The sun., 1917-06-07
DELAY IN SHIPYARDS
BLAMEDON DANIELS
Builders Protest at objection
to Employment Of Over
time Labor.
AUTHORIZED BY WILSON
Vessels Most Needed to Combat
Submarine Menace Can't
Be Rushed.

WASHINGTON. June 6.-The Navy De4
partment's previously announced pian-of
rushing work on war craft, particularly
marine menace. Is being hampered and
delayed because OF disagreement between
Secretary Daniels ana shipbullders to
whether labor should be employed over<
time on important Government contracts
The shipbuilders in order to expedite thA
work wish to employ overtime labor
under President Wilson's proclamation
suspending the eight hour law during the
national emergency. Secretary Daniels
does not want labor employed overtime
excepting with his specific permission irt
ca ch case.
The impasse between Mr.. Daniels
and shipbuilders now at work on VIZ
tally necessary types OF small crafe
brought representatives of the con.
tractors to Washington to-day tn
protest against the delay. They ara
trying to ascertain why the Navy De.
partment now appears more concerned
about the eight hour law than abouA
getting the ships built.
Causes Much Delay.
Up to q late hour tonight there has
been no sign of compromise on the
part Of Mr.. Daniels. He has taken the
firm stand after much consultation
| with certain of his non-military ada
| vsers that the Navy Departments pers
mission must be specifically obtained
before the contractors employ men overs
! time.
On the surface this seems simp14
and fair proposition, the contractors ex-
plain, but from the viewpoint Of pracS
| tical business methods they Insist 1t 10
proving hopeless and causing unneces<
sarv confusion and delay which Will b
reckoned in months SO far as complete
! ing important naval work Is concerned
I'VE cannot tell in advance Just whe1
1 and how overtime labor will be needed
! on these contracts" one OF the ship<
builders said to-day after fruitles9
visit to the Navy Department. AT q
/ o'clock, for example, we find 1t OF th4
utmost Importance to keep n hundred o9
! two hundred men on the job to complete
some important phase OF the worlN
There Is no time to telegraph to Secre4
tary Daniels every time some unexpected
development demands rush overtime
work But this is the Navy Deparea
ment's ruling, so the work simply ha4
to be dropped with the consequential
continual delay
Sharp Messages Sent.
Shipbuilders had interpreted PresfderS
Wilson's proclamation as giving thend
authority to employ labor overtimA BuQ
they have now had very sharp meesagee
from Secretary Daniels as result Of
their having acted on their presumption
please state at once on what aua
thority you are employing labor overv
time" or please send full statementN
Of when you have employed overtime
labor and do not henceforth employ ovep<
time without first having this DepaTts
ments permission" are the nature q
messages from Secretary Daniels to ship
builders. Mr.. Daniels interprets tr9
Presidents proclamation as giving him
the authority to dictate specifically wha1
work In the shipyards shall be done outs
side Of the eight hour law.
Tho men employed overtime aro Eees
ting time and half pay. They are
willing and anxious for the extra work.
In most cases. It is explained by the cons
tractors. II Is realized of course tha(
the question OF ultimate price win bd
affected by overtime work. The COM
tracts affected are among those let reA
Gently with the whole idea OF coping
with the submarine danger.