The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-02-16

premo court. lIo announced h-
would render q decision next Fri.
day.
President Wilson will inform the
senae cmphatically that there is
no basis for the report Of a secre,
agreement between the shipping board
and the British interests for the sale
Of the so former German passenger
liners, it was announced today at
the White House.
The presidents message will he
in reply to the resolution Of Sen.
ator Brandegec, republican, Connect
cut asking for information with re-
gard TO the report. The resolution
was adopted by the senate last sat
friday
Just before the White House an
nUuncement was made. the public
auction, at which bids for the ships
were received began at the shipping
board. with representatives. Of more
than score Of shipping companies
present.
Chairman Payne was unable to
conduct the auction, as he had been
summoned to appear in person in
he district supreme court in pro-
ccedlngs brought by William Ran.
dolph Hearst of New York, for an
injunction to stop the sale. Com
missioner Thomas y. Scott acted for
him.
In opening the auction Mr. Scott
read a memorandum from Chairman
Payne, which said the highest bids
: would have to be approved by the
senate commerce committee and the
house marine committee and that
acceptance of any bids would depend
upon the outcome Of the injunction
proceedings in the district court
The memorandum said these pro-
Ceedings were expected to be Conclud-
ed within two or three days. but that
n any event checks received with the
bids would be returned hy Saturday
if the sales were not Consummattd.
Commissioner Scott said the terms
of the sale would be arranged to suit
the convenience Of the board and
the prospective purchasers and that
all ships sold must be operated un-
ueT tlS AlllCIICSln lilB.
Among the shipping men were 7.
a. S. Franklin, Of the International
Merchant Marine; George W. Goe-
thals, the American Ship and Com.
merce Company; A. V. Moore, Of the
Moore and Mccormack Company and
Philip Beronde, Of the Oriental Nayi'
gation Company.
The first vessels offered We're the
Black Arrow, the Amphion and the
Philippines, composing the group of
the Black Sea service. No bids were
offered for them.
A group composing the South Am
erican service, the Aeolus de Kalb,
Princess Matolka, and Pocahontas,
was then offered.
No bids were received for these YES
sells nor for the Colombia, Venezuela,
ard Brazilian service ships, the Mo-
cassin and the Ostcgo; the Southamp'
ton service vessels, the Leviathan
Mount Vernon, Agammemnon and
Nansomond.
z. A. 8. Franklin. president OF the
International Mercantile Marine, Of
fered conditional bid Of Sl4,0j0,0OO
for nine vessels for service to the
United Kingdom. and northern Euro
Npean ports.
The vessels covered by the bid
were the Leviathan, George Washing
ton, America, President Grant, Nansc.
mond Antigone. pocahontas, Princess
Ma.oika, and Callao. The offer was
conditional upon an agreement by the
shipping board not TO enter into com
petition with these vessels in this
service.
Moore and Mccormack offered Si'
100000 for five vessels, for the South
American service, and the Munsor
steamship line, conditional bid, ap
proSimating s3,SS0,250 for the Martha
Washington, Acolus, Huron Princess
Nla.oil;a and the pocahontas.
George W. Goethals, American
ship and Commerce Corporation, of
fered s1O,O0O,00O for six vessels fol
the Hamburg and Bremen service
the bid being quickly raised to $40,
100000 by President Franklin Of the
International Mercantile Marine. The
vessels are the George Washington
Martha Washington, America, Pres!
dent Grant, Nansemond, and Callao
a