The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-10
PROMISE TO HELP NAVY.
AMERICAN SHIPBUILDERS SHOW
THEIR PATRIOTISM.
accept New Orders Oh Fiat Ten Per
Gent. Basis and Pledge Speed in
Work.

work entered into an agreement with
secretary Daniels today to accept new
contracts at a fiat rate of 10 per cent.
net profit and pledged cooperation
TO the fullest extent of their ability
IN rushing to completion the navy's
construction programme,
Virtually all the larger private
plants in the country were repre-
sented in tho conference. The build
ers who have been netting from; 20
I'd 90 per cent. on merchant steamers
said they were willing to turn to gov
ernment contracts ut 10 per cent! as
patriotic duty and the secretary on
MS part agreed to protect them from
undue loss. AS a result, for the pres
ent at least, the government will not
consider exercising the authority given
ny congress to commander plants
The next step of the department
VIII be to call upon builders not en-
gagged in government work to under
TAKE such tasks as they are equipped
10 carry out. For the most part thi,
Will consist of building submarine
chasers and possibly some dcstroyer.,.
An understanding also will he sought
to prevent yards doing private work
from drawing men from those with
navy contract.
The companies represented today
Will furnish Secretary Daniels not
later than Monday with schedules of
all commercial work in their Yards
or for which they have contracted.
Details Of tho capitalization of each
concern, it's fixed charges, material
contracts, plans Of plants and yards
showing possibility of enlargement
and number Of employees will be in
cluded. A definite statement of amount
and kind of additional government
work that could be undertaken With
On estimate of what might be ac-
-complished in years time also will
be submitted to each builder.
Secretary Daniels said the list OF
subjects to be covered in the state
mcnt had been worked out with the
intention of supplying ell information
prospective purchaser Of the plants
would require. IT will be valuable in
determining the wisest way OF placing
contracts for new ships and would be
essential should it prove necessary in
the end to take over any establish
mont
The department is in correspond
ence with steel makers and other
manufacturers who supply material
for navy ships. Similar assurances
Of cooperation are expected from
them. Mr.. Daniels said he hoped to
interfere with commercial building
Just rs little as possible but that moth
ing would he allowed Ito stand in
the way OF supplying the navy with
ships and munitions as rapidly as
possible.
Another element of the speeding
up programme is the task Of getting
labor. Samuel Gompers, president Of
the American Federation of Labor
and member oe the national de-
fense council advisory committee, has
called labor conference in this con-
nection.
All the conferences and other pre-
hminary measures arc preparatory to
the issuing by President Wilson of
a proclamation declaring that u ma
t!onal emergency exists which re-
quires the use of the unusual powers
granted him by congress to hasten
naval construction. After that step
has been taken tho emergency fund of
more than s100.OOO,OOO provided for
the purpose Will be available to pay
for high speed construction and tho
department will be in a position to
require any shipbuilder or manufac-
turer to begin at once on work as
signed to him.
When the problem Of placing now
ships in yards best fitted to do fast
work has been studied out the cues
ton of getting WAYS clear Of mer-
chant tonnage under construction will
be taken up. Wherever possible such
ships will he rushed to completion
1nd delivered to their owners No
new merchant ships will be lcii
down, however, until the needs IF
the navy have been satisfied.
In some instances it is expected
that because Of shortage of skilled
labor and the demand for structural
steel. merchant ships on tho ways
would be completed only to the point
NJ launching ond thcn hold IN ,yl;lo