The Washington herald., 1921-08-20
SENATORS REFUSE
TOVOTE FUNDS FOR
SHIPPING BOARD
Lasker Inclined to Tie Up
All But 100 of His
Fleet of 1900.

Chairman Lasker, Of the United
States Shipping Board. believes II
might be advisable 10 tie up all but
about . hundred vessels Of
American merchant marine. and re-
organize with that as a basis The
board owns some 1900 ships.
Senator Jones. of Washington,
chairman Of the Commerce Commit
tee and principal author of the
merchant marine act, offered the
Senate this information yesterday.
The urgent deficiency bill. under
whic the board would receive S4S.-
100000 to pay for operating losses
was being debated. Its considera-
ton brought the whole Shipping
Board muddle into the limelight
again, and Senators exhibited the
any more funds.
Plans Private Management.
Jones explained. in answer to
charges that the board had not yet
evolved a policy to govern the mer-
chant marine, that II was the in
tention of the board to operate
fleet through private management
until conditions were such that sale
# the fleet would be possible.
Senator williams, OF Mississippi,
Democrat had criticised what he
said was meager information Of
Tered the Senate. He charged the
request for more funds was only the
beginning. and that 1t constituted
yelled attempt to obtain a subsidy.
Chairman Lasker. Williams de-
cIared, should have been able in
e. 81 ain infnTnnA a
lion on the present situation. even
IL he had been unable to learn de-
tails Of what had happened before.
Can't Give ships Away.
The sooner the government gets
out Of the shipping business the bet
Ter off IL will be- declared VIII
Jams.
We can't even give the ships
away at present. II we impose the
condition that they be operated"
replied Jones.
Senator Glass. Of Virginia. for
rner Secretary Of the Treasury, told
how he had made an effort to stop
me food Of money going out of the
Treasury to the Shipping Board.
Nobody knows how much more
money will be sought" said Glass,
calling attention to LaLsker's state
ments that additional sums would
be sought later. II. for one, won't
vote another cent until someone can
furnish an estimate Of what the
Ultimate cost will be-" declared
Glass. I'VE will bankrupt the gov
eminent II we don't stop sinking
money in the Shipping Board"
Borah Backs Up Glass.
senator Borah took a similar po-
sItion.
We should know what the flu
lure has in store before we vote
any more money" he said.
Senator Poindexter pointed out
that Lasker had said that 100000
900 would be needed. This he char
acterized as ridiculous when the
Drtire heet was not valued at more
than s75o.e0O, 900.
Senator Pat Harrison. acting
Democratic leader. criticised Budget
Director Dawes for submitting an
estimate for s125.oOO.Oo0. which. 1t
has been found. could be reduced
by more than half. Congress, he
said. had shown itself better able
70 impose economies than Dawes.
Dawes cannot fool the people
into the belief that he Is saving
the government millions, when as a
matter of fact he Is not saving
hem a cent" declared Harrison.
Needs Money to Pay Bills.
Harrison also criticised the board
for the payment of what he said
were exorbitant salaries.
Jones and others supporting the
appropriation urged that the money
was needed by the board in the
same way that Il would be required
by any business. II was necessary.
hey commended. TO enable the board
70 pay its honest debts and con-
- htU1fnAa. IN