The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-27
WASHINGTO ON
REPORT
By CHARLES p. STEWART
Central Press Columnistl

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Commerce Score.
tary Harry L. Hopkins recently called the bu.
reau of navigation, which is one Of the author.
tiles under his cabinet departmental jurisdic-
ton, sharply to account for laxity, he charged,
in enforcing maritime regulations in the in.
terest of safety on American craft afloat.
The National Maritime union, a labor body,
previously had made a similar complaint. In
Gle Sans general accounting office also was
critical of the bureaus efficiency, in its last
annual report to the government. For some
reason or other the accounting Offices stric.
tues were. deleted from it's report, as publish.
ed. Subsequently, the justice departments com.
mlttee on administrative procedure officially
asserted that American s%hipowners have learn
ed that they may violate navigation laws
practically with impunity."
The maritime unions, the accounting Offices
and the justice department committees warn
ings weren't generally needed when voiced, but
Secretary Hopkins presently noticed them and
evidently thinks they're worth attention.
All of which recalls an incident"
Washington to Norfolk
There's a line of boats plying between Wash.
ington, D. c., and Norfolk, Va.-up and down
the Potomac river and across Chesapeake bay.
The trip, one way, is about 10 hours. Espe-
cially in summer, it's a nice overnight cruise
cool, pleasant and not so crowded as a Pull
man berth.
One evening two or three years ago, a prom
inent Washington lawyer booked on one of
these boats from the capital for the Virginia
port.
He went aboard, had dinner in the dining
salon, spent a couple Of hours in the smoking
room, visiting with fellow passengers, drank
a bottle or so of beer, then repaired to his
stateroom to rest. In the morning a steward
tapped at his door, to tell him that the vessel
was nearing Norfolk-that he'd have just time
to get up, dress, have breakfast and olsen.
bark.
Getting no response to repeated knocks, the
steward finally peeked in. The stateroom was
empty. The lawyers raiment was scattered
about, indicating that he hadn't gone on deck.
The stateroom's portfolio was open, suggesting
that the traveller might have gone out that
way. But why? If he'd done so, it followed that
he must have drowned. Yet the idea that he'd
COMMITTED suicide appeared ridiculous. He was
prosperous, in good health, respected, had seem.
ed perfectly normal in the smoking room the
night before.
Sherlock Holmes Mystery
The question was raised, Hadn't somebody
snooped in and 'croaked' him, then showed his
remains out through that open porte"
That mystery was never solved.
The Washington police naturally were inter-
ested, since the traveller had embarked from
their jurisdiction. The Virginia police equally
were concerned, since he'd intended to get off
at their end Of the line. Yet there was the pos
s1billty that the tragedy had occurred in Mary
land waters; so the Free State coppers were
all by the ears. 1t was an interstate matter
likewise, dragging the Omen in.
And the bureau of navigation? That was
right under the gum
These groups combined. All their best sleuths
collaborated.
They had just one hint at a clue. The state
room adjoining the missing mans had been
occupied by a woman. If there'd been a dis.
turbance in a cabin adjoining her own, it
seemed as if she'd have heard it, with only the
thin partition between the two.
Another Mystery
The sleuths knew her name; she'd registered
with the purser. But her address? That was a
puzzle. They looked high, low, everywhere. No
good. |
At last they held a conference at the naviga.
ton bureaus headquarters in the commerce
building.
AT the beginning of this confab a woman
appeared. "Tm Mrs. So-and-So," she said, re-
ferring to the missing woman. Il see by the
papers that you're looking for me-"
Good goshr' cried the investigators. We've
looked everywhere"
did YOU look" asked the woman, 'in the
telephone book or the city directory"
No, the woman didn't solve the problem. II
would have been a wonderful mystery solution
if she had. !