New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-12

character OF work, but they may chsnge
it into territories. When it comes,
however, to making recommendations
for policies the three will have to be In
agreement. We are undertaking to
make them as free in the management
as though they held similar capacities
with any big corporation.
Will Be Given Free Hand
1.-THE work will be divided among the
three vice presidents, and the policies
in connection with operating, charter
ing and disposal of ships will BIZ in
Dictated by them to the board. The board
has invited them In on the basis Of an
absolutely free. hand in the operation
Of the boats after policy shall have
been decided upon, and they have the
assurance of the board and the Presi-
dent that there will be no political in
reference of any nature. The Presi-
dent has urged upon them the neces-
aity of operating these boats on the
basis that they represent all tho stock
holders, who are all the people of the
United States, and that efficiency alone,
and that which lends to efficiency,
should be compelling in their decisions
on personnel and on their actions"
"Mr. Frey will arrive on Friday. The
President met Mr. Smull and Mr.. Love
at luncheon at the White House. They
will assume their duties early next
week. A vice-president in charge of
ship and salvage disposal will be
selected later, as we'll as a new treas
urer. Mr.. Tweedale will continue as
comptroller, though Colonel Mont
gomery will represent the chairman
and the board in the complete reor-
ganization of our auditing system.
Elmer Schlessinger will be a vice
iof
"The President, the Jones act and
the Shipping Board" Mr.. Lasker de-
clared, "are all in accord on the point
that the Shipping Board must function
so as to turn our boats over, as soon
as good business judgment dictates, to
private owners. Unless Shipping Board
boats are very soon operated along the
most correct business lines we will not
have any operators or owners left in
America who can buy these boats The
operators and owners feel that way,
and to get Shipping Board operations
OIL an efficient basis is the quickest
and shortest step toward creating a
situation whereby people can buy these
boats and get the government out Of
government ownership. 1t is for that
reason that the ship owners and opera
tors have unanimously agreed to some
thing which I think is unique in gov
eminent relations with private indus
try-that if they have any key men
whom we want and who are vital to
them, but who are vital to us, we are
to get them on request, and they are
not to let us know that is a calamity
to them.
Will Restore Public Confidence
"The appointment of Messrs. Smull
and Love and Frey will mean new
day in the minds Of shippers who
have lost confidence in the govern
ment owned ships. Our boats have
not sailed on time, they have not ar
rived on time, and the goods have not |
always been in good condition when
they have arrived. By the time they
get the answer as to whether we will
charter them a ship, that business is
often loaded in foreign bottoms. The
coming of Smull and Love and Frey
will give wholly different atmos-
phere to American shippers. They
will know it will not change the next |
day. And there is not shipper who |
does not know these names, as a !
music lover knows Caruso or a base
ball fan knows Babe Ruth They will |
know that these men will do it, and |
that is what we mean when we say |
that through efficiency we will build |
up an American merchant marine
The special claims commission to
settle the obligations of the board |
growing out of the war, will be named /
this week. The President is awaiting !
definite word from the third man he
has in view for the commission. Two |