New Britain herald., 1920-02-13
WOULD PREVENT SALE OF SHIPS BY
 EXTRA RESOLUTION
Senator AShurSt Moves to Direct
 Shipping Board to Cancel Proposed Auction
LETTER READ FROM JUDGE
 PAYNE EXPLAINING MOVE

\ 11 &NA IkA4 &4AA1ANAAtN uAS A Director States Many Reasons Why
 U. S. Could Not Compete in Pas - senger Lines With Other Countries Prohibition One of Them-W. R. Hearst Would Prohibit Sale by Court Injunction.
 Washington, Feb. 1S--A concurrent resolution directing the shipping board not to sell the 30 former Ger aaan liners which the board plans to dispose of at public auction here Monday except through regular pub lie bidding after three months ad- yertisins, and then only if proper offers are received was introduced to- day by Senator Ashurst, democrat, Arizona.
 sThe resolution was offered in the midst of a debate on the sale of the ships. Senator Ashurst declared that it was a fact that the shipping board and emergency fleet incorporation in tended to sell the vessels to the ln- ternational Mercantile Marine Corp. for $2s,0o0,00o. He said the vessels had a pre-war value of $154, 900 and a present value of $S00,000,O 900.
 Chairman Jones of the commerce committee, previously had told the ksenate that he had no idea that the khips were, to be sold to the Interna- Dnal Mercantile Marine under a Eecret understanding between the board and British interests was true. After more than an hours debate Chairman Jones of the commerce committee objected to immediate consideration of the Ashurst resolu- ttion on tho ground that a concurrent resolution should be referred to com mittee. The resolution then was re- ferred to his committee.
 While debate was proceeding in the senate. Representative Mead, demo- crat, New I YorS, made puLlic a letter from Chairman Payne explaining the reasons for the sale of the ships. It was learned that Mir. Payne had writ ten a similar letter to President Will eson.
 The letter to Representative Mead follows:
 Answering your inquiry regarding sale of the ex-German passenger
 
 these:
 Tt is the opinion of the ship ping board that we will probably not ' be able to operate passenger ships un- der prohibition successfully in cOmpe- tition with foreign ships which sell liquor. The reason why is: In Decent Der we fitted out the Moccasin to sail to South America. Her births were all sold.
  tho policy of the congress of the country, government ships would not be permitted to sell liquor, half of the sailings> were immediately can- celled.
 Offered S2O, ,O0O, GOO.
 Eve advertised the ex-German ships and for 20 were offered $20, 900. 900 We had a careful call culation made as to the cost of re- conditioning these ships for passen- ger service and reached the sum of s57,00o, 900. In view of the present situation, it did not seem to us that we were Justified in incurring so large an expense.
 3.-ConditionS in the shipping world are such that it is our convic- tion that there will never be time when we can sell ships to better ad- vantage than now and since it is our conviction that the ships can be sue .<cessfully operated in private owner ship, we believe the sale should be made.
 Would Protect United States.
 1.-Two conditions are insisted upon by the board: Gal That the ships shall remain under the American flag; fb) That they are to be sailed in the routes indicated by the Shipping board. This, we believe, will ade- quately protect the United States