The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-07-19
Books Are in Deplorable
Condition, But the Board
Labored Under Stress
full Times of War
PRESIDENT HARDING
GREATLY SHOCKED
CHAIRMAN LASKERS IS ANXIOUS
TO APPEAR BEFORE COMMIT
TEES POINT OUT THE FAULT
OF THE SYSTEM

Washington, July 19.-With the pub
ncation today of revised estimates of
the shipping boards deficit for the last
fiscal year, showing a total Of $780,
100000 or approximately s2sO,Ooo, 900
more than previous estimates, Chair
man Laskers Of the board said ne was
prepared to appear before congression-
al committees to explain the condition
of the boards finances and asked for
relief appropriation Of approximately
$S00,000,000 for the current fiscal year.
In announcing the new estimate Of
the deficit incurred in operation Of
the government fleet, Chairman Las
ker declared the books of the ship
ping board were in a depl,s ,-nsJ con-
dition," and that they "could not have
been kept in much different shape had
they been kept with a view to cheat
ing and deceiving congress an the
country"
Il know and want to explain" the
chairman added, that Admiral Ben
cOlA AlOlluGL VI Tic DOetl u J
and Auditor Tweedale had not the re-
motest thing to do with gross misrep-
resentations."
The accounting systems, he said,
were started in the stress of mar,
and continued in the stress of incom-
potency, and though outside auditors
had produced the figures given out, I
don't guarantee them even now"
When l showed the president the
figures he was shocked and dismayeo
that such a condition could exist, "
Chairman Laskers continued. ''The
5000, 600, 600 received from operations
when deducted from the s6s0,00o, ,00t
sources, shows net expenditures or
$3.50 100000 although the public REQ
ords show s100, 900 to be all that
had been appropriated by congress for
the year. This is an astounding case
of absolute deception Of the country
and Of congress. 1t will be a shoch
to congress, as it was to the presi-
dent to hear that the net expense Of
this enterprise paid out Of public
funds last year was $3.50, 900, 900.
Chairman Laskers explained tina,
the extra funds to keep the establish
ment going were obtained chiefly from
the sale of 5000 ,O00,O 900 Of capital assets
ships and supplies, plus $50, 900 of
a balance from funds left from last
year
approximately 100000, 900 repre-
sents the absolute loss on operations
of the first he continued, "and then
there was Sl60,0o0,0 900 spent on ship
construction. What these newly ac-
quired assets are worth is highly ques-
tionable.
The plans fo- the steamer 'Ameri'
can Legion which starts on its frs,
trip in a few days, were re-drawn sew.
an times and it is easy to see how
that would run up the cost. First, the
American Legion was an army trans
port, then navy transport, then O
hospital ship, then 1t was determined
to make her cattle boat, and, after
spending money on all these blus
prints II was decided TO transform hel
into q passenger ship, and she is d
beautiful and fine passenger ship but
she cost between $4,000 900 and $1,000
600 before she sailed her first mile
Her real worth is possibly half the
cost. SO you can see the assets are
pretty sick assets. But after all, there
IS q fleet. So that our task is to make
what was liability into an asset"
President Harding has instructed the
board that the public is to have the
facts-all the facts" Mr. Lasker said
They operated on commission basis
which cannot be discontinued, he said
"and We must grin and bear tina,
system for some months to come"
Il have actually heard of n beat
turning back in mid-sea TO take on Q
cargo on which the operator made
$4,000" ne remarked, and the gov.
ornment lost IS S,000-and this boat was
half way across the China sea wher
they turned her back to get that cargo
Ut Manila. Anybody can see where
the operator has nothing at all al
stake, whereby the government Loses
and he wins and 1t is system thai
makes for inefficiency
THE morale of the men on tn,
boats, because Of all these conditions
is pretty sick. At flood tide the los
from these policies In the past cannot
be ytopped for months TO come"