The Washington herald., 1921-08-21
Lasker Asserts Nation
Can't Escape 800 Mil
lion Debt.
PRESIDENT URGES
CONGRESS TO AID
Backs Up Position Of Ap-
pointee in Paying High
Salaries.

Payment OF tno SSVV'NNNNh
Of the Shipping Board cannot be
escaped by the country. no matter
how long Congress defers action.
Chairman Lasker fatty told Con-
gress in a letter last night.
On the heelsof Lasker's letter.
Harding sent Congress an
appeal for cooperation with the
Shipping Board to solve -our great
problem in curing the situation
This request was construed as
meaning that the President shares
with Lasker the view that the $780,
600, 900 debt Is inescapable.
Under Hot Fire.
These letters came as the climax
OF an all-day debate in the Senate
on the deficiency bill carrying $4s.-
500, 900 for the Shipping Board
For two days the Shipping Board
has been under a hot fire =: cfiti-
cism from both sides OF the cham
Der. Charges of incompetency
crookedness and graft" in the
Shipping Board came from Repub-
iicans and Democrats alike. The
passages were interpreted with
bitter partisan wrangies.
Advocates of the bill had begur
to despair of the board getting the
necessary funds to carry on opera.
tions, when the Presidents lette,
to Senator Jones, of Washington
chairman Of the Commerce Com
mittee, was read. 1t heartened the
advocates of the measure. but ac.
ton went over until Monday. Sena.
tor Warren said he expected to get
1t through early Monday. although
opponents declared that they have
not given up the night.
r. The President agreed with Con.
gress that an 'intolerable state Of
affairs" exists In the Shipping
Board. A great part OF his letter
was devoted to a defense of Las
ker's plans for employing highly.
paid officials and attorneys 'as re.
lief agents"
sPaId Too Much.-
Lasker's plans had been under
savage attack from Senator Pal
Harrison, Of Mississippi. Harrison
declared that the board was not
justified in paying salaries of from
$4,000 to $35,000 to attorneys fol
adjusting the claims against the
board. Salaries of $4,000 and s25,.
900 for operators also were at
tackled.
Mr.: Harding pointed out that ''ir
creating its various departments
the board could not use Ordinary
methods of government appoint.
ment and compensation"
Many of the men called to serv.
sacrifice their private interests
he said. Under these conditions
and because of the fact that hun
dreds OF millions are involved, 1t 4.
unavoidable that some compensa'
tions in responsible places ar,
much beyond the ordinary run Of
government compensation.
There are approximately $780,
900. 900 in claims against the Ship
ping Board. No business mel
would venture upon settlement ot
these claims without highly capa
BILE legal representation. The stag
gering losses in operations car
only be cured by a board OF opera
tors whose members know some,
thing concerning the business
These men could not be secured
without giving up private pursuit,
which are vastly more profitable
than the average administrator
salary under the government ant
Chairman Lasker has proceeded
with my hearty approval in the
requirement of men equal to thi.
task"
BIsmes Democrats.
Mr.. Harding emphasized the fac
that the shipping Board situation
Is wholly an Inheritance from the
previous administration"
Senator Fletcher had previously
defended the Wilson administration
and mildly defended the Shipping
Board. He declared that the Demo.
cratic administration was not
wholly to blame and that the
shipping. Board could not be
blamed when there was no Ship.
ping Board"
He cited the fact that President
Wilson had nominated a Shipping
Board and the Senate had refused
to confirm Il. He also placed part
Of the blame upon President Hard
ing for not appointing a Shipping
Board before June, when. he de.
Harding knew that he must
do so when he was elected last