New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-21
Consults Operators Here
Vessels Returned by Mail
Line Probably Will Be
Sold Without Alteration

oectloH 20 PROVIDES Cn0C mo common
carrier shall charge, collect or receive
Tor transportation subject to the in
terstate commerce act persons OF
property, under any joint rate, fare o,
charge, or under any export, import OF
other proportional rate, fare or charge
which is based in whole OR in part or
the fact that the persons or property
affected thereby is to be transported
to, or has been transported from, any
port in possession or dependency OF
the United States or in foreign coun.
try, by carrier of water in foreign
commerce at any lower rate. fare OF
charge than thaS charged, collected OF
received by it for the transportation OF
persons, or of a like kind of property
for the same distance, in the same di-
rection and over the same route in
connection with commerce wholly with.
in the United States, unless the vessel
SO transporting such persons or prop
such transportation by water, docu-
mented under the laws Of the United
States.
Provision Made for Suspension
Whenever the board is of the opin-
ion. however, that adequate shipping
facilities to and from any port in a
possession or dependency Of the United
States or foreign country are not af-
forded by vessels so documented, it
shall certify this fact to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and the COM
mission may, by order, suspend the
operation of the provisions Of this Sec
ton with respect to the rates, fares
and charges for tho transportation by
rail of persons and property trans
ported from, or to be transported to,
such ports, for such length Of time and
under such terms and conditions as it
order supplemental thereto. Such
suspension Of operation Of the pro-
visions Of this section may be ter
minated by order Of the commission
whenever the board is of the opinion
that adequate shipping facilities by
such vessels to such ports are afforded
and shall so certify to the commission"
Commenting on this section, Mr..
Lasker said:
I'VE are contemplating the holding
OF hearings to see what rates, if any,
It will be necessary for US to take up
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion when this section is enforced.
We must find out if the rates through
out the country are stabilized. The
section is complete law only when
the rates behind it are declared. We
many find that the existing rates are
right. This section is not merely a
question of helping bottoms; it is a
reflex OF all businesses. This board is
IN favor OF enforcing it after we have
had hearings to find out if we have the
rates we need. We inherited no sci
entific study Of it and our head men
are now examining this section and
Seceion "a carefully.
ssTho President hac in a%rro+oa 49,,
submit briefs on our interpretations
and Investigations of these sections
SO that he can take them up with his
Cabinet. and after they have discussed
the matter give US the benefit of their
views. 1t is the mandate and the dutv
OF the board to enforce the Jones law j
Discussing the future Of the liner
Levlathan, Mr.. Lasker said that Con
gress had cut down the appropriation
tremendously, but that the board was
having It's own estimates made of the
cost to recondition the ship, and after
these figures are obtained it will be ur
to the board to find the money! to make
the repairs.
May Appeal for Funds
he said this money may be found in
although an appeal to Congress for the
funds is probable. He did not know
what company would operate the linel
wnen she was put in commission.
MIR. Lasker met with the operating
managers committee of the United
States Line earlier in the day anc
talked with T. II. Rossbottom. the gen
cral manager; A. r. Mack, district man.
ager: W. Averell Hartman, and othe,
members. AS a result of the confer.
ence it was decided that Messrs. Ross
bottom and Mack would 60 before the
board in Washington OH Friday ant
there submit the report on the condi.
tion OF the new company, the condition
OF the boats, the vessels that were max.
ing money and which were losing, ane
other matters pertinent to the organi.
cation.
On the basis of this report bids will
be asked for the pride of the Shipping
Boards passenger fleet. Whether these
bids would be on all nine vessels OF
would be based on them separately
tho chairman said he could not fore.
cast. He admitted it was improbable
that the Susquehanna, President Grant
Agamemnon and Mount Vernon woulc
ever be reconditioned by the govern
ment, and added that they probabl,
would be sold las ISL No bids have
ceen received or advertised for.
Nothing further has been heard from
Inc pidders for the 205 wooden ships ir
the James River, at $4,000 each, which
oner was made some time ago. Mr.
LaSker demanded cash in full before h.
would turn the vessels over for delivery
conferences were held with lcadint
pankers In an effort to obtain for thu
board the services of financier I,
serve ~ vtce-president, but no anpo;nt
menS was announced.
Joseph w. Powell, w. ]. Love 7
narstow Smull and A. J. Frev. vice
pfeei9ents of the Emergency Fleet Cor
po.stion, passed the day calling upor
craIics and champions of Mr.. Laskes',
pare-noat charter policy. The chair
'an said that persons had wr;ttay
gneir views on the subject and he ha,
dec,ued to have them interviewed ant
tncir opinions carefully considered
We have arrived at no definita DO
cision on the bare-boat plan" he said
nor have we worked out permanan
basis of valuation for tonnage ".
nave announced that we cannot affor,
sny relief to petitioners like the Gree,
s1r Line because that is matter TO,
Congress to decide"
ME-. Lasker said that he would re-
turn to Washington tonight.
District Reorganization Ready
Mr.. Mack announced that he had
perfected plans for che reorganization
Of the New York district and awaits
the appointment of men to fill various
places. 1t is probable that the new
system will be made public when Mr..
lack returns from Washington