The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-23
U.S.SHIP OPERATORS
ACCUSED IN SENATE
OF RObDING PUBLIC
Charge Made by Mccormick,
and Borah Demands That
Names Be Published and
the Guilty Punished.
DEFICIENCY BILL WINS
Fight to Hold Shipping
Board Salaries Down to
$4,000 LOst-NOt to
Hamper Lasker.
PRESIDENT UNDER FIRE
Recent Appearance Before Sen
ate to Oppose Bonus Bill
Subject Of Criticism
and Approval.
PRESIDENT UNDER FIRE


tinuous session of more than twelve
hours, during which President Har-
ding's course in addressing the Sen
ate on soldier bonus legislation was
vigorously debated the Senate reached
an agreement on all provisions OF the
Shipping Board deficiency bill carrying
4s.50O, 900 and upon adjourning at
11:l5 o'clock tonight arranged to take
a vote on passage of the bill upon re-
converting at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning.
Early in the day the Senate elimi-
mated an amendment to limit salaries
paid to officials of the board. and to-
night on virtually straight party votes
II rejected three separate amendments
offered by Senator Trammell, Demo
crat, Florida, designed to prevent en-
ployment by the board Of lawyer re-
Gently connected with firms having
claims against the board.
Charges that operators TO whom the
Shipping Board had allocated part OF
its fleet had deliberately "preyed upon
the board and the public" were made
in the debate to-day, with the demand
that their names be obtained and pub
lished
Senator Mccormick (Rep.. ND de-
clared 1t was a notorious fact that
a certain operator had ordered ship
proceeding from the Philippines to this
country 10 turn back TO Manila after
covering 1000 miles of the voyage 10
take on coal on which he made a profit
Of 5000 and at a cost 70 the Shipping
Board Of $4,000.
Insisting that the names of such
offenders" be obtained. Senator Borah
(Rep., Idaho) said he assumed most
of them would escape punishment.
But they ought not to escape" SEN
ator Borah declared. They ought to
be put in a public place to be pilioried
for all time"
Fayoritism IL Charged.
Senator King (Rep., Utah) asserted
that rs per cent. of the companies re-
ceiving charter contracts from the
board got them through favoritism and
that the board had refused to sell ships
when It had the chance in order tnat
thew might be allocated TO more of the
favorites.
chairman Lasl<er ought TO cancel all
of these contracts, even II it ties UP all
shipping. because they were vicious ana
corrupt" Senator King said.
The organizers of the United states
Mail Steamship Company "rivalied
Morse and even Ponzi himself" Senator
Mccormick declared. He read from
records Of the board TO show that the
company had never been able TO finance
contracts II had undertaken"
Senator King suggested the board pro-
posed to turn the ships over to the Haa-
rilnan company. which. he said. was
pro- British firm. Senator Mccormick
rcnlied the board intended temporarily
20 make such a transfer. but that at the
end OF the season. If the receivers arc
unable 70 continue the operation OF tbs
ships 10 that time. there would he sew
eral bidders for the ships
said while II was TO be regretted that
there had been extravaganza. rnisrnan-
agement and wrongdoing In the board
affairs IN the past. there was no excuse
for permitting crooks to escape X
criminal acts had been committed as
Republican Senators charged.
THE courts are open and the criminals
ought 10 be prosecuted" Senator Nc
Keilar declared. 'rhe Republican De-
pa rtment OF Justice should proceed
against them. But even n money. vas
wasted. that ~ no excuse for not ouilc'
ing NJ our merchant marine"
nv n vote OF Sc 70 "a the Senate re-
iocted an amendment 10 the deficiency
biI which provided that no officer en-
ployed by the Shipping Board in any
capactty should receive a salary exceed
Ink $4,000.
Harrison, Democrat tMiss), was de-
signed 10 prevent the use OF any part o.
the $500, 900 carried in the bill for the
board In payment OF salaries OF heads o
departments and lawyers engaged BY
Chairman Lasiter.
As IA ssed by tho House. tho measure
stimulated that not more than three
officers should be paid more than sf2.5oO
annually, but this was stricken out ~
The senate Appropriations Committee.
which reported the bill. Throughout an
ali day debate on the amendment sena-
tor Borah. Republican tIdaho). Senators
Mcclellan. Democrat tTenn). and Har.
rison denounced the alleged payment o.
"extravaEant sums
Fear. 20 Hamper Lasker.
1T he's been stated that there Is no
politics in this shipping Board question"
said Senator Borah. but there will be a
vast amount Of Il six months hence. The
Administration will be responsible then
when we get into the open field and ask
for reelection TO Congress. These sala-.
ries cannot be defended anywhere"
Senator Mccormick declared the OBJ
ject OF the amendment was to deprive