Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-18
TWO BILLIONS LOST
Continued from page

'9The total appropriations tn the BOARD boa
by Congress have been So, 400 OOO, 900.
met revenue in the form Of excess
profits from privately owned ships that
were commandeered has amounted 10
SdOO, 100000.
'This made total Of s3,soa,oo0'ooo
to the board.
Vouchers amounting to S2,700,0P ,OOO
have been submitted TO the comptroller
of the board.
Payment on vouchers amounting 10
So00O00000O has been held up.
Vouchers totallinR &i,iO0 ,0Oo 900
more have yet To come through from
the construction OF ships.
"All but $50 100000 Of the money re-
ceived by the board has been spent.
"No profit has been made on the SHIPS
the board built and has operated ihey
have never made their depreciation or
interest on the money put INTO them.
There ia no relief AZ this time, how
over. The government must carry on
Time and again Mr.. Gillen spoke of
the magnitude Of the work, and he assert
ed he never knew Of any wrongdoing on
the part of any official of the board with
whom he came In contact.
'eThe trouble was the board WAS twice
the size OF tire United States Steel Cor
poration, and il never bad any accounting
system, he said.
Cor vrcssrnan Patrick II. Kelley RE
publiean), of Michigan, asked the WIZ
ness IL he had any criticism 10 make oi
| President Wilson's appointments 70 the
/ board MIR Gillen, who was special as
/ sistant to Chairman Payne, and VINO re-
| manned for time under Rear Admiral
| Bensons was appointed 10 the board Y
/ President Wilson, but his appointment
was not confirmed by the Senate, and II
/ was reported he Ind incurred the DIS
pleasure OF Senator by his refusal to
approve n claim against the board
| MIR. Gilen looked at Congressman
| Kelley a moment and then quietly re-
marked that he was Republican himself
! The congressman asked MN II ne
thought other. might have been appointed
10 the board who would have attained
better and quicker results.
Mr. Gillen -aid he thought perhaps a
hoard consisting oe men Of the type Of
Judge PAYNE. Il. II. Gary and J. Ogden
| Armour might have done in six months
what had been accomplished. Then nc
! jumped 10 his fee, and said, with an out
burst Of pcnt force:
HAa ADVISED HARDING.
81 have stated 90 presidenf-elec'
Harding that business men should hs
| appointed 20 run big government business
| III il the duty of the President of ths
| United States 10 say to the Senate com
mitteee that pass upon this appointment
that they consider all the qualifications @
bis appointees.
Make the Senate assume it's ful
responsibility rs To appointments nns
consider something besides man
character and honor. Make that bod.
pass upon the mans qualifications for III
lob: find out what he knows about on
business. The trouble with our country
that too many politicians get the bi
Jobs, and il isn't any more the fault of
Democratic administration than IL Is OF
Republican administration"
Washington, Nov IA general di'
cus.ion Of the whole shipping situatio
and future organization Of the Unite
States Shipping Board will be held whe
the new members Of the board arrive hers
Rear Admiral Benson has informed thef
the FIRST meeting will he held December
IL convenient ALLEGATION Of functions {
sthe new members will be one of the fin
questions for disposition. Admiral Ben
son would not outline the probable al
signments.
I'VE want TO get the new board +
/ functioning in full harmony" he said
, I'VE exoect 10 take up the shipping az
in detail and make careful study OF an
. of it's provisions that need TO be locke
. into"
, One matter TO be determined is whcth'
any recommendations are TO be mat
: 10 Congress for amendments.