The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-21
GoETHlls:0EkntN ROW AGAIN
GOVERNMENTS MERCHANT SHIP.
BUII4DING PROGRAM HALTED
WHILE DISPUTE is ON.
Question 0f Who is lsOss-Prcsidcnt
Wilson May be Called Upon to Set
tie Shipping Roarsi Controversy.

Washington, July 16.-The govern
ments merchant shipbuilding pro-
gram was halted today when Major
Gen. GoethaIs. manager of the ship
ping boards fleet corporation, post
poned his plan to requisition all steel
merchant ships under construction
and to let contracts for building two
government-owned yards for produc-
ing fabricated steel ships.
At Gen. Goethals office it was said
the postpohement was due to a re-
quest by Chairman Denman. of tn,
shipping board. for {. short delay to
give the board time to govern the
program. This was denied at the
shipping board. although the state
ment was made that Gen. Goethals
had been asked to supply additiona
information concerning his plans.
Today's development was regarded
as bringing to a direct issue the
question of who is to have supreme
authority in carrying out the build
ing program-Chairman Denman or
Gen. Goethals. Authority to spend
$57O. 100000. for acquiring a great
merchant fleet, has been divided in an
executive order between the shipping
board and its corporation. the board
being authorized to acquire vessels by
purchase and the corporation to take
charge of builaing.
In announcing his program last
Friday, Gen. Goethals apparently as
sumed that as manager of the cor
poration he would be given q free
hand, but Mr.. Denman in a statement
tonight assumes responsibility for the
shipping board. whose members are
directors and stockholders of the cor
poration.
! Officials who have watched the
situation develop. and who have been
concerned lest differences between
Chairman Denman and Gen. Goethals
hinder the governments shipbuilding
plans at a. time when every vessel
that can be constructed is needed to
meet the German submarine menace,
declared tonight that President Will
son might be called on to settle the
controversy. While the disagreement
between the men appears to be large
ly over the number and type of
wooden vesaels 10 be built. 1t is no
secret among their friends that their
differences SO deeper than that.
In letter to Mr.. Denman made
public Friday, Gen. Goethals an
nounced that he would start his pro-
gram today. The fact that he had
postponed it was made known after
he had received a letter from Mr..
Denman this morning. The contents
Of this letter neither would divulgc
and at the Offices Of one it wos de-
4 clared Mr.. Denman had asked for q
delay while at the Offices of the
other it was asserted he merely had
asked for more complete informa-
ton.
Mr.. Denman's statement. accepting
for the shipping board and the cor
poration responsibility for the ship
program. given to the press tonight,
reads:
| I'VE requested of Gen. GOethals
certain information concerning his
program for the expenditure of the
$750.OO0.000 Of public money of which
the presidents executive order has
made the board responsible. If the
project has reached the condition of
preparedness, which it has been as
serted it had reached, the informa-
tion could have been furnished i'm
two hours; or we could have been
told If the Information was not in
hand.
| when we do get the information IN
writing we will take up with Gen.
Goethals a discussion of all the mat
ters involved in the project Of build
| ing ships. What we want is speedy
construction Of ships, reasonable
prices for steel in ship fabrication
and retention of all alien tonnage on
our stocks. which may bc necessar,
to carry troops. and supplies to
Europe If the rate Of submarine sink
ings continues at even two-thirds OF
that for the last five months.
I'VE also are interested in the re
tention by the government of any
fabricated plants, constructed by the
government and are interested in de
termining the policy Of their sale or
facts as they exist after the war anG
not now. We cannot now determine
Loo Of