South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-17
AUCTION OF HUN
SHIPS WILL Be
RESUMED TODAY
Sale Temporarily Delayed to
Await Outcome of IniunC-
ton Proceedings.
SHIPPING CONCERNS BATTLE
BY Associated Press:

BY Associated Press:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-WhHe
controversy over the proposed sale
OF thirty former German liners occu-
pied today three government
agencies-the white house, tho SEN
ate and the district supreme court
presidents of the great shipping
companies were bidding in tens Of
millions against each other for the
craft at the shipping boards auction.
For one group of six vessels the bid
ders fought with $25O.000 boosts in
price until Mai. Gen. George w.
Goethals, retired, now head Of the
American ship and Commerce com
pany. dropped out at 100000,
which he said was his limit. and p.
A. :. Franklin, president Of the In
ternational Mercanue NJ ar n @,
raised the price to s13.100,000.
Adopt Resolution.
Commissioner Scott had an
nounced in opening the auction that
it was only for the purpose OF re-
ceivins bids, final action 70 await
approval OF the senate commerce
committee and the house merchant
marine committee and the outcome
OF William Randolph Hearst's appH-
cation for an injunction 10 prevent
the sale. While the bidding was IN
progress the senate iurther cOmpli-
Gated the situation, adopting a reso-
luton requesting that the sale be
postponed but-at the conclusion of
the bidding today il was announced
that the auction would continue at
ten O'Clock tomorrow.
In the district supreme court. AS
sOciate Justice Bailey took under
adyisement Mr.. Hearst's application
after hearing contention of counsel
that the shipping board lacked legal
power 10 dispose of the vessels. He
Will render his decision Friday.
Wilson's Answer.
At the white house il was said
the president would answer prompt
" with a decided negative, the reso-
luton adopted by the senate Satur-
day. asking if there existed a re-
ported secret understanding with
Great Rritain as 10 the ultimate dis
position of the former German craft
Bidding at the auction was slow
in getting under way at the morn
ing session when groups of ships
were being offered but became
spirited in the afternoon wnen indi-
yidual vessels were considered. The
highest group bid was 14.O5O.oOO by
the international Mercantile Marine
for nine ships including the Levia-
than, which went unopposed, and
:hc record bid for a single ship was
$2.000.O00 for the Callao by the
American Ship and Commerce COM
pany, doubling in one bid the offer
Of the International Mercantile Ma
rire for the vessel.
Highest Group Bid.
The highest group bid covered the
Leyiathan, George washington,
America. President Grant. Nanz-
mond. Antigone, Pccahontas, Prin-
cess Matoika and Callao, offered by
the International Mercantile Marine.
the vessels to be put in the Europ-
can service
The next highest group offer was
the International Mercantile Ma
rine's bid OF SI3.1O0.0OO for the
George Washington. Martha Wash
!ngton. America. President Grant.
NanzmOnd and the Callao for service
to Hamburg and Bremen. Moore
and Mccormack offered $4,50O. 600
for five vessels. the Martha Wash
ington. Aeolus, Huron, Princess Ma
toika and the Pocahontas for South
American service and the same COM
pany bis S4.OOO.0OO for the Princess
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