Evening Star Newspaper, June 15, 1923, Page 24

A S Lasker Answers Democrats’ Cry Against Leviathan Trial Trips Says Democratic A sored, Suggested and Aided in Passage of Money Measure to Assure Test. Replsing to criticisms of the forth- coming trial trip_of the Leviathan, Chairman Lasker of the Shipping Board declared in a formal statement last night that provision for the trial had been Included in the reconditioning plans drawn up under & democratic adminis tration and that it was an indispensa- Dble part of the plans. Characterizing the aftacks as “party politics,” Mr. Lasker called upon the democratic natfohal committee, whose headquarters here . recently issued a Rtatement criticizing the projected five- day cruise of the.liner to Cuban waters as a waste of public funds, for the moment jts temptation to mis- represent the political purposes.” Plans and specifications for the re conditioning of the liner, Mg Lasker said, were prepared by experts enguged by the Shipping Board when John Bar- ton Payne was chairman. In January of last year. he said, the experts asked for an opriation of $120,000 to cover the of the trial trip, con- templating that it should extend at leas five d; d the item was approved b; 1 accordance with the universal prac tice, M Lasker said, the experts “in- eisted that 400 or 500 guests be asked on the Leviathan's trial teip.” in order that the service machinery of the ship might be giveu a thorough test. Of the total timategd cost: of $120,000 for the trip, Mr. Lusker estimated that not more than $15,000 Would be used to pay for the “food and comfort” of the guests. Mr. Lasker's statement follows in full “1 have refrained from answering what seemed to me an absurd criti- cism of the trial trip to be taken by the Leviathan next week. but T feel that the recent statement issued b: the democratic national committee’ is such an unfortunate utte that it should not go unchallenged Partisanship. will be matter of great re- aret to the American people, I am sure, when all the facts-are known, 10 learn that partisan political com- mittee st to play matter which non-partisan “What I feared would happen has ened. 1 was one of those who ted a ship subsidy because T believed that was the only wa insure u merchant marine in com- petition with the private shipping enterprises of foreign countries. I feared that if we had overnment operation, it would mer meaan that our whole shipping problem would be continuously a foot ball in party poli- tics. The democrats played their part in filibustering gainst ship subsidy, uing that government operation as the solution to our merchant m: rine problem. Now, however, at -the very fir; opportunity, when we are launching what we aspire to make the greatest ship in the world—when, indeed, the heart of every American should beat proudly over the achiev ment in the reconditioning of the in- comparable Lev han—we are con- fronted with the spectacle of a po- litical committee picking flaws and endeavoring by gross misrepresents tion to muddy the waters. “What are the facts? It would ap- pear, on reading the statement of the aemocratic national committee, that the trial trip of the Leviathan was suddenly conceived., and that guests were invited purely a private Junket. If that were true, the Uriteism would be fully justified, par- ticularly in these days when, as President Harding rightly sgys, econ- omy in government is the. paramount need of America. The truth of the matter is that this very trial trip was fully pro- vided for by experts engaged in De- cember, 1919, by Shipping Board headed by John Barton Payme, und the democratic administration. If th critics had only taken the trouble to look up the records, théy would have found that the plans and speci- fications for the reconditioning of the Leviathan were not hastily made. but that every detail. including the testing of the great ship in the pro- posed trial trip, was worked out long in advance, even to the last dollar that would be spent The experts who prepared the plans and speoi- fications for the reconditioning of the Leviathan and who still have sole charge of the work were engaged hy the board under John Barton Payne, in December, 1919, More than one hundred draftsmen worked continuously under the Payne contract until October, 1921, in the preparation_of the plans and spec fications. These were embodied in ree printed volumes, requiring over 1500 pages. Before the board a cepted these specifications they were reviewed by experts from all the big shipbuilding companies in America. Included in these specifications was its It party should politics on a be obviously from the reconditioning vard tothe dry dock. to be followed by a trial trip on the high seas such as now will be taken. One reason for both runs is only half power should be zenerated on the trip to the dry dock, where the hull w cleaned and which had not been' done for years. Asked for Money. “In January. 