Show I I J C- C 0 The Shipping iii Board Scandal J J 4 C GROSS ROSS mismanagement and and nd worse become worse becomes 5 more and more evident in the w wartime an and wartime post-wartime operations operations' of the the United States Stat shipping board The latest latest- revelations ns come come- come comein in the report of of a I special investigator who has has been at ati 1 work work Ic for many months and in hI the testimony given before e the congressional committee now turning daylight t on these scandalous conditions The charges are definite and sweeping T To o some extent tl they ey already are borne out chit by cv evi evidence vi- vi i dence introduced ced TI The indictment alleges s I Spendthrift carelessness with taxpayers' taxpayers millions Overcharges padded payrolls and corruption Contractors' Contractors profits as high as per cent l Favoritism In fn contracts Ignoring well equipped rc repair yards and giving giving- contracts to higher her bidders Large purchases es of ot supplies by ship lessees for government account from concerns In which these lessees are aro Interested Fat profits for lessees on costs of ot operation while shipping board under Its system of or leasing footed heavy deficits In earnings of the tho ships leased Sal Sale Of ot sUr surplus lus' lus materials rials by the board at 13 13 per cent of actual cost although market price of many such commodities is more than at time of or purchase V Rank flank favoritism In allocation of ships to COmpanies com coin paniCs of or slight responsibility but large political pull while strong companies could not get ships applied for Admiral Benson refuses to td discuss the charges chargi s sn i in n advance of his appearance is as a witness before the committee In justice t to himself and i ithe to th the taxpayers whose millions are scattered riotously riotously riotously riot riot- he should make a complete revelation at that time Many of the charges relate t to events prior to his assumption of last March The American people are entitled to know the guilty men however high they may be in business circles Investigation should be complete with some of that c celebrated pitiless ts publicity ity After which which which-a a pitiless ss dI l up I |