The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-10
FINDS IT HARD
TO HURRY NAVY
Daniels Confers With ShipbuiId-
ers, Who Say Speed Prob
lem Is PuzzIing.
LABOR IS MAIN DRAWBACK
Greatest Stress Will Be Laid on
Quick Construction of Smaller
Craft, Such as Submarine,
Chasers and Destroyers.

Washington, March 9.-Machinery
looking to the prompt execution Of
his program for speeding up naval
construction was set in motion by
Secretary Daniels. He conferred with
representatives of the major ship
building companies and later with
Secretary Wilson of the labor depart
ment and Samuel Gompers Of the
American Federation of Labor.
President Wilson called at the navy
department and talked with Mr.. Dan
iels for some time. The president was
told that even with an emergency fund
of more than $1O0,OOO,OOO now avail
able, backed by authority to require
preference for navy orders, and If nee
essary to take over shipyards or other
plants, it would be a difficult task to
get ships rushed to completion.
Labor the Chief Problem.
The companies asked to attend the
meeting were the Fore River Ship
building company, the New York
Shipbuilding company, William Cramp
& Sons, the Electric Boat company,
and the Lake Torpedo Boat company.
Proposals for Is destroyers and for
the scout cruisers left over from the
preceding bill already have been ad-
yertised. Bids will be opened during
the present month. Proposals for 38
f1na
additional S0O-ton submarines will be
advertised without delay. 1t was
planned to place contracts for FIVE
battle cruisers In conference with ship
|Uuifdefs ana not BY advertising. Plans
for three 42,000-ton dreadnaughts will
not be ready for advertisement for
some weeks.
The shipbuilders will present de-
tailed statements of what they might
be able to do with additional funds
In the way of speeding up.
The most serious problem is that
of securing skilled labor, although
suspension of the eight-hour law on
government contracts is expected to
help in this regard. Mr.. Daniels asked
the advice of Secretary Wilson and
Mr.. Gompers as to what steps to take
to Increase the supply of labor in the
ship trades.
A conference of steelmakers and
other concerns which supply material
for the navy will be called shortly.
Builders Want More Time.
Secretary Daniels said the ship
builders with whom he conferred
showed every desire to cooperate with
the government. He pointed out, how
ever, that where he wished to talk
about building destroyers in a year
the shipbuilders talked of two years.
If the secretary invokes the power
to commander plants it will not be
done until he has a definite under
standing Of the entire situation. The
problem, he said, was to spend the
emergency fund and use the unusual
powers wisely so that the best results
could be obtained.
The greatest stress will be laid, 1t
is understood, on quick construction
Of smaller craft, such as submarine
chasers, submarines and destroyers.
At the same time the eight new cap
ital ships, five battle cruisers and
three monster dreadnaughts, must be
laid down in addition to new scout
cruisers.
To obtain submarine chasers the de-
partment plans to call upon small boat
builders along both coasts, the hulls
to be of wood in order to relieve the
steel trades and steelworks of the
strain.
Bids for Airshlps.
Bids for eight or more nonrigid
dirigible airships for coast and harbor
patrol work opened by the navy dis
closed offers from five companies,
with prices for one airship ranging
from $71,500 to $4,000 and deliv-
cries in 120 days. Five million dol
lars have been appropriated and the
number of airships will be determined
later.
The machines are designed to oper-
ate from shore bases, but could rest
on the surface of the water in good
weather. Each dirigible will carry
two men, pilot and an observer, and
be equipped for radio communication.
They will have 100-horse power mo-
tors, a maximum safe altitude limit of
1900 feet, and at 600 feet a maximum
speed of As miles an hour for ten
hours