1 the experts re- ferred to having arge the recon- ditioning asked the present board, amdng other sundry items required for the completion of the Leviathan, to appropriate $120.000 to cover the cost -of the trial trip. which sum in- cluded the cost of guests. The ex- perts then, as now. contemplated at Jeast five days for the trip. At that time—fully sixteen months ago—the hoard. consisting of four republicans and three democrats, unanimously ac- cepted the recommendation of the ex- perts and made the appropriation. At the same time, at a hearing of the House appropriations committee, in reporting the various items that went into the total of the Leviathan's re- conditioning cost, the board included a trial trip. “When the government took: over the Leviathan. during the war. the Navy. first having made sure her ma- chinery had not been tampered with, but, in face of some necessary re- pairs, which are minor compared to | those now made, sent the ship on more than a five-day trial cruise in southern waters—five precious days necesgarily lost to war trangporg. “It_would be futile td awray opinien of the demgerstic hational committee along side’that of practi- caily all the experts 6f our Navy and America’s shipbullding and operating companies. Fortunately, the respon- =ibility for a thorough test of the Leviathan is not upon the shoulders | of the democratic national committee. but rests solely with the United States sovernment. Practice Customary. t'1s customary practice the world over to have tria] trips for all ves- but particularly extengded trips before passenger ships liké the Le- viathan are put into regular séryice. I need only recall the extensive triai trips taken by the Lusttania’and the Mauretania. €7 e 'The Leviathan is the higgest ship afloat. Nothing :comparable .to her h ver been.attemipted uhder our public surely has;not for- many changes that have been @ade in the.Leviathad, from thé ys when it was thought her ma. chinery was disabled by the;Germans to the days whem she was converted for transport service, and now has been converted from a coal-burner to an ofl-burner. Radical’ changes have now been made fy her service ma- chinery, the ship has been rebullt and it becomes imperatiye: that she be glven a thorough. test under sea con- ditians, similar to those which would confront her on a régular voyage, and that she havé at least ten days there- after in port to correct any defects going on her regular run. cost of weconditioning the Leviathan was more than $8,000,000. The Sostof the Lrjal trip, as proposed LRk to “forget | has so far forgotten patriot-| provision for the moving of the \'essell s to be scraped and | et dministration Spon- | by the experts and authorized by the | board fully sixteen months ago. was 15120,000, of which 107,000 would have {had to be spent, irrespective of | whethor a single guest was carried [It has been the universal custom on the part of shipping companies | throughout the world to invite non- | paying guests on the trial trips of new vessels, in order that the com- | plex organization and service ma- | chinery of the ships might be broken | in. For that purpose the experts | sisted that 400 to 500 guests be ask |ed on the Leviathan's trial trip. Tn | variably, shipping companies Invite s guests the people whose good | will"it is desirable to win—journal- | ists, legislators, freight and pas- senger men, exporters and importers, | and others who could later be of aid to the ship's business. Must Use Approved Mcthods. “Just because the American mer- chant marine is a goveriment enter- prise does not permit us to ignore and avold the best business methods of private companies. The stock- holders of a private concern would not dream of challenging the invited list of its board of directors, and that is why the expenditure of only $1 000 to pay for the food and comfort of approximately four hundmed or five hundred guests is an item that bund business judgment ought not or 4 moment Cchallenge. especially | when the total cost of $8,000.000 is considered as the initial investwent and the $£13,000 spent in Vay will be returned to the ¢ | Board beyond measure in the future. “If the democratic national comm!