Evening star., 1921-12-12
|U.S. AGENTS ON PIER
AS MORSE LANDS
Declares He Will Proceed
Here to Answer Any De-
mand Made on Him.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK. December 12.-Charles
W. Morse, shipbuilder, whose con-
tracts are under investigation at
Washington. returned to America to-
day at the request of Attorney Cen
ersl Daugherty.
He was met by his two sons when
the Paris docked. On the pier also
were four agents of the Department
Of Justice. but they declined to state
whether their presence had anything
to do with his return. No effort was
made to serve a warrant.
Shakes Reporters Hands.
Mr. Morse, whom fellow voyagers
described as one of their most affable
companions. shook hands with ship
news reporters he knew. and. stand
ing on the upper deck in a chilling
rain. permitted photographers to snap
all the plates they carried.
Emphasizing that his hurried re-
turn to America was voluntary, Mr..
Morse said in a statement that he
would "unhesitatingly appear any
place and before any tribunal the gov
ernment may require"
The statement. issued aboard the
steamer Paris after the shipbuilder
had been met at the pier by his at
torney and after he had declined to
be interviewed. said Mr. Morse would
proceed directly to Washington ito
meet any demand made upon me-"
Through counsel. Mr.. Morse, who
was held aboard the Paris at Havre.
said he would leave for the capital at
2 o'clock this afternoon.
Says Debt Ii Honest.
I am firmly convinced that the
Emergency Fleet Corporation owes
both the Groton Iron Works and the
Virginia Shipbnilding Corporation
billions of dollars for ships honestly
constructed and delivered to the gov
ernment," the statement said.
"These companies have endeavored
to have the amounts due them fixed
by arbitration or action of the civil
courts..but if the Shipping Board pre-
fers to have an issue decided in some
criminal tribunal, 1 am here by the
first boat to protect as far as is pos
sible for me to do so the rights of
creditors and II 900 stockholders.
"This material and money hav.
passed into ships the United States
now has possession of. As long as
my health will endure the strain.
will Enhesitatingly appear any place
and before any tribunal the govern
ment may require.
Told There Were No Charges.
Before leaving America for the sole
purpose of remaining away long
enough to obtain a few weeks treat
ment from my physician, I made in
quiries from various departments of
the government as to the existence of
any charge against me, and was in
formed that there was none
II left openly, without disguise or
subterfuge; in fact, 1 went before
proper officials just before leaving in
regard to my passport. and conferred
with them as to whether the papers
were in order.
II also know that agents or em-
ployes of the United States Shipping
Board had kept posted as to my move
ments for weeks prior to my departure.
and they certainly must have known
when I boarded the vessel.
when l was at sea learned for the
first time that the Shipping Board de-
sired my presence in America L made
mediate preparations to return, only
suggesting that they were aware of
the object of my trip. and, as their
Investigation mad continued for more
than two years. objection ought not to
be made to my seeing my DOCTOR