Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-27
new SHIP BOARD
SELECTIONS SOON
President May Make Recess
Appointments -SpecuIa-
ton Over Choice.

President wilson Is expected SOoH "
announce the makeup Of the new Ship
ping Board. to constitute the permanent
board provided for under the Jones mer-
chant marine act
The Jones act provides that there
shall be seven members on the board,
of which two each shall be from the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts and one each
from the gulf states, the great lakes
region and one from the interior OF the
country. -,---l--------7zs--s.z-- :,
Well informed persons conversant
with the political situation and cog
infant of the needs OF the new Ship
ping Board. are firm in the belief that
Rear Admiral William 8. Benson. pres
ent chairman. Of the board, will be re-
appointed and that Commissioner John
A. Donald, the only remaining MEM
bes-of the original board. also will be
reappointed. 1t is not expected, how
ever, that Mr.. Donald will remain on
the board permanently, but that his
resignation will follow shortly after his
reappointment.
Secretary Alexander Probability.
Secretary Alexander Of the Depart
meht of Commerce is regarded as one
of the men who will constitute the
new board Mr.. Alexander is con-
Versant with marine commercial mat
ters and Is thoroughly in harmony
His appointment as member OF the
board has been almost a foregone con-
clusion for two months.
Martin J. Gillen of Wisconsin, whose
appointment to the board was sent to
the Senate in May, but was never con-
firmed, probably will not. be reap
pointed, according to speculation. His
place may be filled by the appoint
ment of Robert A. Dean of New York.
now general counsel Of the board,
IL lot <,f
Galveston, Tex, republican, iS being
doomed by commercial organizations
in Texas and by politicians in that
state as the representative of the gulf
states on the new board. Mr.. Haines'
appointment is expected.
-Four eligible for the new board are
being doomed by supporters for the
two places allotted to the Pacific on the
Shipping Board. Most prominent of
ihe Pacific coast candidates is John
II. Shackelford of Tacoma, Wash, a
man well versed in shipping matters
and one who has received the backing
of influential Pacific coast politicians.
He is said to have received the indorse-
ment of Gavin McNab, San Francisco
democratic labor leader John Black
man of San Francisco, formerly a con-
ciliator of the Department of Labor. a
strong advocate of organized labor and
a democrat, is also said to be in line
for the appointment. Fred l.. Murphy
of San Francisco, relative of Senator
Phelan of California, is another ship
ping man whose candidacy is said to
he looked upon as favorable Mr.. Mur-
phy is now with the division of opera
fions of the board in San Francisco.
The other man whose name has
been mentioned from the Pacific coast
Is F. w. De Brabant of Los Angeles
once a manager OF former Senator
Clark's western railroad. Mr.. De Bra
bant has been in charge of the Ship
ping Board Office at Seattle.
Await Mr.. Payne's Return.
Selection of a member. from the
central United States is expected to
he held up pending the return Of John
barton Payne. Secretary of the In
terror and former chairman OF the
shipping Board, to Washington. 1t is
understood President Wilson wishes
to confer with Judge Payne before
making some of the selections for the
hoard and that he wishes men who
will be able to cooperate with other
board members upholding the Jones
act.
Chairman Benson today denied that
he is anxiously awaiting the appoint
ment of his associates on the board
and that he and Commissioner Dom
aid do not wish to go ahead with the
sale of ships on their own responsible.
| ity. He said the Jones act has thor
oughly outlined the position of the
Shipping Board and that the board
will follow the act in every degree.
The influence Of former Chairman
| Payne is said to be very strong at
| the White House, and observers today
pointed out that nominations have
| been held up while awaiting the re-
turn of Judge Payne to Washington
| from Alaska All the appointments.
which are expected to be made soon,
will be recess appointments, and will
have to be confirmed by the Senate
when Congress convenes in December.
Consideration of the appointments IS
| exnected to be made jointly and not
singly by the Senate after they are
made. it was said today.