Evening star., 1925-10-01
SHIP BOARD SHEARS
PALMER OF POWER
Rescinds Authority Given
Last Year-Coolidge Or
ders a Full Inquiry.

The broad powers delegated to the
Fleet Corporation last year at the
suggestion of President Coolidge We're
withdrawn today by the Shipping
Board
BY resembling resolutions intrust-
ing the corporation with extensive ad-
ministrative powers, President Leigh
Palmer will revert more to the posi-
ton Of an employe than an officer with
independent powers over many of the
details of the shipping administration.
Coolidge Starts Inquiry.
Determined to end the difficulties he
has been having with the Shipping
Board over the retention of Admiral
Palmer as head of the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation and to form
ulate a new policy for operation and
the future disposal of the Govern
ment-owned ships to private interests.
President Coolidge has appointed H.
G. Dalton of Cleveland to make a thor
ough investigation of the entire situa-
ton and TO report to him.
This action by the President was
entirely unexpected. and those who
are familiar with the long standing
and bitter row, which has divided the
Shipping Board and which has SO
completely blocked the Preside nt's
merchant marine policies, are inclined
to think that the Executive has ap-
parently gained the upper hand. 1t is
taken by some as the Presidents first
definite step toward seeking legisla-
ton either to abolish the Shipping
Board entirely or else relieve it of all
its present administrative and eXecu.
tive authority.
Halts Fight on Palmer.
Whatever may be the future devel-
opments, one thing is taken as being
positive in more than one quarter
and that is no move would now be
made by the board toward accepting
Admiral Palmer'S resignation. At
least the board is not expected to take
any such drastic step until after Mr..
Dalton has completed his survey and
has reported, and Mr.. Coolidge has
had time to express himself to Con-
gress regarding this problem.
Mr.. Dalton, who is a member of
the firm of Pickands- Mather Co. of
Cleveland, which engages extensively
in shipping on the Great Lakes and
in the iron ore and coal business, is
recognized transportation and engi-
neering expert. Those who recon-.
mended him to President Coolidge as
the man to get at the bottom of the
trouble were loud in their praise.
Among the group was Myron T. Her
rick, American Ambassador to France,
who introduced Mr.. Dalton to the
President yesterday morning. Pres
ident Coolidge was sufficiently i'm
pressed with Mr.. Dalton after out
lining to him his plan of action to
turn the task over to him, but be.
fore announcing this fact he had Mr.
Dalton to lunch at the White House,
when they went into the matter more
thoroughly. When the President and
Mr.. Dalton had reached an under
standing and had whipped into shape
fairly definite idea of how they
would proceed the President sum-
moned to the White House Chairman
O'Connor and Admiral Benson of the
Shipping Board and Admiral Palmer.
1t was then that the President an
nounced his plan and his selection
of Mr.. Dalton.
Few Details Given.
The public announcement followed
this conference, but it went into little
detail
Mr.. Dalton left for Cleveland shortly
after this conference and indicated
that he would return within a week
or so.
Just what course he would pursue
Mr.. Dalton did not announce, but 1t
was said to be his purpose to inquire
into the entire Shipping Board situa-
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