The New York herald., 1921-06-25
LASKER TO SALVAGE
ship BOARD WRECK
New York Lawyers to Aid Him
in Unravelling Accumulation
Of Legal Tangles.
NOW in STATE OF CHAOS
Needs Keenest Brains and Most
Experienced Men to Save
Merchant Marine.
NOW IN STATE OF CHAOS

Albert d. Lasker, chairman of the
new Shipping Board, confronted by the
herculean task Of salvaging what he
characterized yesterday as "the most
colossal commercial wreck the world
ever knew" passed the day in New
York enlisting in the salvaging process
the best experience and keenest brains
among shipowners and operators.
After a luncheon conference with
representatives Of the most extensive
shipping interests Of the Atlantic sea-
board and the Gulf. Mr.. Lasker an
nounced that President Harding, prob
ably within a week, will appoint a
board of three high class men, wholly
independent Of the United States Ship
ping Board, who will act as court Of
claims to dispose of the $500, 600, 900 of
outstanding claims which now con-
front the Shipping Board.
Mr.. Lasker said he wanted to warn
the public through the press that no
material Improvement in shipping con-
ditions should be expected. however.
within several months. In formulating
its new policies the board intends to
be sure II Is right before 1t goes ahead.
Lawyers Pledge Aid.
At the same time Elmer Schlessinger,
the Chicago attorney who was named
on Thursday as the Shipping Boards
new general counsel came to New
York. He is bent upon the early re-
organization of the boards legal de-
partment To aid IN unravelling the
vast accumulation Of legal tangles that
now beset the Governments shipping
agency a dozen of this city's most
prominent lawyers have pledged the
loan OF two or three skilled men from
their own offices to cooperate actively
with the boards law department for a
period Of one or two years. Mr.. Schles-
singer expects to solicit and hopes to
receive like practical help from the bar
of Boston and Philadelphia.
Walter c. Teagle, president Of the
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey,
who had declined the Presidents offer
of the presidency Of the Shipping Board
was the presiding host at Chairman
Lasker's luncheon. 1t was held in the
Whitehall Club.
Others who attended were II. II. Ray
mond, president of the American Steam
ship Owners Association and of the
Clyde Mallory Lines: p. A. s. Frank
lin. president OF the International Mer-
camille Marine: Alfred Gilbert Smith,
president of the Ward Line; Frank c.
Munson, president Of the Munson Line;
Franklin p. Mooney, president Of the
| Atlantic Gulf and West Indies Steam
ship Line: W. Averill Hartman, chair
man of the board Of the United Amer
lean Steamship Lines; Edgar F. Luck
enbach, president of the Luckenbach
Steamship Company: e. NJ. Bull. pres
ident of A. III. Bull & Co.; r. l.. Hague.
director Of the marine department,
Standard OIL Company OF New Jersey;
Oakley Wood, vice-president OF the Bar
Der Steamship Company; Winthrop L.
Marvin, general manager OF the Amer
lean Steamship Owners Association.
and ]. Parker Kirlin, general counsel for
| the same organization; Capt. G. w.
Jungen, OF the Southern Pacific Steam
ship Company and II. 3. Walker. for
mer president OF the Old Dominion
steamship Company.
wooden ships TO Go.
At the luncheon conference, which was
executive in character, Mr.. Lasker
promised the shipping men, and he
afterward promised the public through
the reporters. the disposal or destruc-
ton OF all wooden ships by October
next, and the sale to private owners OF
all other Government owned tonnage a.
soon as good business Judgment dictates.
AT present shipping all over the
world has collapsed" said Mr.. Lasker
after the luncheon This is true OF the
tonnage under every flag. We hear
much OF plant expansion. Our present
merchant reet represents the greatest
intensive plant expansion In the worlds
history with the utter collapse OF the
shipping industry now prevalent one
may imagine the terrible effect this has
had upon our war expanded fleet
"Under the Jones law II is mandatory
that these ships be sold into private
ownership as soon as that can be done
judiciously. That mandate will bs
obeyed. but at present you can neither
sell ships nor give them away. The
Shipping Board is organized TO foster
not only Government owned ships but
also the development Of privately owned
vessels without discrimination. Now Il
these vessels ever are TO be sold, IL thu
new Shipping Board ever is TO Succeed
then u must have the closest cooperation
| and nparatora opA Or