The Washington herald., 1917-07-19
SHIPPING ROW
near SOLUTION
Official Washington Stirred
and Results AreExpected
from Conference Today.

The Goethals-Denman shipbuilding
controversy advanced one step to-
ward q solution yesterday but no
definite action was taken toward put
ting into effect the work of supply
ing ships with which to meet the
vital needs Of the nation and our
allies.
At the conclusion Of a lengthy con-
ference between Gen. George W. Goe-
thals. as manager Of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, and Chairman Will
liam Denman and the members of
the Shipping Board, 1t was announced
that no policy had been agreed upon
but that at the request Of Gen. Goe-
thals the conference would be con-
tinued this morning at $50. o'clock.
Three lines Of development in the
controversy were open last night:
% At the meeting today Gen. Goe-
thals and the Shipping Board will
adjust their differences and the ship
building program will proceed.
CD Gen. Goethals will refuse to re-
cede from his position OF debating
how the building of ships shall be
done and how ships on the stocks
shall be Communicated; the confer
ence will come to a deadlock. and
Gen. Goethals will be requested to
resign by the Shipping Board. or
Chairman Denman will tender his
resignation.
% In the event Of failure to arrive
at an understanding at the next con-
ference, President Wilson, acting in
compliance with a resolution intro
duced in the Senate yesterday by
Senator Reed Smoot, OF Utah. will
=
Shipping Board as to the progress
that has been made and when he Is
formally notified that none has been
made. will take personal charge OF
the controversy and II unable to
reconcile the views of Gen. Goethals
and Mr.. Denman, will request the
designations of one or both men.
It became increasingly evident yes
terday that official Washington has
lost patience with the procrastinating
methods Of Gen. Goethals and Mr..
Denman. Immediate action will be
demanded or else the designations of
the men who are delaying the govern
ments program will be asked.
Departments CrItIcise.
1T the row is not only between
s- Goethals and his board of di-
became apparent yesterday
II was learned that both the
and Navy Departments are Sc
criticising the Shipping Board
number of delays. The Navy
tment is Of the opinion that the
IN vessels taken over in New
should have been made ready
~. in three weeks. They will not
- ady before September 1.
fhE reason for this delay was stat
- naval officers to be that the
5blI ng Board had confined all of
u pair work on these German ves-
seis New York harbor, where IA
.Gss are normally not up to those
.rs cher nearby ports and where even
4 facilities are crippled by labor
troubles.
The War Department is reported to
feel that the Shipping Board has no
adequate conception of what the ur-
gent needs Tor transports is. The de-
partmCnt has the power to COM
mardeC- ships and crews. and feels
that its prcrogatives in this respect
have been interfered with by the Ship
ping Board.
Congress yesterday showed an in
clinat.on to bring the shipping row
troduced his resolution asking for a
report on what the Shipping Board
has accomplished. At the request Of
Senator Chamberlain. chairman of the
Military Affairs Committee, consider
alton Of the resolution was put OFF
until the food control bill shall have
been disposed of. 1t probably will be
taken up today and indications are
that 1t will be adopted IN record time.
The resolution reads:
Resolved, that the President be
and he hereby is requested to trans
init to the Senate such information
as may be in the hands of the Ship
ping Board to show what contracts
have been let or are pending for the
construction of ships under the au-
thority of that board, the names OF
the contractors, the location and ca
pacity Of their yards, the price per
ton to be paid to them, the nature and
amount Of any advances to be made
to them from government funds, to-