Evening star., 1925-10-07
The Ship Policy Issue Now Acute.

Inc snip Follcy Issue Now Acute.
Continuing it's attack on President
.Coolidge's merchant marine policy, the
Shipping Board has removed former
Admiral Leigh c. Palmer from the
presidency of the Fleet Corporation.
Not only has the board attacked the
policy of the President. which looked
ito the operation of the Government
owned merchant fleet by the Fleet
Corporation with single executive
head, but it has denied the President 5
authority as Chief Executive to have
a hand in the executive function of
operating Government ships.
The issue drawn between the Presi-
dent and the Shipping Board is far
reaching. 1t goes to the fundamentals
Of the Constitution itself, which re-
poses in the President the executive
power of the United States.
Almost two years ago the President
called the Shipping Board to the
White House and explained to its
members that the operation of the
feet by the Fleet Corporation, with
the board keeping its hands off, was
desirable for the sake of both economy
and efficiency. The board agreed to
the plan proposed by the President.
1t later adopted a resolution giving to
the president Of the Fleet Corporation
wide powers in handling the mercha mt
fleet, and Admiral Palmer was elected
to that office, being selected for the
job by the President himself. 1t is
this plan the board has now thrown
overheard.
Under the plan adopted blythe Presi-
dent the losses of the fleet and the
expenditures have been enormously
cut down. Ship lines owned by the
Government which were previously
unstable became marketable and are
now to be operated by private Ameri-
cans, in accordan nee with the express
ed purpose of the merchant marine
act of 1920.
The President has not stood alone in
support of the plan for operation of
the fleet by the Fleet Corporation
rather than by the board. The plan
was recommended to the President by
Senator Jones of Washington, chair
man of the Senate committee on COM
merce, and other members of Con-
gress. Later it was approved by
committee of cabinet members and
: Chairman O'Connor of the Shipping
Board and Admiral Palmer, which in
report urged that the Fleet Corpora
tion be separated definitely from the
Shipping Board. Furthermore, the
, House committee on appropriations,
considering the budget for the mer-
chant marine, urged that legislative
steps be taken to place the operation
of the merchant fleet absolutely in the
ha nds of the Fleet Corporation
:, The proof of pudding is in the
eating. The operation of the fleet by
the board in the past proved so un-
satisfactory that the President, on
the advice of Senator Jones and ex-
perts in shipping, recommended the
plan which the board has now termi-
mated. The President recommended to
Congress at it's last session legislation
TO separate the board and the Fleet
Corporation, but it did not press it.
preferring to see what could be done
by cooperation with the board. Now
it Is expected that the issue will be
pressed firmly in Congress when that
body reconvenes.
A regrettable feature of the most
6 recent action of the board is that the
country loses the services of an able
and honest official at time when
they are particularly needed Admi-
raj Palmer goes out of Office with the
respect of the country. During his
service in the United States Navy Ad-
amiral Palmer made a splendid record,
serving with distinction in the World
War and the war with Spain. His
command of the Governments mer-
chant marine has added to that bright
record of service.