Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-21
TREASURY MUST
PAY S30O,0OO,0OO
SHIPPING CLAIMS
Lasker Notifies Congress 1t
Must Provide Funds to
Meet Debts.
CHAIRNIAN'S LETTER
IS READ IN SENATE
Declares Hopes to Get Gov
eminent Out of Marine
Operations in Year.
icy Associar.d rrcss


WASitlN,;TpN Aug 9u-,'los.st
cooperation between Congress and
the administration in an effort to
bring Shipping Board losses down to
minimum was urged today by Pres
ident Harding in a letter to Senator
Jones. Republican. Washington. read
10 the Senate during consideration
OF a-bill carrying siS.5OO.O0O for the
boards activities The President said
there haG been ''umspcakablc losses
and unuttcrable wastes" which mus,
be charged TO the war emergency.
Chairman l.askcr's effort to get hi :,
men to aid in putting the board on
ITS feet was approved by the Prcsi-
dent. who said il they could end on
Grating losses their salaries would he
more than justified.
NJ the same time there WAS pre-
scented letter from Chairman Las
kcr, saying that sooner or later Con.
grcss would bc called upon to an
propagate $500. 000.OUe in outstanding
claims. inherited from the fcrmcr adj
minist ration
President Gives views.
The Presidents letter giving his
views ut length on the general shipt
ping situation follows:
Il could not fail To not" the dis
satisfaction expressed in both House
ana semitic over the very unSatiS-
factory condition Of the affairs OF
the Shipping Board ana the rciuc-
lance Of Congress To make appro-
priations for the continued activities
of the board without putting specific
restraints upon the boards activities
in employing agents OF relief.
Fran your position, you are prob
ably as familiar with the affairs OF
the board as am. and hone YOU
will make II Il point to lay the exact,
but unpleasant. truth before your coll
leagues
The shipping Board situation Is
wholly an inheritance from the pre-
vious administration. II would avail
nothing TO attempt TO outline how
the intolerablc state of affairs came
about Our great problem is curing
the situation. The difficulty OF this
task becomes very apparent to me-
and had It's reflex In the delay In the
final selection OF the Shipping Board.
WAS M I:nsy Task.
1T was no easy thing to bring
capable men to the solution of this
task. Chairman I.askcr is making "a
very heavy sacrifice 10 give his time
ana talents to this most difficult
work. lie has keen able To bring
many disintcrestcd advisers TO his
assistance, but it is Impossible for
the board. In creating its various de-
partments. TO establish such organ
lZations by the ordinary methods of
government appointment and COM
pcnsatIon.
Many OF the men called To service
have been obligated 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 LccanSc OF the fact that
hundreds of millions are involved. il
is unavoidable that some compcnsa-
ton in responsible places are much
beyond the ordinary run Of govern
mcnt compensation.
There are approximately $500. 900,
OoO in claims against The Shipping
Hoard. No business man would Ven
turc upon the settlement of these
claims without highly capable legal
representation. The staggering losses
in operation can only be cured by
board Of operators whose members
know something concerning the lus-
ness. These men could not he Sc
cured without giving up private pur-
suits which are vastly more profit
able than the average ADMINISTRATION
salary under the government. and
Chairman LaSkcr has proceeded with
very hearty approval in the acquire
ment OF men equal 10 this task
III their knnw!cds" of the business
will enable us l." put an end 10
operating losses. as We very much
hope to do. their requirements for
government service viii he justified
II hundrcdfold
The error h"rctoforc committed