Evening star., 1921-01-22
SHIP BOARD ORDERS
INVESTIGATION Of
ALLEGED COMBINE
Charge That Britain Seeks
Destruction of u. S. Marine
Brings Action.
CONTRACT OF ONE LARGE
p FIRM TO BE SCRUTINIZED
American Shipping Company Was
Involved by Speech of
Senator Jones.

An investigation of the contract be.
tween the International Mercantile
Marine Company, an American cor.
poration, and the British government
will be conducted by the Shipping
Board next Thursday. 1t was announced
today, after a meeting of the board
An opportunity will be given P. A. S
Franklin. president Of the company
and others interested to be heard.
In announcing the action of the
board; Frederick 1. Thompson, the
ion of the commissioners present tina,
no issue of larger moment affecting
the establishment and permanency OF
an American merchant marine had
come before the present board fol
consideration"
Existence Of the contract was called
to the attention of the National Mer-
chant Marine Association at its conven
ton here this week by Senator Jones OF
Washington. chairman of the Senate
public certain sections of the document
which, he said. bound the company to
pursue mo policy injurious to the inter-
eStS OF the British mercantile marine OF
of British trade"
Put In Congressional Record.
At the same time the senator pointed
out that this company was operating a
ships under an arrangement with the
Shipping Board. Chairman Benson OF
the board. who was not present at to-
days board meeting, told the merchant
marine convention that he had heard OF
the contract only a few days before.
Mr.. Franklin. who also attended the
merchant marine convention. declared
that he had submitted a copy of il
to John Barton Payne, Secretary OF
the Interior. when Mr.. Payne was
chairman of the board. but Mr.. Payne
subsequently denied this and said he
senator Jones' address before the
Merchant Marine Corporation wa.
made part of the Congressional
Record today by request Of Senator
Mcclellan. democrat. Tennessee.
The Full Resolution.
The inquiry into the contrsc ct was
authorised by the board. with the
adoption of the following resolution
whereas it has come to the atten.
tion Of the board that there exists
present contract between the In
ternattonal Mercantile Marine Com
pany. corporation existing under
the laws of the state of New Jersey,
and the British government which
inimicai to the shipping interests ol
the United States and the develop
iment Of an American merchant. there
fore,
'.Resolved. That the United States
Shipping Board Get said matter for
hearing and consideration al a meet
Ing Of the board at its office in the
city Of Washington. D. c., to be held
On Thursday, January q, 1921, at
1880 O'clock in the forenoon; and
Resolved. That the secretary of the
board be and is hereby directed to
notify the president Of the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine Company
and such other persons as he may be
advised are interested therein. Of the
time. place and purpose Of such meet
ing. to the end that they may appear
and be heard. II they SO DESIRE"
In issuing the resolution Vice
Chairman Thompson said:
The issue raised was considered OF
great consequence and Of a nature re-
quiring the attention Of the United
States Shipping Board. 1t may be
stated that 1t was the opinion Of the
commissioners present at the session
OF the board Saturday morning, when
the resolution was Unanimously adopted
that no issue of larger moment affecting
the establishment and permanency of an
American merchant marine had become
before tho present board for considera-
ton"