Evening star., 1925-09-01
COOLIDGE EXPECTS RETRACTTON
OF HANEY'S REFUSAL TO QUIT
Will See Impropriety of Stand Upon Reconsdera-
ton, He Believes, Expressing Dissatisfaction
With Wrangling on Board

cha nge unless there was change
in his administrative policy. Under
these circumstances. in justice TO my
self I am compelled to say 10 YOU
that ! am not conscious of having In
any way caused you to have reached
the understanding referred TO In your
telegram.
obviously. Mr.. President. to have
given YOU any such promise as that
implied by your kilograms would have
amounted to total disregard OF my
oath of Office and my obligation to
Congress, whose sole agent ! am. Such
a promise and disregard OF my Off
cial oath and the consummation Of
such an understanding would have
obligated me to support the admins
tration OF the merchant marine act
by the president of the Fleet Corpora
ton, however inefficient notwith-
standing the fact that the law i'm
posed upon me, as a commissioner
of the Shipping Board the duty to
support and maintain an efficient ad-
ministration.
Il think that | understand the pur-
poses which Congress had in mind
when the merchant marine law was
enacted and when it by law in express
nize bipartisan appointments and
geographical sections In the appoint
ment OF the members OF the board.
The act specifically declares its pur.
pose to he to create A mercha mt ma
rine ~ for the national defense. t2l
for proper growth of our foreign and
domestic commerce and (3D to serve
as a naval or military auxiliary in
time of war or national emergency.
| respectfully direct your attention to
the fact that while the merchant ma
rine act OF 1920 provides for the op-
GRAFTON and disposition OF vessels and
shipping property. IL also directs the
board to keep clearly in mind at all
times the declared purposes Of the
act which have mentioned.
The board, when once appointed by
the President. in conformity with the
statute. is an independent agency of
the United States Government. and is
vested by the statute with large and
important discretionary powers. which
the members thereof are compelled to
exercise Independently Of any other
governmental agency so long as the
law ia IN force, and, with the excep-
tion Of the power of removal for
causes specified in the act. the mem
bers Of the board are responsible only
to the legislative body.
Boards Powers Judicial.
The powers conferred upon the
board are largely judicial in their ma
ture, involving the exercise OF dis
cretion. ana these powers cannot be
delegated by the board TO Mr. Palmer
or any other agent. 1t may he an
swered that II any of these powers
have been delegated TO the president
of the Emergency Fleet Corporation
II was done by act Of the board itself.
But even II that he conceded. the at
tempted defegatfon Of power does not
deprive any individual member OF the
board OF the right To express his
opinion as TO these powers and TO
vote. under the 50 notion Of his oath
of office. rs his judgment may direct.
IF. therefore. am to he asked to
resign because | have seen fit, TO ex-
ercise the power expressly conferred
upon me by Congress in urging the
removal of an inefficient agent OF the
board. then 1 submit that the control
of the operation and disposition of
the merchant fleet is taken from this
bipartisan and sectionally consti-
tuted body and placed in the hands of
one man. for whose actions the boa rd
il responsible. but whose actions it
annot direct or control.
My opposition to President Pal.
mer's administration. in addition to
the reasons above stated, is based
upon the following:
His policy. of necessity. fails to
carry out the purposes OF the rner
cha mt marine act because such policy
not only Is failing TO establish mer-
chant marine sufficient 10 carry a
ma jor portion of our commerce. but. 4.
on the contrary. our merchant marine
is carrying less and less each year
Again. the purpose of the act TO
ests blish a military and naval auxil-
iS n rAA In hat
number of vessels in use and avail
able for such purposes Is being stead
lily reduced. and. last but not lea 81 .
under his administration we are los
inE American commerce to foreign
ship owners. one of the very things
the act in question intended should
not occur.
Under these circumsta noes Mr.
President. for me to comply with your
request that | resign would carry an
implication which ! cannot permit"