Evening star., 1933-10-06
''F|RED,' SHIP CHIEF
SAYS IN MAIL PROBE
Declares He Lost Job for
Failure to Approve
Labor Item.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Benjamin A. Harnett testified before
the Senate Ocean Mail Investigating
Committee today that he was discharged
as operating manager of the Black Dia-
mond Lire after he had refused to
approve an extra labor" item for Steve
O'Connor, whom he identified as son
of T. v. O'Connor, then Shipping Board
chairman.
Harnett told Senator Black, commit
tee chairman, that he refused to approve
a bill he viewed as IAN overcharge OF
$50 or s62." Charles Hamilton, chief
stevedore of the Black Diamond said
Harnett, then came to him and told
me the circumstances"
He said" Harnett testified. that
Steve O'Connor-"
rs he any relation to T.lV. OCon-
nor?" interjected Black.
Son" answered Harnett.
He came to me-" resumed Harnett,
"and said Steve had gotten into the
habit of borrowing money and the only
an extra labor permit to cover the
loan"
Hamilton, said Harnett. complained
to j. E. Dockendorff president OF the
Black Diamond, and DockendorH called
the operating manager into his otf1ce.
Asked to Resign.
"I was told" Harnett testified. that
I needn't lean backward to be honest:
He accused me of not cooperating ana
asked by resignation. So resigned
Black asked the witness if he knew
how long Steve O'Connor remained In
the New York office of the Black Dla-
mond. Harnett said he did not know
hut that O'Connor finally was trans
ferred to the Washington Office"
After he left the Black Diamond
Harnett said. he served for a time with
the shipping board.
Operation of Shipping Board vessels
meant a loss of more than a million
dollars" to the Black Diamond line,
]. E. Dockendorf, president OF the line,
declared yesterday in testlfylng before
the committee.
Had it not been for the earnings
Of j. E. Dockendorff & Co. (the import
and export firm, and the Empire
Stevedoring Co., we never would nave
made a dollar" the elderly ship owner
said
Inc import lulIl, DOChClioO14 IL ooAA,
ACCOMPANYING his testimony with bal
ance sheet for the company, made
profit of $4,000 over the period 1920
1880, inclusive.
Books Reported Missing.
The books of the stevedoring COM
pany, requested by the investigators,
were reported missing wednesday when
Chairman Black of the committee ques-
toned Dockendorff about them
Dockendorff. after day and half
on the witness stand, was followed by
the vice president of his company.
j. Caldwell jenkins.
Jenkins testified he had been con-
nected with the Shipping Board and
the Merchant Fleet Corporation for
more than 13 years before assuming his
post with the Black Diamond. jenkins
was identified by Dockendorf during
the latter's testimony as the man re-
ferred to as "our friend" on the Ship
ping Board This term, however, later
was broadened by both Dockendorf
and Jenkins to include not only Jen-
kins, but T. v. O'Connor, then chair
man of the Shipping Board.
Jenkins, discussing the affairs OF the
Black Diamond while he still was con-
nected with the Shipping Board, said
the line was in funny condition down
there" at the board.
This line" he told the committee,
was in hot water since 1920. There
was one charge after another, charges
of irregularities in stevedoring, in port
charges, etc. They were investigated
one by one and. in every instance, fin
ally determined as baseless."
Who" asked Black, determined
that?"
"The board" Jenkins replied.
"Unanimously?"
''No, sir"
Tells Of Competition.
Dockendorff. before he finished his
testimony, said his firm was competing
against the Aluminium Co. of America
"You are against Mr.. Mellon?" asked
Black, referring to Andrew w. Mellon
Yes" answered Dockendorf.
During Jenkins testimony. he re-
ferred to a fight over ships between the
Mobile Oceanic Co. and the Munson
Line.
Il think" he said to Black. that
you were interested in that, because
you afterward called me up about ii"
Il called you up" Black, a Demo-
cratic Senator from Alabama, said,
leaning toward the witness, land told
you that the subsidy was all wrong as
between a big company and little COM
pany Can you find any statement
ever made on the Senate floor or any
where else that I was in favor OF a
subsidy?"
jenkins replied that he had not fol
lowed" the Senator's views on subsidies.