Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
HANEY QU|TSPOST
ON SHIPPING BOARD,
ENDING LONG ROW
Declined to Resign When Ask
ed to Do SO by Coolidge,
Last August.
OREGONIAN MENTIONED
AS SENATE CANDIDATE
Finds Reforms in U. S. Merchant
Marine Administration Bet
tering Conditions.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Bert L. Haney, Democrat. OreS., re
signed today as a member or the
Shipping Board. effective March /.
The action brings TO q head 4
Troublesome situation which has eX
sted since last August, when Presi
dent Coolidge requested Mr.. Haney's
resignation on the ground that, by
proposing TO remove Leigh c. Palmer
rs president of the Fleet Corporation
the commissioner had run contrary
70 the understanding 1 had with you
when / reappointed YOU"
Mr.. Haney declined to resign OF
any such ground, denied any knowl
edge of an understanding with the
PRESIDENT to support Mr.. Palmer, as
serted that the Chief Executive knew
of his opposition TO Mr.. Palmer and
declared that to accede TO the Presi
dents request for his resignation
would carry an implication which
cannot permit"
In his letter of resignation the
commissioner said he felt he could
properly end his service now, as three
months had elapsed since Congress
convened and Mr.. Coolidge had stated
he would not be reappoiuted.
Sees Conditions Improved.
The letter declared that since the
Shipping Board had "reasserted its
power" over the Government mer
chant feet after the dismissal OF
President Palmer by majority vote OF
the Shipping Board conditions had
improved to the point that american
shippers today are being furnished a
substantially better service, and for
elgn shipping Is no longer gaining
ground at the expense of the Govern.
ment-owned fleet"
The letter. addressed to Presiden
Coolidge, was dated today and was as
follows:
"On August 27 Of the last year you
requested my resignation as q com
missioner Of the United States Ship
ping Board, stating that my action ir
trying to remove the president of the
Fleet Corporation was contrary to ar
understanding / had with you at the
time OF my reappointment. In my let
ter to you on August 2S / answered
YOUR request, setting forth at length
that no such understanding had eve1
existed, and frankly pointed out tha
| could not at any time have agreed
to take any action which l believed
might be prejudicial to the Govern
ment shipping interests, or in confiic
with my obligation under the law a.
l interpreted 1t. Accordingly, l de
"llned to resign, as my resignation
might have been construed to be ar
admission that 1 had entered into tn.
understanding YOU mentioned.
Under the then Inefficient admin
istration of the Fleet Corporation the
Government fleet continued to ,ost
ground rapidly TO foreign shipping in
terests, and | felt 1t my duty to TAX,
every action possible to correct thi:
condition.
Reasserted Its Power.
The Shipping Board, on October l
reasserted its power with respect tt
the duties imposed upon it by law ant
made such changes in personnel anc
administrative policy as to re-estab
1ish the regional control of the Gov
ernment-owned merchant marine, i,
accordance with the provisions of tn,
law creating the Shipping Board
These changes have brought increased
revenues, lessened the cost of opera
tion. reduced the personnel of tn,
Fleet Corporation and greatly In
ships in operation, with the resul
that American shippers today are be
ing furnished L substantially bette
service, and foreign shipping is n
longer gaining ground at the expens
OF the GoTernment-owned fleet
These necessary reforms in the ad
miDistration Of the Fleet Corporatio,
were made prior to December I last
the date the Sixty-ninth Congress con
vened. At that time you announced
hat 1t was your intention not to re
appoint me. and informed Senator Nc
Nary of your desire to nominate al
Oregonian to succeed me as a commits
sioner of the United States Shippin;
Board. Since then | have eXpecte,
daily to be relieved from service b,
your action. 1t has been my desire t,
allow you ample time within which t.
reach a decision as to my successor
but after a pse of almost thre,
months, in the absence of any actor
by you, and in view of the fact tha
my commission expires at the clos,
of the present session of the Senate
I now feel that / may properly enc
my service.
For these reasons / hereby tende
my resignation as a commissioner O
the United States Shipping Board, t
take effect March I, 1926"
Haney'S Record.
Mr.. Haney first took office In July
1923, for two years, and when his
term expired last Summer was givel
a recess appointment by Mr.. Coolidg,
after conference at the White House
That recess appointment would have
held until the last day of the present
session unless Mr.. Haney had resign
ed or the President had appointed an,
the Senate confirmed q successor
The impasse has been subject o.
debate in the Senate, with Senator
.-. Democrat, Washington. anC
other Senators defending Mr. Haney
The President meanwhile canvasseG
the situation with the view of appoint
ing a successor from the Northwes,
States, but no indication had beer
given in recent weeks that he would
soon make an appointments.
Mr.. Haney has been mentioned ir
connection with the Democratic nom
nation for Senator in Oregon this
wear but he said today he could not
discuss that and would not be in a
position to do so until after he re
turns TO his home. The last day fol
filing senatorial nomination papers ir
tc hnyit