Evening journal., 1917-12-05
LITTLE PROGRESS
ON WAR TONNAGE
Contractors Admit Work on
Ships is far Behind
Schedule
WOULD HAVE WAR
PLANNING BUREAU


menis made in the report Of the Pa
triotlc Eudcation Society, OF Washing-
ton, ID. C.. 20 the effect that not more
than a quarter OF the shipbuilding pro-
gram for This country will have been
completed by the end Of 1918. Labor
troubles. delays In transportation. in
ability 10 obtain supplies and the va
cill0ling actions, OF Congress are the
combination that has been delaying all
shipbulding Instead Of 100000 tons,
but about 100000 dead weight will be
completed by the end Of the next year,
unless The government moves TO oXpe-
dite affairs more rapidly.
j. B. Weaver, manager Of the Harlan
plant Of the Bethlehem Steel Company,
today acknowledged that the report
was about accurate. As "A local exam
pie. Mr. Weaver said that but five
ships instead Of ten. would be com
pleted as This years output.
In explaining these difficulties The
report shows the need for legislation,
and reads In part
our investigation shows that Amer
ico's problem IS not merely one OF
building TO overcome the losses Of the
submarine II not another ship were
Do End ships 10 supply our army and
our allies and 20 carry the raw mate
rails needed 10 maintain our munition
plants
Tho loss Of the worlds tonnage up 20
September. 1917, actually amounted 70
100000 tons, although the destruc-
ton by submarine and mine was only
5.7s3,O80 tons. This is figured by csti-
81 Il FnNf 80
the eXigencies Of war, and including the
ships that are held in port as well as
The falling OFF in the worlds shipbuild-
ing. II the war had not interviewed the
worlds tonnage in 1911, would have
been about 100000 gross tons.
We have been led to believe that
America has done a great deal more In
slip construction than is actually the
case. This Is due TO the unfortunate
wording Of our government announce
ments. Anyone, reading these an
nouncements might readily he led TO
believe that the great tonnage, build
ing on American ways for foreign ac-
count az the outbreak Of the war and
which has since been Communicated
5y The shipping Board actually repre-
scnied new shipping produced ont "
Tho blue sky when the United states
went 10 war. AS a matter Of fact, most
OF these ships would eventually have
Ound their way into the Atlantic ser
vice. whether or not this country went
to- war The shipping Board also an
nounces its building program in dead
weight" tonnage. which makes YES
sci Of a given size appear about twice
as creat as If the British gross ton
h.
st-icted Emergency Fleet Corporation
can find means to greatly increase pres
ent facilities, including labor and mate
rals. men who know the present ca
pacity of our shipyards, declare that W
cannot possibly produce more thar
100000 dead weight tons, IN 1918
While we are focusing attention
uron ocean-going vessels IL Is a seri-
Gus mistake TO neglect our coastwise
trade and our inland waterways. Re-
Gently. a large huber OF barges and
iuebosts needed TO supply our New
England factories, were sold 10 foreign
account The Erie Canal, capable Of
/ Transporting 100000 tons Of freight
during season. is ready. but we have
not single barge 10 enter the trade.
Let every american OF courage and
vision. demand at once Of his senator
/ and Congressman that our executive
be empowered and required to.
"i-Esiablish national employm"n'
bureau. headed by an adminisi ,dtUr,
directly under the President, 81 that
it will eliminate quickly. the bureau
cratic red tape and iealousies ~ our
numbering peace machine. Give 10 am
p plc funds and power io cope with the
distribution Of labor 10 provide 'tatis-
tics unon which 10 base decisions as 10
the Justice Of increased wage dei lands
taking into account the ohaneinf cost
Of production in the various ceilings
and districts.
Establish an actual prior y Of
labor and material for the unqu' lion
ably most important needs. oday
priority Is a farce. Practically very
thing is IN the a. class, each calling
for preference. regardless OF its rtual
importance. There is no head - de-
iermine priority, for instance, be Neen
army and navy.
"3-Provide a war planning CO. NIT
tee. or chief. heading directly up I inc
President, with the duty, unham cred
by routine OF any kind. Of finding and
nllng gaps in plan and organizaiio o, IN
thought and action. No such grol D on
individual Of adequate capacity and
authority is yet visible, and m'l OF
our most serious mistakes Of org ia
ton, delay and action have como rom
lack Of attention TO this vital need.