\t. tee had only shown the same solici- ltude a few years ago for the three {billion dollars of American taxpapers’, !money, much of which was wasted in careless management by a shipping i woard under a democratic administr: tion, we would perhaps today be pay- ing less money in income taxes. and the Harding Administration would be less burdened with the necessity of {raising vast sums to pay interest on the national debt. But T do not desire to reopen the | tragic chapters of the past. This is| not a time in the history of the mer-i chant marine to Mvoke partisan feel- ing. T call upon the democratio na. tional committee to forget for the moment its temptation to misrepre- sent for political purposes and T ap peal to them not to besmirch the great shipping enterprise upon which {America is at the moment embarking. “I am_a business man—not a poli- | tician, Iam retiring from public office | in a few davs. But T plead. since we | are to have, for the time being. gov. ernment operation of ships. compet ing with the privately owned ships o other countriex, that defeat shall not come to our irations through party polemics, discouraging patriotic men | of business ability, who might other- wise be persuaded. at personal sacri- | fice, to contribute to the success of | government operation along business i Delivers This Fine Brunswick To Your Home At Once Balance on Terms To Suit A standard, new ma- ! chine—embodying all of the features that have made .The Brunswick i famous for tone and su- peridrity. Come in and hear it play, and let your ear be the judge. 708 Seventh St. N.W. 3123 M St. N. W. I ey | I - ASPIRIN ito) Say “Bayer” and Insist! ! When you see the name “Bayer” on pagkage or on tablets you are getting thé genuine Bayer product preXcribed | by physiclans over twenty.two years and | proved safe by millions for i Colds Headache Teothache Lumbago Earache Rheumatism Neural Pairi, Pain Accept yer Tablets of Aspirin” enly. Each unbroken age contains proper directions. Handy boxes of twelve tablets cost few cents. Drug. gists glso seil botties of 24 and 100, Aspirin is the trade mark of Bayer Manufagture of Monoaceticacidester of licy Hoacide 3 THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON., PUPILS IN FESTIVAL. Song Program Given by Johnson- Powell School Children. Pupils of the Johnson-Powell School utilized the community serv- ice hour today at Crandall's Sayoy Theater in a song festival under the direction of Mrs. E. N. Burgess, music | teacher of the graded schools. The singing was led by Edwin N. C. Barnes, director of music of the school ‘system. Tho Johnson-Powell 'School song testival represents. only one of the many clvic activities promoted by the public service and educational de- partment of the Crandall theaters, di- rected by Mrs. Harriet Hawley Locher, under the personal super- | vislon of Harry M. Crandall. BOY SCOUTS COMING. Many From Other Citles Here for Field Day Tomorrow. Boy Scouts of Washington are to participate in the big intercity Boy Scout field day, to be held in Potomac Park, at the foot of 17th street north- west,'tomorrow afternoon, when pick- ed teams of Boy Scouts from Phila- Gelphia, Reading, Delaware and Mont- gomery counties, Pa.; Baltimore, Richmond and Norfolk will come here to compete In scout events for the championship of the Capital dis- trict. This is the first time such an event has been held in Washington and the local Scouts are lending every effort to win the champlonship| trophy. One of the events which is attract- ing particular attention is the fire lighting without matches—the old friction method formerly used by the American Indians. Scout Edgar gleston of Troop 9, who holds the record for Washington, is going to | try to break the world's record in| this event. Other events in which | Scouts will compete are first aid, sig- naling. both semaphore and Morse, | tent pitching. water boiling and com- | pass. The foilowing Scouts, who won the annual intertroop field day here | this vear, will represent the Wash- | ington Scouts: J. J. Hanger, Troop Paul McGee, J. L. Harris and F. West- | brook, Troop 52; Edgar Eagleston, | Troop 9; R. Sawyer and J. LeRoy,| Troop 54: W. R. Cheek and J. Vier. korn. Troop 54; C. Edmonds, Troop | ol L. Dowdy and H. Sehorn, Troop | 45 Colin H. Livingstone. pre the National Council, Boy America. will present the pri dent of A \ { All Suits Al Suits White attached. $1.85 finished .. Linen Suit: Shirt Special Cheviot — with Palm Beach Suits that are hand tailored and silk $1 G0 and 520' Tropical Worsteds— silk finished, $2 5 to 840 Mobhair Suits. . 