The New York herald., 1921-07-24
FIVE SEIZED SHIPS
TO HARTMAN LINE
Continued from First Page.

boats Until It does the Hartman Line
will run them. The Hartman people
were simply called in in an emergency"
Aside from the 100000 due the Gov
ernment in rent. Shipping Board officials
cited as the most serious part OF their
Mail Company the fact that the vessels
chartered to them had been tied up in
dry docks almost since the date of their
transfer.
"They jollied the old Shipping Board
out of nearly Sb.000.000 to recondition
the vessels" Mr.. Smull said. speaking Of
the United Mail Companys officers.
but they have not lived up to a single
part of their contract"
Mr.. Smull gave chronologically the
events that led up to the seizure of the
line. First was the discovery of the
arrears by Mr.. Mon tgomery. which were
reported to Mr.. Schlesinger. The latter
laid the matter before the board at its
meeting last week. 1t was Rear Ad-
miral Benson. he said, who actually sug-
gested seizure Of the vessels and when
put to vote the board was found to be
unanimous.
III the Emergency Fleet Corporation
is going to succeed" interjected Mr.
Schlesinger, 1T must be put on a sound
business basis. That Is what we have
started out to do and 1t is a gigantic
task. because the business of the board
is In complete and utter chaos. The
problem Is so enormous that 1t probably
will take year to really get at it. The
United States Mail affair just happens
to be the first matter we hit upon and,
in the judgment of the board it was of a
M fttra ha dnd tv,t, lat
ton. The best boats In the American
Merchant Marine were tied up In dry
docks"
Mr.. Schlesinger explained the board
had consulted Charles Burlington and
T. c. Jones, admiralty lawyers. before
proceeding against the United States
Mail Company. 1--WE had expert advice
before hand" he said. land there is no
possibility of our having to turn about"
e. A. Quarles. assistant to Frances
r. Mayer president of the United States
Mail Steamship Company. acted as
spokesman for the company officials. He
said Emil Lederer, traffic manager of
the Hartman lines, called at the United
States Mail office, 45 Broadway, yes
terday afternoon, saying he had in
structions from Mr.. Smull to take over
the offices.
Mr.. Lederer, according to Mr.. Quarles
said he mad received letter from MT
Smulls directing him so to act, but said
the letter was at his office Mr.. Lederer
left to get the letter and had not re-
turned up to the time the office closed
last evening.
1--WE will recognize no instruction
whatsoever from Mr. Smull," Mr..
Quarles said with respect to this par
ticuar matter. We are lessees of the
premises we occupied at 45 Broadway
and do not recognize any right on the
part of ay one to enter upon them with
out our permission. We certainly shall
not turn over oar business to our COM
petitors.'
Mr.. Quarles read letter he had re-
ceived from Mr.. Smull:
THE United States Shipping Board
having taken possession of the steam
ships George Washington. America.
Susquehanna, President Grant and
Agamemnon. you are hereby notified
not to sell any more tickets or book any
more freight for said boats"
1--WE replied to the effect" Mr..
Quarles continued. that the seizures
mentioned in his letter were entirely
without authority of law. arbitrary and
indefensible. and further that we pro-
posed to proceed as we shall be advised