The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-15


into regular service. I need only
recall the extensive trial trips
taken by the Luaitania and the
Mauretania.
The Leviathan IL the biggest
ship af1oat. Nothing comparable
to her has ever been attempted
under our flag. The public sure
ly has not forgotten the many
changes that have been made in
the Leviathan, from the days
when 1t was thought her ma.
chinery was disabled by the, Ger.
mans to the days when she was
converted for transport service,
and now has been converted from
a coal.burner to an oll.burner.
Ship Practically Rebuilt.
Radical changes have now been
made in her service machinery.
the ship has been rebuilt and Il
becomes imperative that she be
given q thorough test under sea
conditions. similar to those which
would confront her on a regular
voyage, and that she have at least
ten days thereafter in port to
correct any defects before going
on her regular run.
The cost Of reconditioning the
LeviathAn was more than $S,-
100000. The cost Of the trial
trip. as proposed by the experts
and authorized by the board fully
six months ago, was $120,0
Of which $107 900 would have had
to be spent, irrespective of wheth-
CIV
has been the universal custom
on the part Of shipping com.
panies throughout the world to
invite non-paying guests on the
trial trips of new vessels. in or
der that the complex organiza-
ton and service machinery Of the
ships might be broken in.
Guest List Explained.
For that purpose the experts
insisted that 400 to 500 guests
be asked on the Leviathan's
trial trip. Invariably, shipping
companies invite as guests the
people whose goodwill it is de-
sirable to win-journalists, legis-
lators, freight and passenger
men, exporters and importers.
and others who could later be
of aid to the ships business.
Just because the American mer-
chant marine iS Government
enterprise does not permit us to
ignore and avoid the best bust
ness methods of private COM
panies. The stockholders of a
private concern would not dream
of challenging the invited list of
it's board of directors. and that
is why the expenditure Of only
$4,000 to pay for the food and
comfort of approximately 400 to
500 guests is an item that sound
business judgment ought not for
moment challenge, especially
when the total cost of $1,000
900 is considered as the initial
investment and the $4,000 spent
in this way will be returned to
the Shipping Board beyond meas
ure in the future.
Thinks Concern Is Tardy.
If the Democratic National
Committee had only shown the
same solicitude a few years ago
for the three billion dollars of
American taxpayers money, much
Of which was wasted in careless
under a Democratic Administra-
ton, we would perhaps, today be
paying less money in income
taxes. and the Harding Admin.
istration would be less burdened
with the necessity Of raising vast
sums to pay interest on the Ma
tional debt.
But I do not desire to reopen
the tragic chapters of the past.
This Is not a time in the history
Of the merchant marine to in
woke partisan feeling. call
upon the Democratic National
Committee to forget for the mo-
ment its temptation to misrepre-
sent for political purposes, and 1
appeal to them not to besmirch
the great shipping enterprise
upon which America is at the
moment embarking.
Isn't Politician.
am q business man-not a
politician. I am retiring from
public office in few days. But
I plead, since we are to have,
for the time being, Government
operation of ships, competing
with the privately owned ships Of
other countries, that defeat shall
not come to our aspirations
through party polemics, discour.
aging patriotic men of business
abality, who might otherwise be
persuaded, at personal sacrifice, to
contribute to the success of Gov
eminent operation along business
lines.