Evening star., 1923-06-11
TEST OF LEW|ATHAN
HELD MERE Joy RIDE
Trip a "Waste of Money"
Requiring Probe, Democratic
Committee Declares.

Attacking the proposed trial trip
OF the Leviathan as a million dollar
joy ride" and saying the trip, if not
called off. will result in a congress
sional demand for an explanation of
a waste of taxpayers money" the
democratic national committee.
through it's publicity bureau. has
given out the following statement:
Unless Chairman Lasker OF the
United States Shipping Board aban-
dons his plan for a million dollar
Ing administration will find itself
next January, on the eve Of a presi-
Dental campaign, facing a congress
sional demand for an explanation of
a waste of taxpayers money. An
investigation of this junket de luxe
is certain to be forced by the demo-
Gratis OF Congress.
Angers Republicans, fs Charge.
Republican politicians of the practi-
cal type are angry at Chairman Las
ker for embarrassing the administra-
tlon and the party and they are per-
mitting expressions of their feelings
to reach the White House. These
republicans foreSee that radicals and
progreSSives of their household will
sponsor proposals for drastic cuts in
taxes as soon as the next Congress
convenes in December and that Secre-
tary Mellon, Senator Smoot and other
members and spokesmen OF the ad-
ministration will be expected to de-
feat any such program.
Inc contrast between the admins
tration's opposition to a downward
revision of taxes and its attempt to
cruise will be thoroughly advertised
70 the country and furnish a new diff
hculty for republican candidates
from Mr.. Harding down-all through
the campaign.
There is no more important duty
confronting public officials every
whsre than the enforcement Of the
utmost measure of economy consist
ent with good administration said
president Harding in a letter written
rev Gays ago to Prof. NJ. b. Lambie
Oh the University of Minnesota.
Quotes Presidents View.
The President has also FREQUENTLY
echoed Chairman Laskers lamant
that the governments merchant ma
rlne was source of great financial
loss that could be stopped only nv
selilns 1T at fraction of its cost
ana ana paying its purchasers $3.50, oo0,-
600 in bonuses to operate IT. Now
Chairman Lasker is bent on increas-
ing the Shipping Boards deficit by
| taking 500 persons on a voyage Of
play ana pleasure.
"A million dollars, IL is point-
! ed out. would build a hospital for
| surering veterans; would maintain
st. Elizabeths Hospital, the great
institution in Washington, with it's
5000 patients, for full year; would
| pay the Presidents salary and every
expense OF the White House for
three years; cover the total cost of
| the Civil Service Commission for a
year; support the children's bureau
OF the Department of Labor and all
Its activities for eight months; run
the United States employment sery-
ice on its present basis for five
years, and operate the womens bu-
reau of the Department of Labor at
It's present rate of expenditure for
ten years.
Cited as Lasker "HoIiday."
I'm the face of all the criticism
that Chairman Laskers extravagant
plan has provoked he continues TO
declare that the trip will be taken
and there Is no word from the
White House to indicate that Presi-
dent Harding disapproves. 1t is this
disparity between the Presidents
claim OF economies in the govern
ment and his tacit concurrence in an
expenditure of hundreds of thou
sands of dollars to make holiday
for Chairman Lasker and his friends
that is giving impetus to the move
ment for a searching Investigation by
a congressional committee"