The Washington times., 1920-02-14


slipshOd and ruinous msthods Of
operating ships under its control The
United States Government has Op-
Grated the PEnamA Steamship Com
pany successfully, and Australia has
made large sums out OF running tts
steamship lines.
VIII Use Data Against Us
Mr.. Manson testified In part as fol-
lows:
Many OF the Shipping Boards
operating agents have close snilia-
.tions with foreign shipping inter
ests. which they have served for
many years past. and II is hardly TO
be expected that they Will give the
same consideration TO operation OF
the Shipping Boards ships, which
operation they consider inimical 10
their permanent business, and when
operation they know Is only tenn
porary business for them, as they
will give to their permanent ship
ping business under foreign nags.
Also. IL is most unwise to put into
their hands the data regarding our
commerce and shipping. which data
they undoubtedly use against our
foreign interests"
Mr. Manson said further in this
connection:
Nov, as to the private operating
agents, through whom the Shipping
Board operates its ships, this method
OF operating the Governments ships
is fundamentally and economically
wrong. and there IL no reason for IL
except that the Shipping Board de-
sires 10 give prohts to those whom 1t
favors with the ALLEGATION of its ships,
many OF those favored being past Of
fciaIs OF the Shipping Board. who in
stituted this method of operating the
Governments ships.
Deliberately Seek Failure.
MANY OF these agents operate the
Governments ships In such a manner
as TO discredit the Governments serv-
Ice and bring about its early absn-
lonment, in which event they conf
IDENTIFY expect TO get the Governments
ships at their own price and on their
own terms.
There is also much graft and
crook edness by many OF these private
operators OF the Shipping Boards
ships. with consequent heavy loss to
the Government. won't take the
committees time TO go into details
about this, but will say that / have
49,
committee and 10 other members OF
the Government"
Mr.. Manson asserted that the Ship
ping Board had honeycombed its or
ganization. contrary to the spirit or
the law which created IT, with crea-
lures OF shipping interests. He tes-
tilted:
Chairman Hurley. In direct and
deliberate violation OF the clear IN
tent OF the shipping act, filled every
department OF the Shipping Board
and the Emergency Fleet Corporation
with steamship company officials.
and they. in turn, flled the smaller
posts with employees whom they
brought In from their own steamship
corporations. And these steamship
company officials. under the guise OF
serving the Government as patriots
sor 81 n year, devoted most OF their
time and attention to feathering their
own nests.
.Menaee To the Natiou.'
"On April 4, 1913, / testified before
this committee in executive session
regarding this state of affairs, and
I show wed how IL was serious men
ace to the nation.
"In my testimony, then. I also gave
the names OF a few OF the patriots
who were thus serving in the Ship
ping Board organization, and l also
named the steamship companies in
which they were connected One of
these would again refer to now, be-
cause OF a recent happening. l refer
to A. II. Kaufman. of the Barber line.
This is one of the companies which
has been generously favored by the
shipping Board. and has had allocated
| to ii a large number of the Shipping
| Boards ships for operation.
The Barber Line has always been