New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-23
48,5OO,OOO Is Assured
DespiteMembers' Charge
That Operators Preyed
OH Public and Treasury
Agreements With
Firms Criticized
Mccormick AssaiIs Them
as Being ''Devoid of
Capital and Principle"

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22-After a
day Of acrimonious debate, lasting un-
til II o'clock tonight, in which Scna-
tors attacked certain operators" of
Shipping Board vessels for having de
iberately preyed on the board and the
American public and mulcted the ma
tlonal treasury of millions, the Senate
tonight virtually agreed to the S48,-
100000 Shipping Board appropriation
provided for in the pending deficiency
bill which was under discussion.
Although the bill was not formally
passed, the Senate disposed of all
proposed amendments touching the
shipping Board, and when the measure
is voted on, at 1890 o'clock tomorrow
1t will contain the Shipping Board
appropriation. When the Senate ad-
Journed tonight it had to consider only
the proposed appropriation Of 100000
for the November disarmament con
ference, which is an item in the bill,
and the amendment to that section
offered by Senator Pat Harrison, of
mississippi, which is intended to re-
quire American delegates at the dis
armament conference to work for open
sessions. These questions will be con-
sidered at 10 O'clock tomorrow.
Senator Mccormick. of Illinois, pre-
cipitated the Shipping Board debate by
assailing certain operators devoid OF
capital and principle' and criticizing
the present operating agreements
known as M. @. A contracts, under
which the operator gets per cent of
the gross receipts. He told Of one
operator who had chartered a ship for
a voyage to Manila and later wire
lessed the ship, when she was 500
miles at sea, to return to the Amer
lean coast and take on a cargo of coal
He made a profit of 5000 on this at a
cost to the Shipping Board of $4,000,
the Senator said.
~ suppose these men viii escape
punishment" observed Senator Borah.
They ought not escape being held up
to the public as thieves and grafters
and p;lloried for all time"
Senator Mccormick said that under
the NJ. O. contracts, there was n loss
in operation to the board last year Of
S130,00O 900 and that these contracts
would be terminated as soon as pos
sibie and the bare boat contract sub
stituted.
The debate on the Shipping Board
appropriations was the center of the
Senate debate all day.
In dealing with the allowance for
the Shipping Board the Senate voted
by Senator Harrison to limit sala ries
paid to officials or agents by the Ship
ping Board to $4,000 a year. The SEN
nte in the end sustained the Approprja-
tons Committee in striking from the
bill the House amendment which pre-
vents the board from having more than
three officials under it whose pay exceeds
12,500 a year.
Night Session is Held
In order to hurry the measure along
q night session was held at the in
stance Of Senator Warren, chairman of
the Appropriations Committee. A fea-
ture of the session WAS a sharp speech
the course Of both President Harding
and former President Wilson in visit
ing the Senate to influence pending leg
islatioh. This came on the heels of
speech by Senator La Toilette hitting
ct President Harding for visiting the
Senate to defeat the bonus bin and
then writing Senator Jones, of Wash
ington, to aid in passing the appro-
pristion for the Shipping Board.
Senator Borah said he did not care
whether Mr.. Wilson or President Har-
ding took such course He deemed
the practice contrary to the spirit Of
the Constitution Ne opposed the
visit Of Mr.. Wilson to the Senate to
force womans suffrage through and
the visit OF Mr.. Harding to block the
bonus bill, though he himself sub
scribed to the Presidents views on the
bonus.
"My criticism is aimed at a Pres-
dent, whether he Is Mr.. Wilson or Mr..
Harding" he said.
The Senator had been unable. he
said, to find anything like it prior to
the Wilson Admin stration.
"But with all due respect" ne
added, ~ know Of no more pitiablc
spectacle ever presented to the. peo
pie than that of the Senate in throw
ing down the bonus bill after it had
(Continued on paqo Gvc)