The Washington herald., 1921-10-21
Three Bills Call for Full
Investigation of All
Charges.
MEASURE IN HOUSE
SEEKS ABOLITION
Creates New Bureau
Within Department
Of Commerce.

Congress is preparing to make a
searching inquiry into the affairs
Of the Shipping Board. out of which
may come the boards abolition and
the transfer OF its functions to the
Department of Commerce.
Broadly. Congress wants to know
why the board continues to be q
liability, and why the American
nag has not been established on the
seas after $500. 900. 900 were in
vested The feeling prevails that
the dream OF an American mer-
chant marine may vanish. and the
Investment of billions develop into
total loss.
There is dissatisfaction with the
present methods of operating the
board An account of its past per-
Iormances is desired. And Congress
wants to know, once for all, the
truth of persistent allegations that
sinister influences" are seeking to
wreck the merchant marine. Sena-
tors and Representatives of both
parties are determined to get at all
iacts in the situation. and are in a
temper to take drastic action.
Open Triple Attack.
The attack on the board has been
opened in three ways:
l. A bill to be introduced today
by Representative Sweet, of Iowa,
calling for the abolition of the
board, and the creation of a Blu
reau OF American Merchant Marine
under the Secretary of Commerce.
?. A resolution passed by the SEN
ate yesterday directing the board to
make a complete statement to the
Senate of its debts, available funds
and the amount of unpaid claims
against it,
). \ resolution offered in the
House yesterday by Representative
liamseyer, of Iowa, calling for an
Inventory of the boards properties,
their original cost and present ap.
praised value, and a list OF the
boards employees and their salaries
Sweets measure Is said to have
support in both chambers. and its
proponents believe il will become
law. 1t would transfer everything
connected with the board to the
Department of Commerce, and
abolish the present trustees Of the
United States Shipping Board Emer-
$gercy Fleet Corporation. At the
fhead Of the Bureau of American
Merchant Marine" would be a di-
rector at a salary of $4,000 an
nualIy, who would function under
the Secretary of Commerce.
o Sentiment for the transfer Of the
board to one of the executive de-
partments has been growing in con-
nection with the projected executive
Reorganization. A part of the same
plan would be to lodge the boards
. quasi-judicial functions with the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Believe shipping Act Violated.
One OF the reasons for the introduc-
! ton Of the Sweet measure is the re-
cent broadening OF the powers OF the
Emergency Fleet Corporation, which
IS said to be in violation Of the Jones
shipping act It Is held when powers
are given to the corporation, which is
in effect a private concern. admins
tratfve and legislative regulation be-
comes difficult.
Discussions surrounding the passage
Of the Poindexter resolution indicated
the widespread dissa tisfaction in the
Senate. Poindexter declared the de
lay Of the board in paying claims
kaEainst II was the rankest kind OF
I fraud" Chairman Lasker, according
to Poindexter. said, when inquire:
were made. that the claims were not
his debts. that the board had no money
TO pay them, and that he intended to
do nothing about them.
Senator Borah offered an amend.
ment which would have ELECTED in
formation on the number of Shipping
BOARD employees and the salaries they
az. paid, but withdrew It at the sug
1estiou Of Poindexter. Borah an
nounced, however, that he would in
troduce 1t later
"The Shipping Board Is making nc
attempt to carry out the policy Of
economy promised the people" said
Borah.
Senator La Toilette said he was pre-
narinE some interesting data" for the
Senate bearing on influences which il
70. said were seeking. destruction OF
the merchant marine. He will present
tbI. information to the Senate, he said
with resolutions asking for an inVes
tigation.
Information on the activities Of the
hoard until a sweeping investigation Is
in.tituted," said La Toilette
Senator Underwood, Democratic
header, said the Senate should go to
the bottom Of reports that influences
we're working against the merchant
marine. He declared that there has
been an effort for a century to keep
american ships on the seas.
congress owes It to the American
.onIe to investigate these charges,
80 underwood. IF there is some
thing wrong 1t should be cleaned out. 81
senator Freylinghuysen said the
Rocks Of the board are worthless.
Hundreds Of cargoes Of chartered
.bips, he charged, have never been
reported
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