Evening star., 1925-10-11
SH|P BOARD HEADS
]U[|MATUM CLEAR
O'Connor Tells Coolidge Body
vii! Resume Full Control
of Fleet Corporation.
By the Consolidated Press.

By the Consolidated Press.
Having asked the Attorney General
for a legal opinion as to what rights
the President has over the Shipping
Board, Mr.. Coolidge has limited his
action for the moment to an express
sion of disapproval of the appoint
ment of T.. f. Crowley as president
of the Emergency Fleet Corporation
without consulting the White House.
The Shipping Board insists that it
had no more reason to consult the
President than in the appointment of
any subordinate officials or clerks.
The Shipping Boards attitude toward
the President is defined in the follow
ing letter, dated September "a last.
which has never before been pub
llshed. 1t reads as follows:
Dear Mr.. President: On several oc-
casions we have taken important steps
IN the organization and management
of the Emergency Fleet Corporation
solely at your request, fully appre-
ciating that you did not expect us to
permanently relinquish any duty i'm
posed on us by law.
Exempt From Control.
LAS the work Of the board involves
business principles only. Congress
made 1t a bipartisan body whose seven
members are selected from geo.
graphical areas defined by law. These
elements controlling the selection or
commissioners assure the application
of different tests and points Of view
in solving the problems of the board.
To make possible independence Of
judgment, the commissioners are given
a term of office of six years and con-
tinuity Of policy is promoted by these
terms overlapping. Whether Congress
acted wisely in providing the present
form of board, and whether Congress
has the power under the Constitution
10 create administrative commissions
exempt from Executive control are not
matters Of our considerations. but. so
long as the present law remains in
force, it is our duty to accept and
apply the policy and intent revealed
in its provisions.
I'VE have been assigned the task
of developing an adequate American
merchant marine. and extensive
powers have been given us to that
end. Unfortunately we have not been
able to secure the enforcement of sew
eral provisions of law intended to be
important factors in the program, but
1t Is our purpose to promote the work
to the extent possible under present
law, remaining hopeful that further
legislation necessary for complete sue
cess can, with your cooperation. be
procured from Congress.
Claims Powers Clear
among the powers granted is the
discretionary power to create cor
poration for use as an agency in our
work The Emergency Fleet Cor
poration has been created accordingly,
but it is optional with the board to
what extent and for what purposes. if
any, 1t shall be employed The law
clearly intends that officials of the
corporation shall be agents of the
board and, therefore. subordinate to
the plans and policies of the board to
a degree certainly not less than ex-
ecutive officials in a private business
corporation are subject to the plans
and policies OF a board of directors:
for this reason the control OF the en-
board to meet technical, legal re-
quirements.
For nearly two years. Mr.. Presi-
dent. we have compiled with your re-
quest in the selection OF executive
officials of the corporation, and in the
grant of power to operate the fleet
we realize that your requests have
been prompted by principles and pol
icies having such merit, when prop
erly applied: but in their application.
for reasons very naturally beyond
your control, the results have been un-
satisfactory. 1t is our purpose at an
early date to further consider the en-
tire situation, and to the extent we
find a revision Of the personnel or
functions OF the corporation advisable.
the revision will be made. 1t is our
intention, however, to adhere to the
policy OF investing ample powers in
a single executive for the efficient op-
Grafton of the fleet.
CopxroI IN Do
I'VE know you will approve the prin-
ciple that it is neither wise nor just to
have responsibility for results sepa-
rated from power to control the agents
employed. In the present circum-
stances, as the responsibility is ours,
it is clearly our duty, and it is, there
fore, our intention, to resume full and
exclusive control of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation.
with great respect, we are sin
cerely yours,
''T. v. O'CONNOR, Chairman
"(By Direction Of the Board)."
The foregoing is the last word from
the Shipping Board to the President,
and nothing is expected to be done by
the President till he hears from the
Attorney General. Even the vacancies
in the board are not to be filed for the
present. and it is likely Mr.. Coolidge
will not make his recommendation
JopiS1a finr1 tn rnnpreSS of