The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-21
PRESIDENT URGES
 COMBINED EFFORT
 ID REDUCE LOSSES
Declares Unspeakable Losses and Unutterable Wastes Must Be Charged to
 War Emergency
py Associated Press

Washington August 2O,-Tht closest corporation between Con- Rress and the administration in ar effort to bring shipping board issues down to a minimum was urged today by President Harding in letter to Senator Jones, republican. Washing ton, read to the Senate during con sideration of a bill carrying s4s.5oo,- GOO for the boards activities. The President said there had been "un- speakable losses and unutterable wastes" which must be charged to the war emergency.
 Chairman Lasker's effort to gel bir men to aid in putting the board on It's feet was approved by the President who said if they could end operating loss their salaries would be more than justified.
 At the same time there was pre- scented a letter from Chairman Lasker saying that sooner or later Congress would be called upon to appropriate $500, 100000 in outstanding claims, inherited from the former aduiinis- tratton.
 The Presidents letter giving his views at length on tho general ship ping situation follows:
 Text of Letter
 T could not fail to note the, dis satisfaction expressed in both House and Senate over the very unsatisfac- tory condition of the affairs of thd shipping board and the reluctance o1 L. ~v-s~ kt<v. Ter the continued activities of the board without putting specific restraints upon the boards activities in employ Ing agents of relief.
 stfom your position. you ArS probably as familiar with the affairs of the board as am and I hope you will make it point to lay the exact but unpleasant truth before your ocllsa0uoA
 ~rhs shipping board situation Is wholly an inheritance from the pre- vious administration. It would avail nothing to attempt to outline how the intolerable state of affairs came about. Our great problem is curing the situation. The difficulty of this task becomes very apparent to me and had its reflex in the delay in the final selection of the shipping board.
 Big Men Hard to Get
 Tt was no easy thing to bring ca pablo men to the solution of this task. Chairman Lasker is making 8 very heavy sacrifice to give his time and talents to this most difficult work He has been able to bring many disinterested advisers to his as sistance. but if is impossible for the , board in creating its various depart ments to establish such organization by the ordinary methods of govern ment appointment and compensation
 Many of the men called to service have been obliged to completely sacrifice their private interests, and in some cases the sacrifice is made with the Knowledge that the period of employment with the government is only temporary. Under these con- ditions, and because of the fact that hundreds of millions are involved it is unavoidable that some compen- sations in responsible places are much beyond the ordinary run of govern ment compensation.
 Must Know Business
 There are approximately Se0o, 100000 in claims against the shipping board. No business man would ven ture upon the settlement of these claims without highly capable legal IcpIcScutdLl He .t SLdKRerlH8 lsFses in operation can only be cured by . board of operators whose mem bers know something concerning the business. These men could not be secured without giving up pri- vate pursuits which are vastly more profitable than tho average admin. istration salary under the govern ment. and Chairman Lasker has pro ceeded with my very hearty approva, in the acQufrement of men equal tc this task.
 'If their knowledge of the busi ness will enable us to put an end t operating losses as we very muci hope to do. their acquirement fol government service will be justiffe hundredfold.
 ~The error heretofore committc seems to have been the empioyueu of incapable men at excessive sal. cries. while the present programm calls for capability and the compen eeation Is vastly less than in privat pursuits. I have been at some pain Ito assure myself that there is n overpAyment in selecting men. fol specific places. and believe ca } assure you that this overpaymen has been avoided in recent appoint menta
 Makes no Pronises
 do not venture to make prom - laes for the shipping board Wonid like the Congress to know V xre epeedilv arranging the discontln vance of many lines of service ,whIc z are .beir8 operated at loss to .h Z xovernment and we are hoping 500 ka have an end tc all the unfortunat etsAFfer cortracts under which tn sA charters are maue whole and share i the profits. If any. while the govers, ment bears the brunt of all tn losses This is very intolerabie ar rangement, and is being ended 8 speedily as the situation will permi
 Tt must be kept in mind at a times that the administrative agent who are now asking for the conf dence and the cooperation of Con Eress are In no wise responsible fc the condition of affairs which hay shocked the country, and given tn Congress such great concern. The
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