republicans retain CON
troll of Congress.
The opponents Of the Shipping Board
have desired the creation of a new
department. OF the Federal government,
with Cabinet member at its head, to
ake over the duties of the board.
During the first session of the pres
ent Congress, more than year ago,
representative Joseph Walsh, Repub-
hcan, OF Massachusetts, introduced a
OH providing for the creation of a
1ederal department of marine and fish
cries. The bill was buried in commit
tee.
Boards Opponents Active
IN the second session, last spring,
when the Jones bill was before Con
gfess the effort to substitute de-
PPar'ment Of the government for the
ohlpplng Board was revived, and op-
pohents of the board made strong
hght IN favor of the proposal both in
Inc Senate and the House.
both parties are pledged to a reor-
sanizatlon of the departments of the
Ieoefal rec. government after March 4,
WI and the opponents of the Ship
ping Board will urge the abolition of
plan. = - -
Inc reorganization Of the Depart
meht OF Commerce as it exists at pres
eat was urged long before the Ship
p'hg Board was created. Many leaders
IN the Senate and House have urged
auring the last few years that it be di-
s's..d siued into two departments, one of
which would have charge of foreign
commerce and the other of domestic
commerce
Inc opponents of the Shipping Board
s .se preparing to renew their fight, on
as oasis of reorganizing the Depart
aeht OF Commerce. They will urge that
ss 'se commerce Department be given
vaaarge OF domestic commerce only,
~aiV, ~allc new government department
~oula have charge of all foreign COM
sm %ssee and shipping, thereby doing
ss, ssay with the Shipping Board alto.