The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-08
HOUSE PROBES
BRING CHIEFS
To D. {.
Shipping Board, Air Service,
and Securities Committees
Resume Activities
By A. o. HAYWARD,
international News servioe

OI AZ Os ia u w ANU
international News Service.
The Congressional vacation has
ended and today House Offices
and COMMITTEES rooms began to fill
with workers bent on legislative
duties.
Congressman Wallace H. White,
Maine, chairman of the special
House committee investigating
the Shipping Board, arrived today
to prepare for resumption Of this
investigation. Other members Of
the committee will come next
week.
Immediate resumption Of hear
ings by the committee is not con-
templated. A mass Of data has
been gathered at previous hear
ings. This Is to be studied by the
committee and new lines for the
probe are TO be developed. It Is
probable no additional hearings
will be held until after Congress
reassembles December /.
Committee Anxious
Some members of the committee
are desirous Of making q partial
report to the House Immediately,
outlining recommendations for q
permanent policy for the United
States-owned fleet of merchant
ships. 1t is possible that the COM
mittee may agree the best interests
Of the Government can be served
by a declaration from Congress to
continue, for a period of five years,
Government operation Of the mer.
chant ships and cessation during
that period of attempts to sell the
ships.
Investigation by the committee in
this country and abroad has de.
veIoped, it is stated, that the re-
peated efforts by the Shipping
Board to dispose OF the ships and
unwillingness to make longtime
freight charters has hampered the
work Of freight agents in secur-
ing return cargoes for American
ships. This has contributed largely
10 their Improbable operation.
Air Service Probe On.
The House committee investigat-
ing the United States Air Service
viii resume activities early pext
week with arrival OF it, chairman.
Congressman Lampert, Of Wiscon-
sin. Other members Of this com
snittee have been called TO meet
him here. Present plans contemplate
q. visit by the committee 70 air.
plane manufacturing plants In
Ohio and other central points. This
viii be followed by hearings at
which the cost Of planes win be
investigated, and purchases by the
Government for tts air services OF
the army, navy and postcffice win
be probed 10 ascertain whether
there has been extravaganza.
Leading to the appointment OF
the committee were charges OF
monopoly in the manufacture OF
airplanes maintained through
agreements among the manufac-
turers and interlocking patent
ownerships. AS q result Of this
monopoly, II was asserted. there
had been paid by the Government
excessive prices for planes, pur-
chased since the war. This phase
Of the investigation has not been
completed.
Government Securities
Investigation into the handling
OF Government bonds and securi-
ties In the Treasury Department
viii be resumed by special COM
mittee, headed by Congressman Nc
Fadden, Of the House Banking and
Currency committee. Much Of this
work has been done. The commit
tee will be ready early in the
coming session Of the House to
make its report. Democratic mem
bers Of this committee have indi.
Gated they will be censurous Of
Treasury officials for carelessness
II for nothing worse.
The Banking and Currency com.
mittee Will meet at an early date
to review its work on changes in
the national banking laws that this
legislation may be brought before
the House Immediately after the
session opens. This legislation lib.
eraltzes laws controlling national
banks, so as to put them in better
way for active competition with
State banks and trust companies,
The purpose of the legislation is ID
encourage more State financial in.
stitutlons to enter the Federal Re
serve System.
The clerical staff of the House
Appropriations committee has pre-
pared drafts Of the nine appropria.
ton bills for the fiscal year 1924.25
TO be submitted to the committee
when II meets next week. Some of
these bills will be ready at the open.
ing Of Congress and will have right
of way in the House.