The New York herald., 1922-01-07
LASKER OUTLINES
SHIP BOARD PLAN
Believes $117,000,0O0 Fund
Will Turn Organization
4
Into Earning Body.
Special Dispatch to TIE NEW YoxK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washinet0n ID o. .Jan a.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoxK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. O.. Jan. 9.
Nothing to It." was the reply made
lo-day by Chairman Albert D. Lasker
pc the Shipping Board when his atten-
ion was called to published report
hat in the event that Postmaster Gen.
fral Hays retired from the Cabinet he
would be appointed to succeed him.
That friends of President Harding
Ind Mr.. Lasker have been discussing
hat development and were almost
feady to make a suggestion to the
President concerning 1t was verified to-
lay. So far as could be learned. how
over, the matter has gone no further.
AS q matter of fact both the Presi-
lent and Mr.. Lasker are agreed that
no work In which the latter is engaged
VIII require his attention for another
year. The Shipping Board has suffered
greatly from changes in personnel and
president Harding has determined to
Seep strong organization intact until
oroer has been brought out Of the chaos
that the Shipping Board was In when
The Harding Administration came In.
1t was learned to-day that Mr.. Lasker
thinks that IL the Shipping Board is
allowed Sill. 100000 as fund to cover
TOR another year its general running ex-
penses, the payment Of claims not tn the
courts and the cost of completing the
existing building program the board not
only never again will have to ask Con-
gress for money but may be able to
turn something into the Treasury. The
financial requests Mr.. Lasker will make
OF Congress are:
That the director Of the budget
allow the board $50,o00.000 to pay
pending claims not already the sub
1ect Of litigation.
An appropriation Of $12,000,000
to complete the ships already in the
course of construction for the account
Of the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
The use Of the $55.000,000 to be
obtained from sale Of the Shipping
Boards assets until the end of the
| fiscal year, 1928, instead Of only un-
| til the end of the current fiscal year
as originally provided.
In connection with the proposed ship
Isubsidy legislation a meeting was neld
lat which representatives OF the board,
Ithe Fleet Corporation. Congress AMI
various elements Of the shipping indus
TRY heard the report on this subject from
bcommittee appointed to make sugges-
tions concerning preparation Of this
measure and the report Of the Council
Iof American Shipbuilders. The report
| of the former was presented by II. Fl.
Raymond and the latter by Homer l..
Ferguson, chairmen respectively of the
1.-TWO organizations.
AS indirect aids to the development
land maintenance Of an American mer-
chant marine the joint committee sug-
|gested that the remaining vessels Of the
shipping Board be sold as rapidly as
POSSIBLE on liberal terms at prevailing
world market prices. 1t approves the
establishment of q 500. 100000 merchant
marine loan fund, under the adminis-
|tration of the Shipping Board, to be
raised by bond issue. the money to be
lent to ship owners, builders and
operators. N -+e
If it be practical for the Government
to broaden the insurance market and to
reduce insurance rates, the committee
favors q Government insurance plan. II
not practical, 1t recommends that in
surance differences be taken care OF by
a direct subsidy.
As direct aids the joint committee
recommends a differential payment to
American ships based on their higher
wage and subsistence cost and postal
subventions.