The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-23
SHIPPING BOARD
INQUIRY BEGINS
! NTAME MANNER
Not A Single Sensation
Sprung At First
Session

WASHINGTON, March 22.--Uniike
some of its predecessors, the inyestiga-
ton by special House committee OF
the shipping board and emergency fleet
corporation got under way today with
out any sensa tons.
Opening the first formal session Of
the committee, Representative White,
republican, Maine, the chairman, read
a report detailing in "a separate groups
data desired from the board and around
which is expected to revolve much Of
the committee investigation.
The information sought, including
detailed records of all property owned
and sold, salaries, personnel, both past
and present, ship sales, leases, tnanag-
ing operator and advertising contracts
and other material, would be used,
Chairman Whits said, ito enable the
committee to study it as it becomes
available san aid in mapping out fur
ther action"
Present at the session were Leigh G.
Palmer, president of the Fleet Corpora
tion, the only witness questioned during
the session; T. V. 0'Connor, chairman
OF the board, and Commissioners Ben.
son, Hill and Lissner. Andrew Furu-
seth, president of the International Sea-
wen's union, was among the spectators.
Davis L. Prosecutor"
Representative Davis, democrat,
Tennessee, author of the investigation
resolution and committee prosecutor"
led Mr.. Palmer over many pending
questions, including trade route consoli-
dations, section % Of the merchant ma.
rine act, ship sales and salary and du-
plicate personnel reductions. He want.
ed TO inform himself 40 to these mat
ters, he said, for guidance In discus
ei0ns to arisS when the Independent
offices appropriation bill comes up for
consideration.
Mr.. Davis read from newspaper ac-
counts touching many Of the questions
and Mr.. Palmer's testimony merely con-
firned them, simplifying some, but dis
closing no information not heretofore
made public.
In connection with negotiations for
the sale of its surplus tonnage. or
those vessels unsuited for American
use, Mr.. Davis suggested that the
Japanese market should be an alluring
one in view Of their demand for ships
to take the place of those destroyed
In the recent earthquake.
Mr.. Palmer said the shipping board
had that subject under consideration.
The Fleet Corporation president was
asked to provide the committee with
copies of the original memorandum on
the enforcement of the Fleet Corpora
ton from the shipping board as pre-
pared for President Coolidge and the
separation resolution adopted by the
board. The memorandum differed from
the resolution finally adopted BY the
board defining the respective duties of
the board and Fleet Corporation.
Asked who drafted the original mem
orandum, which would have given him
unlimited power in operating the gov.
efnment's merchant fleet, Mr.. Palmer
declared Chairman Jones Of the Sem
ate commerce committee was the author
and that he himself prepred d memo
randum based on the senator's pro-
poSals and the enforcement resolution
adopted by the board in 1891.
Several legal obstacles were found
by the board in considering original
proposals for separation Of the two
organizations, it was explained, and
the resolution in final form reserved
to the board final authority in several
instances In which the original pro-
posals would have been vested In the
president Of the Fleet Corporation.