The Washington times., 1921-08-25

you ought to keep the wooden
WHY" inquired the heavily
laden chairman Of the Shipping
Board.
Because" replied his new ac-
auaintance, III you do not solve
your problems successfully you will
need the wooden ships for coffins."
A Difficult Job.
The chairman gave the young
man a drink and the dance went on.
/ am glad am writing for the
newspapers instead OF trying to hold
down Mr.. Lasker's. job. Here Is
one OF the recent incidents in his
eventful life:
A certain ex-senator, in Washing
| ton on business, was called up on
the telephone by a friend who hap
pened to be in the Shipping Board
encourage. IF you are going to get
in your bid" he said, referring to
! one OF the contemplated sales. you
had better hurry up"
But when bids were asked for"
said the ex-senator. the time set
was the end of this month"
YES" said his friend, 81 know.
But all the same. the bids are going
to be opened tomorrow"
Suppressing most OF his available
profanity. the ex-senator called upon
the man in charge of the bids. He
indicated what he thought OF deciding
such a matter before all the bids
were in.
"Ah." said the official, I'VE have got
all the bids we want"
Takes Woes to Chairman.
"Have your" queried the visitor.
with more or less fine irony. "hrd
may I ask how many of these bids
you mean TO send up to Mr.. Lasker
for decision?"
Three will be enough"
So the ex-Senatorial Attorney hied
him to Mr.. 'Lasker and repeated his
woe.
Waiting until the end OF the month
would have done no good" said the
chairman. I'VE have only one bid,
and II is satisfactory"
How much is that?"
81 do not know that / ought to tell
you. But | will. 1t Is $4,000 ,0OO."
We'll" breathed out the inquirins
lawyer, with some emphasis, Il come
here authorized to offer you S3.S00,-
000.'
Mr.. Lasker. Of course. was shocked
~
ting over on him. II is not a debat.
able question, it is a fact. that tho
Shipping Board is shot through and
through with graft.
The move for Senatorial fnvesti-
cation was blocked by the fear of the
Democrats that such an investiga ton
would center on the parts Of the situa-
ton for which the Wilson Administra-
ton is responsible. and by fear of Adj
ministration Republicans that the
present regime would suffer from
some Of the later facts.
Inquiry Is Blocked.
Foremost among the later facts
stands out the appointment of sttor-
neys. A good deal of the noise is made
about the size and number of salaries
recently handed out to legal assistants,
and there IL plenty to be said on both
sides OF that question.
But a much more effectively subtle
drive In against the fact that many OF
these lawyers have been representing
shipping interests that are now urging
claims against the Shipping Board.
A few Senators asked with some
natural heat whether they were to
vote large appropriations without in
uuiring into 80 striking a situation
as this.
Large Salaries Paid.
II is not denied that salaries OF
sa5 900, $4,000 and $4,000 are paid
to three men who formerly worke ed
for the Government at about a quar-
ter of the sum, and who have in the
interim worked for a shipping organi-
zation that Is British in it's ultimate
control.
Nor is II denied that many other
large salaries are paid to lawyers
whose past affiliations have identi-
fled them with suits against the Gov.
eminent now pending. Mr.. Borah
said on Monday in the Senate:
Mr.. President: All of this discus
sion. of course, discloses the fact that
it Is almost impossible to discuss any
question here without discussing II
from a purely partisan standpoint"