Evening star., 1924-01-04
Leigh Palmer Named Head of
Fleet Corporation to Di-
rect All Vessels.
SHIP BOARD WILL HAVE
Reviewing AUTHORITY
Harmony in Counsels of Govern.
ment Officials Over Problem Seen
Nearer in Move.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

One-man control has won a victory
over the board or commission method
OF management The shipping problem
is at last on its way to business solu-
ton.
More harmony prevails today in
the counsels OF the government as to
the handling of the American mer-
chant marine than at any time since
the Harding plan for ship subsidy
forced the administration to seek al
ternatives of policy.
And the evolution which has been
taking place Is exactly what occurred
during the war. when efficiency COM
PEELED the delegation of power to one
man rather than a group. in order to
end wranglings and disputes and
prevent serious delays.
Board Hns Review Power.
The new plan for the handling of
the ship problem means that the
United States Shipping Board will
hereafter assume a place in the gov
ernmental scheme of things not un-
like the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. What the latter Is to rail-
roads and land transportation, the
Shipping Board will be to ships and
ocean traffic
The regulation of rates and the su-
pervision, not only of government
owned ships but American vessels op-
Grated by private companies, will be
the principal tasks of the United
States Shipping Board.
Operation Of the government own
ed feet will be directly under the
Emergency Fleet Corporation, O,
which former Rear Admiral Leigh
Palmer is to be president He will
have the same powers and authority
as the president Of any corporation
has In private business.
He will technically be responsible
to the Unfted States Shipping Board
but only until Ench time as new legis-
lation can give him and the Flee,
Corporation separate status.
Can Delegate Authority.
The Shipping Board under the pres.
ent law can delegate it's power and
authority to operate ships, and the
board after conference with Presi-
dent Coolidge last night agreed to
give the new president of the Fleet
Corporation the necessary power
under the law. Ultimately new legis-
lation will have to be passed, but fol
the present the plan can be carried
into operation without it and valu.
able time saved which might other
wise be taken up in controversial
debate in Congress.
What the President finally has
come to realize about the shipping
problem Is that 1t has two parts
the operation of the fleet inherited
from the war and the regulation OF
water transportation. Controversies
within the Shipping Board itself have
delayed progress. The whole thing
ing. the war. All sorts Of boards
and commissions were created. but
it became apparent to President VIII
son that progress was being ham,
pered and he began to give more
power to the chairmen of the various
boards and commissions.
For example, the War Industries
Board was drifting along withou,
getting very far and Mr.. Wilson re-
organized 1t and put B. NJ. Baruch In
control, with power to decide things
instantly. President Harding gave A
D. Lasker almost unlimited power in
handling the Shipping Board. Mr
Laskers influence with Mr. Hardine
was SO great that the board members
fell in line with what was proposed
because they owed their appoint
ments to Mr. Harding or would de-
pend upon him for reappointment.
Friction I'm Board.
.sBut the one-man method did pro-
duce antagonisms inside the board.
That was inevitable. And the quar-
rels inside tho board in recent weeks,
which led to the resignation Of Chair
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