Evening star., 1923-03-25
Two Alternatives to Be
Placed Before Mr.. Harding
on Return to Washington.
FEBRUARY LOSS HEAVY:
QUICK ACTION is URGED
Operation of Merchant Marine
Costs $3,OOO,ooo for Month.
Harding Party Ends Cruise.
By the Associated Press.

tion'S merchant marine problem. one
providing for governmental opera.
ton and control of the govrnment-
owned ocean shipping and the othcI
looking toward disposal of the gov,
eminent tonnage to private interests
will be laid before President Harding
upon his return to Washington By
the Shipping Board.
This announcement was made here
tonight by Chairman Lasker, who is
member Of the Presidents vacation
party. but who will leave here Tues.
day for Washington to c9mpIctc the
work on the two plans.
Lose S3.O0O,OO More.
The two plans in being submitted
TO the President for his decision will
be accompanied by voluminous data,
showing the outlook at both turns OF
the road. This data viii show, for
example, that the Shipping Board LOST
three million dollars in operating the
government tonnage in February. Al,
though this is nearly a million dollars
less than the operating loss for Jan.
uary, it shows. in the opinion Of Mr..
Lasker, that something must be done
quickly to solve the problem left
through defeat by Congress of the
administration shipping bill.
While Mr.. Lasker declined to go
into details OF the plan providing for
disposal of the government fleet to
private interests. which plan it is
confidently expected will be the one
chosen by the President, it is known
that it contemplates for sale of the
vessels at less than the world market
prices on conditions that the pur-
chasers guarantee 10 maintain the
ships upon 9. prescribed service
Submitted TO Owners.
This suggestion recently was SUBJ
mitted by the Shipping Board to the
American Steamship Owners Asso-
clifton. the United States Ship OPP
orators Association and the Council
of American Sbipbuilders for advice.
The replies now being received from
those associations are expected to be
submitted to the President along
with the details of the plan.
Chairman Lasker will stop at New
port News, en- route 10 Washington,
to give a final inspection to the giant
Leviathan, which will be put in the
European service as soon as possible.
Thousands Greet Party.
Concluding their houseboat cruise
along the Florida east coast, Presi-
hot
cation companions arrived in St. Aug.
ustine late today and received an en-
thusiastic reception from hundreds of
old friends.
The people Of st. Augustine know
the President and his wife perhaps
more intimately than the people of
any other city in the United States,
except Marion. Ohio, for the Hard
ings have been coming to this old
Spanish founded city for nearly
twenty years. For that reason, ths
arrival of the presidential party here
differed from that at the various
other east coast cities visited. 1t
seemed like something of a homc-
coming.
Band Awaits Party.
Several thousands lined the sea
wall within a few minutes after the
presidential houseboat, the Pioneer.
was sighted coming up Matananzas
bay. while a hundred or SO had kept
a patient watch during the afternoon.
Even the band was there to play as
the Pioneer docked, just as related in
la hny In IF
inent former resident.
Mr. and Mrs. Harding recognized =
number of old friends in the crowd that
pressed around their automobile and
lined the streets leading to the Hotel
Ponce de Leon, where the party will
stay for a week before leaving Florida.
These the President and his wife
greeted warmly. Arriving at the hotel.
the chief executive and Mrs. Harding
were formally welcomed by the Gov
ernor of Florida and Mrs. Hardee, who
had come over from Tallahassee for the
purpose.
Twenty Minutes to Dock.
previous welcome had been extend-
ed at Jacksonville by committee repre-
sentng the governor, on March 6, when
the Presidential party entered the state.
The Pioneer arrived much later than
had been expected, 1t being is o'clock
when she drew up to the dock. 1t re-
quired twenty minutes to get her
around SO that a gangplank could be
put out, and during this time the Pres
ident and Mrs. Harding stood on the
deck, watching the operation. The de-
layed arrival was due to late start
today, the vessel not getting under way
until noon. The week to be spent here
is expected to be much like the previous
eighteen days the President and his
party have spent in Florida, quiet and
restful.
Plans Daily Golf.
The executive will not be able to get
the seclusion here that has marked the
nouseboat trip, which took him from
Ormond to Miami and back up the coast
10 this city. but arrangements have been
made to insure q continuation OF the
rest and recreation. A game of golf
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