The Washington times., 1917-12-18
HURLEY announces
REORGANIZATION OF.
SHIP CORPORATION.

Complete reorganization OF the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation, In charge Of
Americas shipbuilding program. was
determined upon today following the
sudden resignation OF Rear Admiral
Frederick R. Harris. general manager
Of the corporation, because OF alleged
dissension with other officials Of the
Shipping Board over matters Of policy.
Chairman Edward N. Hurley, Of the
board. in formal statement. announced
that Charles A Piez. OF Chicago, now
a vice president Of the Fleet Corpora
ton. would succeed Admiral Harris as
general manager. and that Rear Ad-
miral Bowles. former president of the
Fore River Shipbuilding Company. would
be assigned to an important place in
the direction OF its affairs. James Hey
worth has been put in charge Of wooden
ship construction. and Charles Day,
manager Of the production department
Underlying the reorganization was
the desire to bring the Fleet corpora
ton closer to the shipyards," Chair
man Hurley stated. "In order to ex-
pedite the actual production of ships
the groundwork OF plans having been
laid by previous arrangements,
Charles A. Piez. one of the most noted
engineers and organizers In the coun-
try, was requested by me to effect a
reorganization. This reorganization
Is nearly completed. Its success Is
assured by the fact that 1t derives
its inspiration from actual conditions
in shipyards of the country.
admiral Harris. upon the retire
ment OF Admiral Caps on December
1. on account of i'll health, was desIg-
mated general manager. While the
reorganization was in progress he
suggested to me that the Emergency
Fleet Corporation be moved to PhiIa-
delphia. suggested that a matter Of
this kind. involving policy as well as
possible legislative approval, would
certainly have to be submitted to the
board of trustees. He also wanted
to give his immediate approval to an
expenditure Of about S12, 600, 900 for
housing operations In connection with
the shipyaTds. This being a departure
from the corporations function OF
shipbuilding / felt that the trustees
should pass upon Il. Admiral Harris
then expressed the opinion that his
authority was to be limited and that
he would be able to render more serv-
ice elsewhere. The board Of trustees
concurred in this judgment. feeling
that their duty required careful con-
sideration OF projects apart from
shipbuildlng."
Admiral Harris resignation. after
Job. set Washington to wondering.
but Chairman Hurley and his assoc
ciates took pains to emphasize that
IL would not retaTd in any way the
vast projects now under way OF those
planned. In fact. Mr.. Hurley. in his
statement. rather stressed the point
that Admiral Harris severance of all
connection with the shipping pro-
gram would make way for other
highly skilled engineering talent that
would give an impetus to the speed
ing-up program. He praised Mr..
Piez's fitness for the new post OF
general manager.
PIeE Praised.
Mr.. Piez's grasp upon the whole
bodybuilding problem has Deen so
strong. and his knowledge of actual
conditions in the yards so definite as
a result of his study of the field that
the best results can best be obtained
by combining his functions as vice
president with those OF general man
ager," Mr.. Hurley declared. "Mr. Day.
who becomes responsible for the
speedy construction of ships, served
with Mr.. PieZ in personal visits of
the production committee to the ship
yards when a thorough survey OF
actual construction conditions was
made. He has just returned from
England. where he maue an exhaus-
tive investigation Of methods which
D. evaji in British shipyards.
Chairman Hurley stated that con
struction work Is now progressing as
fast as human labor can turn il out.
"Lloyds has just made a report which
has been carefully checked up show
ing there is a better basis for Op-
timism than there has been at any
time since the emergency program
was launched" Mr.. Hurley stated.
THE conditions on the Pacific coast
have so improved that records are
being broken in turning out ships.
The plans OF last May have been
translated into bulls on the shipways
and ships in the seas. We are close
to the point. where the results of
" hat has been done will be apparent
to everyone. Admiral BOwles' care
fully checked figures show S,39I.3lS
lightweight tons under construction
and under contract