320 to 538 Gabardine Suits, $2 5 to 540 WARRANTS REPORT ASKED BY JUDGE A large accumulation of warrants in the hands of the police that have not been served, as well as a number of attachments for missing defendants that have not been brought into court, has caused Judge John P. McMahon of the Police Court to request Maj. Daniel Sullivan, superintendent of the Metropolitan police department. to furnish a report on all such cases of record prior to May 15 last. Judge McMahon sald to: j record shows. D. C.. FRIDAY there are probably as many as 1,000 such warrants in the hands of the police, covering a period of a year, to- gether with a number of attachments out that have not been served by the police. It {s estimated that for the previous year that as many as 2,000 such war- rants and attachments are out un- served—that is, as far as the court Judge McMahon has asked Maj. Sullivan in all such cases that the policemen holding the war- rants and attachments to report what effort, if any, been taken to bring the defendants into court. In all of these cases informations have been made by policemen and the warrants issued.!” But so far as the court re ords show they have not been exe- cuted. Judge McMahon says he hopes clear up these large number of cal and that he will insist that the poi make a satisfactory explanation to es, ce of Opportunity A great many times failure and success is the difference between the difference between waiting for opportunity to knock and going out and inviting her to call. And the lack of ready money when she does call is like a house in disorder when company comes—there is no way to entertain her. Save a little regulariy! Better still, money in the will come to you. Some day that chance bank will give you confidence and courage to go out and SEEK opportunity. Our Uptown Bank, at 1333 G Street, Will Be Open Saturday Afternoon From 4:15 to 5:15 P.M. Second National Bank “The Bank of Utmost Service” 509 Seventh Street N.W. 1333 G Street N.W. The New Reductions are Enormous Affecting Every Spring Light-weight 3-Piece Wool Suits in the house A sale with us is a serious matter. We hold it for a purpose—and achieve the purpose by making the attractions as strong as possible. Washington men know Mode Clothes—they! can appreciate what such choosing as these prices offer really means. No exceptions—the entire remaining stock of these Spring Suits—plain and fancy—smart and sports and conservative models— All Suits up to $40......... Some with Extra Knickers included. up to $50.. up to $65. ... Mercerized collar cut. 3 for 'sl $5.00 Tropicals of Quality and “Class” —the quality that withstands wear—and the class that dresses you with distinction as well as comfort. Mallison’s Silk Suits . Trousers The Mode—F at Eleventh Union Suit Special Madras Union Suits, of proper .00 3 for Fine White Flannel English Cricket Cloth Trousers ~—our own importa- tions 516.50 Linen Knickers ....... .34.95 25 335 45 Athletic $2.85 JUNE 15, 1923. Wwhat efforts they have made, if any, to bring this large number of defend- ants to the bar of justice. The war- rants and attachments cover prac- tically every class of offenses, both in the United States and District of Columbia branches, as well as in the Traffic Court. - | | CURIO SELLER DIES. NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y., June 15.— Willlam Tugby, eighty, ploneer the souvenir business in this city, dled today. He made a fortune from the sale of Indiai SRS Giule of Indian curios at a store in at w Parents Honor Principal of Car- to Miss Florence C. Mortimer, cipal of the Carbery School, by the parent-teacher school yesterday afternoon conduct’ of the school has offered to meet the board of education LOVING CUP PRESENTED. |Sisi e, iEhisdr the board, il in- ~ { ported that she had received severa | letters regarding artificlal lighting | at the school from school officiale | BIG CAFE CLOSED. | NEW YORK. June 15.—Anothe New York oasls today went dry. Con tinuing the government's war o alleged wet fes along the ga white way, Assistant United States / Attorney ' Cohen — obtained. fesHi5 Federal Judge }ough an order pafl locking the Three Kings restaucsn for a year. v | chairman of a special committee, uafl bery School. A silver loving cup was presented prin- ! of the for her nd co-oper- fon with the organization. The association, it was announced, assoclation half the for for ay and Carbery pay iring of School District Grocery Sociely Stores INCORPORATED i3 Address Communications to President, 2325 18th St. NNW. Phone Col. 9855 Another Link in the Grocery Chain of Personal Owners— 3163 Mt. PleasantSt. N. W. Saturday Specials! Gold Bag Coffee GOIJ Band Butter Fresh Daily “D.G.S.’s Own Blend” Churned 28, 50, 10 Lbs. Sugar 98¢ New Potatoes, 5 Lbs.,23c Fancy Selected Stock Orienta M. Holzbeierlein’s FAMOUS CAKES Vienna Brea Uneeda Biscuit Kingan,s Bacon cartons Smoked Coffee ' . 39c All 2 C Flavors Baked By Chas. Schneider Baking Co. Pkg. 5c 37c Shoulders = 13¢ Small Selected 1-1b. Kirkman’s Soap B 5¢ Argo Starch, 3 Pres. 25¢ GELFAND’S MAYONNAISE VIRGINIA DARE EXTRACTS CERESOTA FLOUR 'FOUNTAIN BRAND HAMS KRUMM'’S MACARON! SPAGHETTI AND EGG NOODLES 3 Pkgs., 25¢ “The Housewife’s ONLY Competitor” 12¢c Jar 25¢c Jar 15¢ 25¢ 5 1bs., 27c 12 1bs., 57c are the choice of thousands of housewives who have learned c 29 6. LOFFLER’S the “Fountain” difference. 100% Pure Sausage and Pork Products “Every Drop Goes Twice as Far” “The Prize Bread Flour of the World” NOT BLEACHED District Grocery Society Stores, Inc.