Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-19
SENATE ORDERS
THOROUGH PROBE
OF SHIPPING ROW
Hot Phrases of Denunciation
Hurled on Floor of
Both Houses.
SPEEDY ACTION is TAKEN
ON INQUIRY RESOLUTION
Boards Continuous Difficulties
Denounced as Interminable
Tangle of Red Tape
NO DISSENT FROM EITHER SIDE
Whole Inside Story, Beginning With
Goethals-Denman Controversy,
to BE Aired.
SPEEDY ACTION is TAKEN
ON INQUIRY RESOLUTION
NO DISSENT FROM EITHER SIDE
Whole Inside Story, Beginning With
Goethals-Denman Controversy,
TO BE Aired.
fBy Associated Press !

IBy Associated PreSSl
WASHING TON. December ls--Con-
tnual reorganization OF the govern
ment's machinery for building 4 mcr
chant marine eliminated to-day in the
ordering OF a thorough investigation
of the whole situation by the Senate.
Almost at the moment Chairman
Hurley, OF the Shipping Board. was an
nouncinE the resignation OF Rear
ADMIRAL Harris as general manager OF
tho Emergency Fleet Corporation. and
the appointment OF Charles a. Picz. of
Chicago. TO tho place. resolutions for
investigation were bein. introduced in
both houses amid heated charges of
red tape" "inefHcicncy." "a crime"
ton.
and other hot phrases OF dcnunc:a
In making Mr.. Piez general manager
Of the Fleet Corporation and confirm
ing his full authority over the ship
building program, the Shipping Board
retains him also the corpora ito ne
vice president,
Rcar-Admirsl Harris was desisnat cd
as general manager just two weeks
ago upon the resignation OF Rear
ADMIRAL Capps.
Action came on the resolution intro
duccd by Senator Harding. OF Ohio.
who denounced tho boards continuous
difficulties IS 'an intcrmi-able ,ansle
OF rcd tape
II is little use 10 provide an army
that VIC can't transpor, and susta in.'
declared Senator. Harding. Tho win
ming OF the war depends on tho mcr-
chant marine. 1t will add confidence
and morale 10 the American people II
VIC have efficiency in the shppin. or
Eanization. The trouble seems an in
terminablc tanElc OF rcd tape"
SENATE; ORDERS INQUIRY
WITH HASTE RARELY SHOWN
with haste rarely shown, the Sen
ate ordered the inquiry. referring 1t to
tho Commerce Committee, which will
meet Thursday 10 arrange it's pro-
Ccdurc.
II is more than likely that the vs. hole
inside story of tho shipping Roard's
progress beginning with the celebrated
row between former Chairman Den
man and Major-Gencrai Gocthals Will
be laid bare
The keynote OF the demand for in
NcStigation, to which there appeared
10 be no dissent from either side in the
Senate. was tho necessity OF building
ships IL the nation is 20 win u. war.
Senator Chamberlain, an adminiAtra-
ton spokesman. declared the Shipping
Board had resolved into "a debating
society" and added:
Something has got TO be done, for
nothing can be accomplished as long
AS there arc constant changes being
made in the personnel OF the board"
&nator Williams. Democrat. declar-
>>S for the investigation. said
NO one can close his eyes TO the
fact that We as a nation have not done
our full part in this war"
The best thing that can be done"
Senator Williams continued, lis to let
your own people know all about the
matter"
Senator Lewis. the Democratic whip.
declared officers of the Shipping Boa rd
would welcome the investigation be-
cause it would show who was responsi-
bic for conflicts
Senator Swanson. Democrat. decla red
the boards trouble arose from falling
to empower naval officers to act, and
senator Lodge. Republican. declared
the boards proce lure was all wrong
CAN GET WORK DONE
WITH ONE COMPETENT MAN
IF We put in one really competent
man and tell him to build ships, we can
set ii DONE" he said.
In the comprehensive inquiry au-
thorizcd. the committee was directed
to investigate ''the plans and progress
OF all matters in connection with build
ing ships" OF the Shipping Board and
Fleet Corporation. with a view to maxi
ing remedial recommendations to Con-
gress."
Friends Of Admiral Harris declared
lie had acted unselhshiy in resigning
because he thought general re-
arrangement Of affairs at the ship
building organization would hurry the
work. His resignation. they said. would
bring to light conditions which are
delaying construction.
with the announcement Of the
changes Chairman Hurley disclosed
'h4t the progress OF building ships
"as going forward more rapidly than
nas been generally known.
general reorganization OF the
Fleet Corporation will follow. Rear
ADMIRAL Bowles. aid TO Admiral IIar-
ris. will be given an important place
in the new organization.
or wooden construction, and Charles
OF wooden construction, and charles
Day will become manager Of the pro-
duction department.
Admiral Harris's resignation was ac-
ccptcd. Hurley announced, because Of
his insistencc on moving the officers Of
the corporation to Philadelphia.
The shipbuilding program, Chair
man Hurley announced. is in better
Continued on Eighth PaEcD