The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-16

sSiSNS 70 ueleF SatS or the German
shns for which lids have been sub.
mltted until some definite senate &C.
ton Is taken on the subject.
WASHINGTON, Feb. disqualification
Of WILLIAM Randolph Hearst for an In.
junction to restrain the shipping board
from selling 30 former German liners
wss ~sso1i taten Under under adXlsement today by
associate Justice Bailey Of the District
OF Columbia supreme court. He will
render decision Friday.
WASHINGTON, FEB. f6.-PresIdent Mt
wilson will inform the senate emphat.
leally that there "is no basis" for the
report OF secret agreement between
the shipping board and the British in.
tsrests for the sale Of the 80 former
German passenger lines, il was an.
hounced today at the White House.
The presidents message was to be in
Leply to the resolution of Senator
Brandegee, Republican. Connecticut,
asking for information regarding the
report The resolution was adopted by
the senate last Saturday.
Just. before the White House an
houhcement was made the public auc-
tlon at which bids for the ships were
RECEIVED began at the shipping board
with representatives of more than a
score OF shipping companies present
Chairman Payne was unable to con-
duct the auction, as he had been sum-
inoned to appear in person in the dis
trlct supreme court in proceedings
brought BY william Randolph Hearst,
OF New York. for an injunction to stop
the sale. Commissioner Thomas A.
Scott acted for him.
In opening the auction Mr.. Scott
read memorandum from Chairman
Payne which said the highest bids
would tr H., ,,,1 L,
ale commerce committee and the house
merchant 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-
eeedlnss were expected to be concluded
within two or three days, but that in
any event checks received with the
bids would be returned by Saturday
II the sales were not consummated
Commissioner Scott said the terms
OF the sale would be arranged to sui
the convenience of the board and this
| prospective purchasers and that al
1zhlPs zmPsriesh ssa ass. asst be operated under tbs
Among the shipping men were p. A
! s. Franklin Of the 1ntesnatiol1al Mer
cantile mariner George w. Goethals, the
American Ship and Commerce com.
! pany A. V. Moore, of the Moore &
| Mccormack company, and Philip Be.
| ronde of the Oriental Navigation com.
| pany.
The first vessels offered were the
( Black Arrow, the Amphion and the
! Philippines, composing the group of tht
| Black sea service. No bids were Of.
! fered for them.
| The group composing the Soutl
| American service, the Aeolus, De Kalb
| Princess Matoika and Pocahontas, was
| then offered.
Mr.. Franklin offered a conditional bic
of $l4,050, 600 for the nine vessels foi
| service to the United Kingdom ant
| Northern European ports,
! The vessels covered by the bid were
! America, President Grant, Nansemond
| Antigone, Pocahontas, Princess Ma.
| toika and Callao. The offer was con
ditional upon an agreement by thu
| shipping board not to enter into com
! petition with these vessels in this ser
| vice.
Moore and Mccormack offered $4500.
| 900 for five vessels, for the Soutl
| American service, and the MunsoI
Steamship line a conditional bid. ap
proximatng SO, SS0,250 for the same yes
| sells. the Martha Washington Aeolus
Huron, Princess Matoika and the Poca
| hontas.
George w. Goethals, American Shi,
| and Commerce corporation, offered $40,
000.0 600 for six vessels for the Ham
| burg and Bremen service, the bid be
ing quickly raised TO $40, 500, 900 b.
President Franklin of the Internationa
Mercantile Marine. The vessels are tn
| George Washington, Martha Washing
ton, America. President Grant, Nanse
mond and Callao.