Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-27
STRIKERSHELD
TO BLAME FOR
GREAT DELAY
IN ship PLANS
Labor Troubles Cause Loss of
Many Working Days to
Building Program, Says
Boards Vice Chairmna.
tBy Review wLeased wireJ


WASHINGTON. Dee. %. - Labor
troubles were blamed for much Of
the delay in the governments ship
building program by Raymond r. Stew
ems vice chairman of the shipping
board, testifying today in the senate
commerce committees Investigation
Since the United States went to
war. Ir. Stevens said. shipyards have
lost a total of 5S6S93 working days
by strikes and other disputes. This.
he figured, represents the work Of
%. .O0O men for a month. Happily. said
Mr. Stevens. the situation is imprOv-
ing by reason of measures taken by
the board to adjust differences wher-
ever they arise.
Senators took a lively interest in
the story of the labor situation and
the inquiry turned to the whole sub
ject Of labor and its position during
the war. Questions as TO the wisdom
of conscription of labor for shipyards
and other government work drew from
Mr.. stevens emphatic opposition to
any attempt TO force civilians to work
under prescribed conditions and gov
ernment-fiXed wages
Housing Needed
Telling of the boards work in es-
tabiishing. with the aid of the labor
department. employment agencies on
the Pacific coast Mr.. Stevens said
that with their institution also in the
east the board hoped TO obtain from
other industries as many men as il
needs. He added that an appropria-
tion would be needed 20 provide hous-
ing facilities at isolated plants.
The number of men should actually
be more than doubled" he said, ii
We are TO accomplish our full aims,
Roughly there now are about 10000
men engaged in shipbuilding. We
could use from 100000 to 5000
more. We are obtaining new men
gradually now and hope to obtain
them much faster later on Recently
l0s yards reported they could use i'm
mediately 10000 more men"
Mr. Stevens declared bonus sys-
TEN instituted in Pacific coast yards
and said if it proved successful an
extension to the east was planned.
eonus System Questioned
rs that not an excess profit you
are pSying?r asked Senator Nelson,
I'VE do not consider it as such.
replied Mr.. Stevens, but if it viii
speed up the production of ships We
think it is wise TO pay ii. What we
are concerned with now is the produc
ton of ships and if the bonus Will
help accomplish that it is worth while
despite the cost"
CONSUMPTION Discussed
( Senator Sherman asked if it was
fair or Just to cOnscript men for the
army and permit workers to strike for
/ higher wages. Mr.. Stevens said he
did not believe conscription OF labor
could be enforced as the sentiment
was toe strong against it. Senator
Nelson argued that sentiment had
been against the eonscription OF mel
for the army but that it had been put
{ into force.
And" he added. i think il va:
wise row. although I voted against il
at the time. Sentiment may chang,
/ respecting labor cOnscriptiOn. too"
Asked if quibbling over prices hat
delayed ship construction. Mr.. Steven.
said he thought it had to some extent
He told Of ~he delay in closing con
tracts for fabricated ships while Ad
miral Capps, formerly general man
ager of the emergency fleet corpora
ton. was reducing figures approve,
by his predecessor. Major Genera
Gcethals
The delay. It was brought out, save,
the government $l5.O0O.0OO in the con
tracts.
Mr.. Stevens took occasion to de
nounce a published charge that h,
had LEI contracts to firm in New
Hampshire at higher prices. He file,
with the committee a letter from Gen
eral Goethals who upon seeing IA
charge. wrote that he negotiated tn
contract in question and that MI
Stevens had nothing to do with IL.