South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-22
SHIP BUILDING
To SPEED NOW
SAYS HURLEY
Chairman of Board Declares
Present Organization With
General Manager is Only
Way to Get Results.

ure OF the governments ship build
ing program was shouldered Friday
10y Chairman Hurley of ;he shipping
board. testifymg at the senate com
merce committees Investigation of
delays in ship construction.
Called as the first witness i'm the
inquiry. Mr. Hurley admitted that
there have been delays but de
clared that the recent reorganiza-
ton of the boards emergency feet
corporation for the first time gives
the chairman of the board proper
authority and fixes responsibility
where it belongs The dual Organi-
zation of the board and the cOrpo-
ration. he said, has been done away
and the present general manager of
the corporation answers directly TO
the chairman.
The present organization, Mr..
Hurley said, lis the only way that
ships can be built. We do not need
additional legislation. II the head
of the institution does not build
ships it is because Of his inefficiency
and not because of faults of the or
ganiZation.'
Tell Story of Early Troubles.
From Mr. Hurley and from John
A. Donald, who has been a mem
Der Of the board since its creation.
the committee drew long story of
the troubles Of the board and the
fleet corporation. starting with the
row at the outset between William
Denman, first chairman of the
board, and Maj. Gen. Goethals. first
general manager of the fleet cOrpO-
ration.
Besides organization faults, fac
tors which have contributed TO the
delay in ship construction were
given by Mr. Hurley as the navy's
utilization of ship building facili-
ties, labor troubles, lack of housing
for workers, the necessity of build
ing new shipyards and changes in
specifications of ships
The changes in specifications were
made in wooden vessels two months
ago, after some of them already
were under construction They
were made. Mr.. Hurley said, by Ad-
miral Caps and his staff of de
signers when it became apparent
that the ships as contracted for orig
inally needed larger timbers to
strengthen them.
Labor Situation Improves.
The labor situation, Mr.. Hurley
said, is improving and the shipping
board. in cooperation with the war
and navy departments and the cOun-
Gil of national defense. is working
on a comprehensive housing plan.
Mr.. Hurley told of the difficulties
the old board and the new had in
getting the building program start
ed. The board found, ne said.
when il started out to build ships.
that IS of the largest yards in the
country were crowded with navy
work and that new facilities must
be provided.
ut is hardly fair to say that the
newly created facilities shall, from
the very day they have been put
into operation, produce ships at
their maximum capacity" he urg-
ed. Time is necessary for eXpan-
sion and for the development of
necessary labor"
"a New Yards Built.
The shipping board began its pro
gram, Mr.. Hurley said, with only 3S
ship yards existing in the country.
Since then - entirely new yards
have been created.
The work thus far" he said. has
been in many cases preparatory and
has carried with it the usual amount
of annoyance and Disappointment
But this preparatory period is rap
idly getting behind US and the pc
Rod of actual ship construction in
full accordance with our plans is
Immediately before US
Mr.. Donald described the fleet
corporations reorganization, which
stripped Rear Admiral Capps, Gen.
Cocktails successor, of authority and
led TO his resignation. The resigna-
ton Of Rear Admiral Harris. who
succeeded Admiral Capps and quit
after about a weeks service, was
due. Mr.. Donald said. 10 the naval
officer taking measures without con-
-. the DOdIu- AQlIllIdt tldi us
was succeeded by Charles Piez of
Philadelphia, whose Office as vice
president in charge Of production
was combined with that Of gen
eral manager. The trouble between
Denman and Goethals. Mr. Donald
saio. appeared TO be a difference il
temperament and the questions as
10 who was in supreme charge Of
the building program The cOntro-
versy. he said delayed the ship
building program and permitted
more than a dozen ships 70 get
away from the United States which
might have been retained IL the
boards communicating order had
been issued earlier
Delay Cost Many Ships.
The new board Communicated
construction a week after il came
into power, but the weeks delay
cost the United States several ships.
Asked Why the order was held up.
Donald said Gen. Goethals was
ready TO issue it soon after power
10 do so was delegated by Pres't
Wilson, but that ii was postponed
at the instance Of Mr.. Denmsn
The committee appeared inclined
TO criticize the change in specif-
cations OF wooden ships The