The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-27
SHIP PLANS HALT
FOR LACK or MEN
AND LABOR WARS
Vice Chairman Of Board Declares
Industry Neds 100000 to
100000 More Men.
SENATE BOARD INTERESTED
Question of CONSUMPTION of Labor
Comes Up-Stevcns 0p-
u wy pises Plan Warmly.

Washington, D. c., Dec 27.-Labor
troubles were blamed for much of the
delay in the governments shipbuilding
program by Raymond B. Stevens, vice
chairman Of the shipping board, testi-
flying Wednesday in the senate COM
merce committees investigation.
Since the United States went to
war, Mr.. Stevens said, ship yards have
lost total of 536,992 working days
, by strikes and other disputes. This he
figured, represents the work of TO-.
600 men for month. Happily, said
Mr.. Stevens, the situation is improv-
Ing by reason Of measures taken by
the board to adjust the differences.
Senators Interested.
Senators took lively interest in
the story of the labor situation and
the inquiry turned to the whole sub
1ect of labor and it's position during
the war. Questions as to the wisdom
of CONSUMPTION 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
government fixed wages.
Telling of the boards work in estab.
fishing, with the aid of the labor de-
partment, 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 1t
needs. He added that an appropria.
ton would be needed to provide hous.
ing facilities at isolated plants
.v Many Men Needed.
"The number of men should &C.
tually be more than doubled" said he,
:if we are to accomplish our full
aims. Roughly there now are about
10000 men engaged in shipbuilding.
We could use from 100000 to 100000
more. We are obtaining new men
gradually now, and hope to obtain
them much faster later on. Recently
log yards reported they could use i'm
mediately 10000 more men," Mr.. Stew
ems described a bonus system tnstltut-
ed in pacific coast yards and said II
It proved successful an extension to
the east was planned. %&DJt
.Is that not an excess profit you
are paying?' asked Senator Nelson.
we do not consider it as SUCH" Mr..
Stevens replied, "but if it will speed
up the production of ships we think it
is wise to pay it. What we are con.
cerned with now is the production of
ships and il the bonus will help. ;ac-
complish that it is worth while despite
the cost" a.
The labor situation, the witness
said. presents a problem too big for
any one department to handle A CEN
tralized policy as to the relation OF
the government to labor during the
war. he said, should be worked out
Immediately. This brought up the dis
cussion regarding conscription.
10 % Labor Consumption.
Senator Sherman asked IT 1t was
fair or lust to cOnscript men for the
army and permit workers to strike for
higher wages. Mr.. Stevens said ne
did not believe Consumption OF labor
could he enforced as the sentiment
was too strong against it. Senator Mel
son argued that sentiment had been
against the CONSUMPTION of men for
the army, but that 1t had been put
into force. E. .a~y,
"And, he added, 4 think it was wise
now, although voted against 1t at
the time. Sentiment may change re-
specting labor CONSUMPTION, too
clubbing over Prices.
Asked If quibbling over prices mad
delayed ship construction, Mr. Stew
ems said he thought it had to some
extent. He. told OF the delay in clos
ing contracts for fabricated ships
while Admiral Caps, formerly gen.
eral manager of the emergency fleet
corporation, was reducing figures ap-
nroved by his predecessor, Major
General Goethals. The delay, it was
brought out, saved the government
$4,000, 900 in the contracts. ,
Mr.. Stevens took occasion 10 ae'
nounce published charge that ne
had let contracts to friend in New
Hampshire at a high price. He filed
with the committee letter from Gen
eral Goethals, who, upon seeing me
charge wrote that he negotiated the
contract in question and that Mr..
Stevens had nothing to do with it.