The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-03-12
WANT BENSON
TO RETAIN Job
Friends of Admiral Urge Presi-
dent to Reappoint Him Ship
Board Head.

OtTOHk pTcSSuIc 10 pchhh Diouhhs
to bear on President Harding for
the reappointment as chairman Of
the United States Shipping Board
Of Rear Admiral w. s. Benson, re-
tired.
1t is stated that influential friends
Of Admiral Benson have laid before
the President facts in connection
with the aun.iraps vast experience
and knowledge Of shipping inter-
ests, and they are urging his reap
pointment regardless Of his politics.
HARDING WRITES BENSON.
Only yesterday President Harding.
learning that there is some embar-
rassment relating to disbursements on
behalf OF the Shipping Board because
of the temporarily unorganized state
Of the board, wrote Admiral Benson
Immediately to advise department
heads, disbursing authorities. or other
agencies of the board to function in
a normal way and be confident Of the
support OF the Executive in meeting
the exigencies which arise.
II am writing to reaff1rm my prev
ious request that you continue to
function as though the Board were
fully organized" wrote President
Harding. land assert your full author
ity under the law.
81 would like you to Immediately
advise department heads, disbursing
authorities or other agencies of the
Board to function in a normal way
and be confident Of the support OF the
Executive in meeting exigencies which
arise.
~ cannot believe it the intention
OF the Congress to make possible a
situation under which the Board
ceases to function. even though but
one Comm sioner were on duty.
81 would like to be assured OF your
full understanding of this official re-
quest and will be confident of your
compliance herewith"
BENSON NAMED YEAR AGO.
Admiral Benson was appointed
chairman OF the board by President
Wilson just a year ago today. his
confirmation by Congress occurring
the next day. Admiral Benson strong
ly favors enforcement of Section 20.
Section "a. and other sections OF the
shipping act that will do away with
foreign domination and discrimina ton
against American ships. He also 10
against the paying of toll by Amer
lean ships passing through the Pam
anna canal. as is President Harding.
Friends of Admiral Benson de-
clare that with his long service in
the American navy. and his intimate
knowledge of shipping interests At
him perfectly for the Craftsmanship
years ago. Admiral Benson was APP
pointed to the Naval Academy as a
midshipman from Georgia. He was
one of the first Southerners to enter
the institution following the end OF
the Civil War. His first duty afioat
was as a Junior officer of the Old
Hartford. then flag ship of the South
Atlantic fleet. de later spent six
months on duty at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard and was ordered to sea
second time. He was on board
OF the Yantic when that ship made
Its historic expedition for the relief
Of Maj. Gen. Adolphus Washington
Greedy. the polar region explorer.
Later he was ordered to the Naval
Academy as an instructor, subse-
quently serving in the Washington
Navy Yard, with the coast survey,
on several ships. and again at An
napolis as commandant of midship-
men. His most recent sea service
was as captain of the super-dread-
nought Utah and, temporarily, as
commander of the first division of
the Atlantic fleet. His friends say
he knows the warship game from top
to bottom. During the eighties he
inspected the material for the con-
struction of the first modern lighting
vessels. and has had a hand in the
building of the navy of today and
the training of the men who man il.
In 1915 he was placed in the posi-
ton OF "chief OF operations" his ap-
pointment as chairman OF the Ship
ping Board following.
EXPENSES CUT HEAVILY.
Admiral Benson today announced
that he had received a report from
the head of the investigating division
showing that since the old division
was reorganized under Frank Burke
as chief of the Bureau of Investiga-
ton, the expenses have been cut one
half. and more indictments against
parties attempting to defraud the
Government have been obtained as a
result of increased efficiency.
According to the report, since the
reorganization ordered by the chair
man more than double the previous
number of indictments have been re-
turned.
The majority of the indictments
were for offenses committed many
months ago and some time previous
to the reorganization of this bureau.