New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-12
J. Barston Smull and W.
J. Love, of New York;
A. ]. Frey, of Los An
geles, Given Control
Emergency Ship
Board Is Revived
New Operating Officials
Unanimously Approved
by All Marine Interests
From The Tribune's WASHINGTON Bureau

WASHINGTON, July 11.-Revival of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation to
engage actively in the operation of the
government fleet with view to putting
1t on a paying basis for ultimate sale
to private purchasers and the selection
OF three practical shipping men to COM
pose the board of operations were an
nounced to-day by A. D. Lasker, chair
man of the Shipping Board, as the first
step toward carrying out President
Harding's announced policy of creating
an American merchant marine.
The new board of operations will in
clude j. Barston Smull and William J.
Love, of New York, and A. ]. Frey. of
Los Angeles, who were characterized
to-day by Chairman Lasker as the "best
brains in the shipping world" The
salary of the three men will aggregate
$4,000 year, Mr.. Lasker said.
10 Open New Trade Routes
The board will have full authority
IN operating the huge government mer-
not be interfered with by the Shipping
Board or be hampered in any way in
the task of reestablishing the Ameri-
can flag on the seven seas. Included
in it's functions will be the establish
ment Of new trade routes, curtailment
OF the use of government vessels on
shipping lanes that are unable to sup
tic nd
and the disposal outright of unproduc-
tive ships and material now owned by
the United States.
Coincident with the selection of the
board of operations Chairman Lasker
announced several changes in the per-
sonnel of the present Shipping Board,
including the selection of Clifford W..
Smith, of Benton Harbor, Mich, for
merly a newspaper man, for the posi-
tion of secretary to the board and the
retention Of Alonzo Tweedale as comp
troller of the fleet corporation, operat-
ing directly under Colonel R. H..
Montgomery, as the personal represent
ative of the chairman. w. B. Keene,
who has been acting director Of opera
tions, will be retained as an assistant
to the new board of operations.
The recreation Of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation and the selection of
three operating heads, Chairman
Lasker said, was the unanimous de-
cision Of the seven members of the
Shipping Board and had the approval
of President Harding
Operators and Owners Approve
In the selection of Messrs. Smull,
Love and Frey, Chairman Lasker said
he had followed the recommendation of
the Ship Owners Association of Amer
lea and the Ship Operators Assoca-
ton, whose officers have pledged their
organizations to the heartiest CO.
operation with the Shipping Board in
putting the government fleet on pay
ing basis. These associations, the
chairman added, were of the opinion
that the fleet could best be operated
under one director of operations, and
Mr.. Smull was their choice for this
position. When Mr.. Smull declined to
accept the responsibility alone, the
Shipping Board elected to draft all
three of the practical shipping men
whose names were suggested as repre-
senting the business ability to meet
the requirements of the board.
Referring to the three men selected,
Mr.. Hasker said:
the largest, if not the largest, ship
brokerage firms in America. His firm
has an income of about $5oo,0oO a year
and his share is S250,000. He was the
unanimous choice of the Ship Owners
and Ship Operators Associations for
the position of chief of operations Of
the feet, and to man every ship
owner and operator described him as
the only man they could agree on to
operate the fleet. l remained for
twelve days in New York with Mr..
Smull, getting his refusal day after
day, and day after day telling him
they had convinced me that you are
the man who. if associated with us,
will, make the promise of success
pretty sure, and without you l don't
think we can succeed
Enjoys Confidence of Shippers
"He not only has the confidence of
owners and operators, but shippers as
we'll, because he is known to every
shipper. He was chairman of the char
tering committee of American ships
tcontnued on page FOUR