New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10
Full Ship Board
Program To Be
OutTo-1norrow
Harding and Lasker Talk
Over Final Details Dur
ing Weekend Voyage ON
the Presidential Yacht
Claims Total 500 Millions
Two Members of Board Are
Selected and Acceptance
of Third Is Awaited

rrors The TTthane's WGskfwdt ton Bu7edu
WASHINGTON, July s.--Reerganiza-
sion plans for the Shipping Board will
be definitely decided upon, the future
method to be pursued in the operation
Of the governments merchant feet will
be determined and the selection of the
three members of the commission to
sdiudicate claims against the board ag-
sregating half billion dollars will be
agreed upon by President Harding and
Chairman A. D. Lasker OF the board
during the weekend trip of the White
House party on the Mayhower, it was
announced to-day at the Shipping
Board.
Awaiting definite answers from men
who have been under consideration for
appointment to the operating board and
on the claims commission, the Presi-
dent and Chairman Lasker were unable
to-day to announce their selections,
and postponed the whole matter until
their return to Washington Monday.
REPLIES from the men who have been
considered for these important duties
in the board also prompted the Presi-
dent and Chairman Lasker to withhold
announcing to-day any details of the
new system of business administration
TO be put into effect in the Shipping
Board, Mr.. Lasker said. A complete
announcement was promised Monday
afternoon.
Two Claim Arbiters Selected
During the weekend cruise of the
Maydower Mr.. Harding and Mr. Lasker
will go into all details of the proposed
changes contemplated by the board,
Mr. Lasker said, in declining to give
any hint to-day Of what the reorgani-
cation plans provide for The Ship
ping Board chairman did say. however.
that two members of the claims COM
mission had been definitely selected,
and by Monday the third member was
expected to send his acceptance of the
post.
I've will have an announcement to
make Monday afternoon that will re-
ieye all the suspense occasioned by
cur failure thus far to decide on the
perplexing questions that confront the
board Chairman Lasker said. "The
President wants to go over the various
details Of the reorg& nization plans and
is awaiting definite word from some of
the men he has in view for the respon-
sible work ahead of US, so he has in
vited ne to be a member of the May
flower party over the weekend to con-
suit with him about our problems"
Asked if the board has decided
whether TO name one man as, director
OF operations or appoint a board for
this purpose, Chairman Lasker asked
to be excused from anticipating the
Pregident's action. He added, however,
that no one man had been selected for
the post of director Of operations. This
admissl on was interpreted as indicat-
ing thst at least three experienced
shippin men would be selected to
form the operations board
Operations Key to Program
Chairman Lasker said the Bureau of
Operations formed the key position to
the reorganization plans and that the
hope al the board was to decide
definitely by Monday afternoon on the
whole Program to be placed in effect in
line wi h the Presidents desire to make
the government feet paying concern
instead Of liability.
The reorganization plans decided
upon, Shipping Board officials said, will
net be difficult TO put into operation
once the perplexing question of opera
tons IS solved. The scheme includes
the good points advanced by the snip
operators and ship owners, as well as
tkose suggested by efficiency experts
and members Of the board who have
been working constantly on ways and
means by which greater economy may
result
Announcement of the personnel of
the claims commission was withheld be-
cause OF the declination of one man
whose services were sought. The
chairman Of the commission, lawyer
OF national repute, has been definitely
agreed upon, and the technical member
also has been Sc cured. There remains
only the definite decision of the auditor
OF accountant to whom the third place
% the commission has been offered.
Many Claims Extortionate
immediately after the appointment of
me commission worg is to be begun on
ehe TASK OF settling the numerous out
ss..ahoing claims, A cursory examina-
uoa OF many of these claims has con-
nhctH the Shipping Beard that they
are eXofoltant, and the commission will
pe expected to wipe off these obliga-
IONS with the least possible cost to
the government.
Efforts also will be made by the
clsims commission to- investigate some
.. the 300 law suits already filed in
safious courts of the country against
NE board, with view to settlement
rr ~ she additional cost of litigation.
"a us work the claims commission will
~ assisted by general counsel Sles-
sss.nser' who has been engaged during
tse iast week in reviewing the mass
VI regal data involved in the suits.