Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1920-11-11
SHIPPING BOARD
SCANDAL PROBED
FURTHER IN DAY
RICHARDSON ~ AGAIN on STAND
BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE.
IS UNDER CROSS QUERIES
Declares Shipbuilding Firm in Texas
Had Threatened 10 Appeal a. a
senator a. Delay Settlement
~ an Account"
by Associated Press.

by Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Nov. i0--Addltional
evidence ~ alleged Irregularities an I
mismanagemcnt ~ the affairs uf the
United States Shipping board. was In.
troducrd here today before the congress.
sional committee investigating the az.
fairs ~ The board by 4 T. alchnrd. on
assistant secretary and statlsticinn of
the committee IN concluding his direct
testimony.
The investigation " based largely
upon n report submitted by Mr.. Rich.
ardsOn and 4. NJ Fisher. secretary aud
atatistlcian ~ the committee after u
years work. AZ tho conclusion of T..
days session, Chairman Walsh an.
nounocd that Commander A. B Ci".
monts. executive assistant to Admiral
Benson. chfirman ~ the shipping
board. would be- witness tomorrow
morning. Chairman Walsh read tel".
gram from Admiral Benson. which
stated that the beard would not object
20 Commander Clrmnnts tcstifying and
that the records. officers and employees
of the hoard were nj the disposal ~ the
committee NJ any time ar place the
committee desired"
Henson Would he Called.
Chairman Walsh said Admiral Ben.
son and other officials of the board. as
well NJ Charles NJ. Schwah and Charles
piez. former head of the Emcrgcncf
Fleet Corporation. mnv be- asked to ap.
pear before the committee.
Crosaexaminatinn hy Representative
Henry J. Steele of Mr. Richardson tool,
up considerable part IT the afternoon
session. Charactcrlzing the witness
testimony as general indictment"
.ir. Steele sought to bring out specific
instances of alleged political influ'
ence." favoritinn. etc.
Answering questions ns 90 specific In.
stances of alleged political Influence.
he recited that he had been informed a
rhiphuildlng firm IN Texas had threat.
.ned" to appeal % senator from that
state to bring about what was claim"
hy the company to be n delay In s"'
tlrmept of an account. lie added that
he had no knowledge NJ 90 what. II
anything the senator did
Didn't Pass on Al Cotracis.
He added that he had no knowledge
~ any shipyard or contracting firm In
which member uf congress was inter
estcd lie also said that he did not crit
icisa all ~ the contracts entered into
by the board
The witness rlso brought on, In his
testimony Incidents ~ what he termed
'car.lessncss In he handling and pre-.
erving ~ shipping board records"
In one of the Southern districts. he
said desks and flle cabinets were dis.
posed of without the contents being re-
moved. and that these records were
scattered and many ~ them DESTROYED.
In one case. he testified. whore filing
eases had been certified and sold as
surplus. duplicates were purchased but
n short time later. at greatly In
creased price"
lie also charged sales ~ materiais
had been made without proper inven'
tory.
Sale ~ Liberty bonds.
The sale of Liberty bonds also cnme
into the TESTIMONY of Mr. Richardson.
Bonds were bought. he said. by some ~
the Companies. with advance funds ana
after 'ards snld nj discount. Efforts on
the mart ~ these companies tn hc reim'
bursed by the board for the discount
losses were not allowed and the claims
withdrawn as were charges nf percent
nge In selling to cover cost ~ selling
campaigns
Operators who run their own vessels
I'm addition tn ships ~ the board. said
Mir Richardson. usually send the gov
ernment ships ON tho least favorable
routes They feel confident. he added,
that although the government shared
In the profits, Il was required to pay
all the losses No employees. he eN'
plaIncd. were retained IN foreign ports.
with the result that there was ire
auent return ~ ships IN ballast from
ports where cargoes were going beg
ging.