HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES SEVENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF H. Res. 281 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING INVESTIGATION OF THE THE COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES LE L 9 Me 43 .Az CONTENTS Garner, W. B., vice president, Waterman Steamship Corporation___ Geaslin, Bon, counsel, Waterman Steamship Corporation_- Tulloss, Stewart B., chief of investigations, General Accounting Office_ Barger, Harry S., investigator, General Accounting Office.. Reavis, Thomas H., investigator, General Accounting Office- Reprint of Report of General Accounting Office__ Communication from the Chairman, United States Maritime Commission WATERMAN STEAMSHIP CORPORATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1942 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D. C. (The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:30 a. m., Hon. Schuyler O. Bland, chairman, presiding for consideration of House Document No. 840). The CHAIRMAN. All right, gentlemen, the committee will come to order. The purpose of the meeting of the committee this morning is to consider the report of the General Accounting Office with reference to the Waterman Steamship Co. and matters pertaining thereto. I stated when the report on the Tampa Shipbuilding Co. was being considered last week that the purpose of these hearings is to consider not only this report but other reports that emanate from the General Accounting Office, or otherwise, affecting the merchant marine. This is not an isolated case as it is my purpose, insofar as the business of the committee will permit to consider all reports coming in with a view to the necessity for remedial or corrective legislation or action. If there has been waste, extravagance, negligance, corruption or fraud, this committee wishes to know it and to take appropriate action for the protection of the public interest. If there has been procedure by the Maritime Commission which is proper in business practice but without legislation to support it, so that the Accounting Office must, in the exercise of its duties and functions, report against such action, and where remedial legislation is desirable for the future, then this Committee wishes to know it in order that it may cure any omissions or any possible lapses or mistakes or imperfections in the law. If it is desired then to furnish relief, that relief then shall be granted if it is within the scope of the committee or the Congress to grant it. If there has been waste, if there has been extravagance, if there has been money expended that ought not to have been expended in the opinion of this committee, then we wish to provide such procedure, if possible, to return to the public treasury that which has been taken away from the public improperly. In other words, the purpose of these hearings is not to impeach the General Accounting Office in any way in its findings. but to cooperate and help to the end that the people of the United States shall be protected in their expenditures in these very broad policies which necessarily must obtain in the Maritime Commission. It has been generally the desire on the part of the people interested in these reports to have a full and open hearing, but insofar 1 |