Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-11
BENSON READY
CONTINUED from PAGE One,

(Continued from Page Ore1
time or place the committee De.
sired"
Chairman Walsh said Admiral
Benson and other officials of the
board as well as Charles NJ. Schwsb
and Charles E. Piez. former heads
otthe Emergency Corporation, may
be asked to appear before the com.
mittee. The hearings will be con.
tinued in New York for two weeks
and then it is likely. said Chairman
Walsh, that the committee will 20
to Philadelphia and Washington 10
continue it's work.
Cross examination by Representa-.
tive Henry j. Steele of Mr.. Richard
son took up considerable part Of
the afternoon session. Characte1s.
ing the witnesses previous testimony
as a general indictment" Mr.. Steele
sought to bring out specific instances
of alleged political influence" ad.
vertisement, etc.
The witness said that his report
did not seek to prove any illegal act
on the part of any person
THE purpose of our criticism" be |
said, lis, we hope, to bring out exist |
ing conditions so they may be rec
titled by the shipping board itself !
want to give full credit to the boaFi
fo- Its achievements. II had g.
gantic task-one of the greatest ever
met by men,"
The sale Of Liberty bonds cana
into the testimony of Mr.. Richard
son. Bonds were bought. he SAID
by some of the companies with a.
vance funds and afterward sold al
discount. Efforts on the part o.
these companies TO be reimbursed By |
the sboard for the discount LOSES
were not allowed and the claims
withdrawn as were charges Of per
ceEtage in selling to cover cost
selling campaigns.
Operators who run their own YES II
sells in addition to ships OF the board
RlchaI dson said, usually senG us
government ships on the least ia;2'
able routes. They feel confident w
added. that although the government
shares in the profits il is required !"
pay all the losses No employees IL
explained, were retained in foFels
ports with the result that there N'
frequent return of ships IN oa'!aS
from ports where cargoes were gols
begging. -.
Answering questions as 10 speON
instances of alleged political infaen''
Richardson recited that he had pes'
informed a ship building firm IN IeAA'
had Threatened to appeal to ss
ator from that state to bring aoV-
what was claimed by the conpah!
be delay in settlement of al
count. He added that he had no hhV"
edge as to what. if anything. the '
ator did. Another instance !e'."
was that a former congressman aa
| accompanied an officer Of shipouA.
ing firm to Washington 10 ASSIST .
/ securing contract.
He added that he had no kio"iee
of any shipyard or contracting A
! in which a member of Congress oi -
| House was interested. He also sa
| that he did not criticize all OF tfe 81,
cation contracts entered into .! Wv
! bard.
The witness also brought out n ID"
! testimony incidents OF what ne 'e''"'
carelessness in the handling ana p''
| serving of Shipping Board recoruS'
one of the southern districts ne %
desks and fling cabinets were dispVs'
of without the contents being reH0''
and that these records were scatter
and many of them DESTROYED ID
case. he testified. where filing cas-
had been certified and sold as sufP'..
duplicates were purchased but saw
time later at greatly increas'
| price,"
He also charged sales Of n'a'e'
has been made without proper 4A''.
tory. Regarding amortization
plants. he said ne had found inslA''
where there were many thousaH's
dollars difference between accVU.
rendered to the Shipping Board ~
those made to private or muh'',t
bodies of the same properties. nc
said he had found cases were 'e"'a
were included in valuations preS'"'
for settlement.