Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27
Recommends to Budget Bu-
reau That AdmiraI's Salary
Be Cut to $4,000.
WOULD ALSO L0P OFF
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS
Suggestions Made in Estimates
for 1927-Rates Fixed for
1926 by Congress.

The United States Shipping Board,
1t was learned last night, has included
in its recommendations to the Bureau
of the Budget for the fiscal year 1927
a reduction in the salary of President
Leigh c. Palmer of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, fixing his salary at
SIS, 900, instead Of $25, 900. The board
has also recommended that the num-
ber of his executive assistants be cut
from seven to three and that the
salaries of these assistants, vice presi-
dents and other officers Of the Fleet
Corporation, be reduced from $4,000
10 SIS 900.
In view of the well understood con-
troversy between some of the members
of the board and Admiral Palmer over
the operation of the Government mer-
chant fleet, this action on the part of
the board was interpreted in some
quarters as an attack on Ad-
miral Palmer. Under the exist
ing appropriation law, the salary Of
the president of the Fleet Corporation
! is placed at S25 900 and his executive
assistants at $4,000 each and this
law operates until June 80, 1925. There
is no cut in salary Immediately in
sight therefore.
Proposed Salary Cuts.
When Admiral Walker was called
upon in 1924 to make suggestions re!
garding salaries, it was his own pro-
posal to reduce the salaries of the
executive assistants from $4,000.
which they had been in the past, to
SIS 900, and that the salary of the
president of the Fleet Corporation
should be limited to S25,000. This was
in line with his desire to bring about
economy in the operation of the fleet.
The Governments shipping business
is a S10o, ,00e, 900 business annually,
operating ships TO every part of the
world. a business that requires high
executive ability and technical knowl-
/ edge. The salaries paid the preside14
| of the Fleet Corporation and his as
sistants have been regarded as not
too high by Congress in the past, in
view of the character of the service
rendered.
Patience Is Exhausted.
With the opening of Congress rap
idly approaching, President Coolidge
is known to be giving the Shipping
Board affairs increasing attention.
Friends of the Executive contend that
he has about reached the limit of his
patience. During the long period of
disagreement the President has been
keenly disappointed. but tolerant. He
was hopeful that these differences OF
opinion would be ironed out and that
there would be harmony and united
action. but as there Is little indication
of such a condition now his patience
and tolerance are exhausted and he
intends to force the issue. according
n fhnSp who plnSp
Already the President has had as
surances from members of Congress
that any recommen ndations he may
make regarding the Shipping Board,
no matter how drastic they may ap-
pear upon their face, will be received
in a most friendly manner. During
the past week. while the Shipping
Board situation has been in the lime
! light, more than one prominent mem
ber of the Senate gave the President
to understand that he would join him
in any fight he determined to make
in Congress.
Will Ask Abolition.
Senator Edge of New Jersey went
further than to assure the Executive
of his support if the latter forces the
issue by taking the Shipping Board
controversy. to Congress. He in
formed the President that he has pre-
pared a resolution which he will intro
duce shortly after the opening session
and which will call for the complete
abolition of the Shipping Board and
for the transfer of its functions to
one of the existing Federal depart
mentS.
Those close to the President have
let it be known that Mr. Coolidge has
been greatly plea sed by the attitude on
the part of these Senator's and that
he was deeply impressed with Seua-
tor Edges proposal. These are known
to have gone a long way in prompt
ing the President to assume the
aggressive when the time comes and
to fight this thing out to finish this
! Winter.
Unless there is something definite
the President can do before the con-
vening of Congress, it is believed he
will begin his attack upon the board
; by including an appropriate amount
of space in his annual message to
Congress setting forth the conditions
that exist and asking for relief he
may think necessary.