Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
SHIPPING BOARD ASKS
FOR ADDITIONAL POWERS
Outline Of Legislation Wanted for
Speeding Up Construction
Given by Bowlcs.
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
Desires Authorization to Declare as
War Zone Territory Surrounding
Yards, as Well as to Commanders
Houses and Local Transportation
Facilities.
INV Associated Press.l


IDy Associated Press.l
WASHINGTON, December IS. - An
Shipping Board TO provide additional
powers FOR speeding up construction
OF tho new merchant fleet was given
to-day by former Rcar-Admiral Eowles,
assistant to the general manager OF
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. tes-
tifying at the Senate committees int
quiry into the shipping situation.
Among other things, Mr.. Bowlcs said
the board desired authorization to de-
clare. as war zone. tho territory
surrounding shipyards. as we'll as to
commander houses and local transport
tation facilities, 30 as to better take
care Of workmcn at the plants. lie
also suggested that Congress should
protect shipbuildinE from the opera
tions OF the war cxcess-profits law.
or at least modify its provisions in SO
far as it pertains to them. Operation
of the law is now so uncertain, h.
explained. the board is having great
trouble in placing contracts at a rea-
sonable price. as the builders claim
they will have practically nothing left
from the profits on the ships after
paying the tax.
| Replying 10 Senator Jones. Of Wash
ington. the assistant general manager
said fear OF the tax law is general
| among builders and not confined 10 any
one part Of the country. Senator Jones
raid he had seen kilograms indicat-
| ing that Pacific Coast builders were
anxious 10 get contracts.
Yes. at very high prices" replied
| Mr.. Eowlcs. Their prices are out
of sight
| Pacific Coast plants. he added. have
! increased their demands from SIS to
| 500 ton on steel ships. They now
ask. lie said, from $50 to s1s5 ton
while some are demanding 5000.
SOME TRY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENT
Some contractors are acting in good
! faith. while others are trying to take
advantage of the government" said
tho witness. in replying to questions
! regarding the general attitude of con-
! tractors.
II think we ought to know who is
holding UP the government" said Sem
ator Nelson, but Mr.. Bowles refused
to give any names except in executive
policy has been ITO deal pretty vigor-
ously with those contractors who at
tempt to hold up the government" and
that IL they are called by the commit
tee nc wanted to question them.
Poor housing and TRANSPORTATION IA :.
cilitics near shipyards. the witness
| said, caused tremendous waste in
man power. because steady mace
could not he kept. This makes neccs-
s"ry the employment of an excessive
number OF men. a study OF the sub.
Ject is now being made by the boards
industrial service department, the wit
ness declared. and plans are being
made to give relief to $4,000 skilled
workers within a year
AS an example OF the delay in build
ing ships now resulting from poor
housing conditions. Mr.. Eowlcs de-
clared IF $500 additional houses for
workmen were erected at Sparrow's
Point. Nd. that yards production could
be increased by ten ships year. I'm
der the boards plan. which Congress-
would have to approve, land also would
be concerned upon which 10 erect
buildings TO be rented at reasonable
rates TO employees OF the yards.
QUESTIONED AGAIN ABOUT
woOpEN-SIIIP PROGRAM
Mr.. Bowles was questioned again
to-day regarding wooden ships. and,
replying to comm tteemen. he said
that he had not stated yesterday that
the wooden-ship program was a flat
failure.
Mr. Bowles said he behaved the
shipping problem would he solved by
building steel ships. and that wooden
vessels should be built only when tom
mage can be increased most RAPIDLY by
that means.
Questions by Senators brought out
that the Shipping Board has adopted
no program as To ships. but Mr.. Bowles
said any explanation Of the rea son
should be made in executive session.
and the matter was not pressed
Mr.. Bowles told the committee the
independent pine growers wanted to
charge the board $50 thousand feet
for lumber, SIS more than the price
fixed in contracts made with the
southern Pine Association: but that
this price was refused. He said the
independents claimed that owing to
the construction of large number of
army environments they could get high .
er prices for their product than the
board was paying.
I'm other words. they wanted to get
all they could" suggested Senator
Jones. OF Washington.
When Mr.. Bowles left the stand the
committee adjourned hearings until
next Monday, when Cambridge Colby.
a member OF the Shipping Board. Will