Trials and Junkets

The plan of Chairman Lasker of the Shipping Board to take the Leviathan on a trial trip from Boston to Cuba and back to New York with 600 guests aboard has raised a great howl of " Junket!'' from many newspapers, chiefly Democratic, of whom The New York World is the leader.

The argument against " the million dollar joy ride," as it is called, amounts to this: The Leviathan had as much of a trial trip as was necessary, going from Newport News to Boston. She is an old ship and does not need any further trial. She is well known and does not need " advertising." Foreign ships do not take such trials. The trip will cost $200,000 or $300,000. Besides, she might be making a profit by entering the transatlantic service earlier than July 4. Considering these two factors, the Government may be losing $1,000,000 to provide a joy ride--a stag party for Mr. Lasker and his friends.

The other side of the case (not Mr. Lasker, however; he keeps silence) argues: The trip is required by law. The presence of 600 guests will cost the Government only $6,000 and will be worth more than $1,000,000 in advertising. The object of the trip is to give the Leviathan 20 or 30 trials at various speeds over a measured mile course to furnish her master with accurate data on the efficiency of her new oil engines and work out a "performance curve" which he may use in maneuvering his vessel. The mile course requires special conditions; it must be close to land so that accurate measurements of speed can be made; it must have very deep water, so that the efficiency of the propellers will not be impaired. The United States Navy has two such courses: one off Rockland, Me., the other in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Rockland course is too foggy at this season of the year.