South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-18
HARRIS QUITS
AS CHAIRMAN
Of FLEET BODY
Rear Admiral Resumes 100 a
Chief of Yards Bureau
Following Friction With
Edward NJ. Hurley.
International News Sc7re

International News ScrTice
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1S.-Com-
plete reorganization OF the emery
ency feet corporation i'm charge OF
Americas shipbuilding program.
was determined upon today follow
ing the resignation OF Rear Admiral
Frederick r. Harris. general man
ager Of the corporation, because OF
dissension with other officials OF the
shipping board over matters %
policy.
Chairman Edward n. Hurley or
the board an a formal statement.
announced that Charles 4. Piez OF
Chicago. now vice president Of the
fleet corporation. would succeed Ad-
miral Harris as general manager
and that Rear Admiral Bowlcs. for
mer president OF the Fore River
Shipbuilding company. would be as
signed 10 an important place boz the
direction OF its affairs James Hey
worth has been put in charge OF
wooden ship construction and
Charles Day named manager of the
I production department.
Bring Closer Cooperation.
'UnderlyinG the reorganization
was the desire 90 bring the fleet
corporation closer 90 the ship
yards" Chairman Hurley stated
''In order 10 expedite the actual
production OF ships the groundwork
of plans having been laid by previ-
Gus mangements, Charles A. Piez,
one of the most noted engineers and
organizers i'm the country. was re-
duested by me 20 effect reorgan-
izauon. This reorganization Is near
IL completed. Its success IS assured
by the fact that il derives IT'S in
spiration from actual conditions in
ship wards Of the country.
Admiral Harris. upon the retire
ment Of Admiral Capps on Dec. L,
on account OF IN health. was desig-
mates general manager. While the
reorganization was iu progress, he
suggested 20 me that the emery
encv fleet corporation Boz moved 10
Philadelphia. L suggested that
matter of this kind, involving policy
as we'll as possible legislative appro-
val would certainly have TO be SUB
mitted 10 the board Of trustees. lie
also wanted TO give his Immediate
approyal 10 an expenditure or about
s12.eOO.0OO for housing operations
in connection with the ship yards
/ This being a departure from the
corporations function of ship build
inc + felt that the trustees should
pass upon IT, Admiral Harris then
expressed the opinion that his au-
thoritv was 20 be limited and that
be would be able TO render more
service elsewhere The board OF
trustees concurred in this judg-
ment feeling that their duty re-
ouired careful consideration of pro-
iects apart from shipbuilding.
Praises Pies Ability.
Admiral Harris esignation. after
only two weeks tenure iu his new
icb set washington wondering. out
Chairman Hurley and his associates
took pains 20 emphasize that X
would not retard in any way the
vast projects now under way or
those planned.
Mr.. Piez's grasp upon the whole
SURROUNDING problem has been 20
strong. and his knowledge Of actual
conditions in the yards so definite
as result of his study ~ the helo
that the best results can best be
obtained by com bining his functions
"a. vice president with those OF gen.
eral manager" Mir. Hurley declared
ar. Day. who becomes responsible
for .he speedy construction az ships
served with Mr. Piez in personal
visits Of the production committee
20 the ship yards when a thorough
survey Of actual construction condi-
, tions was made He has just return
ed from England where ne made an
exhaustive investigation OF methods
which prevail in British shin
yards
Hurley Optimistic.
Chairman Hurley stated that c0n-
struction work is now progressins as
fast a. human labor can turn it out-
.IIoyds has just made a report
which has been carefully checked
up showing there is now a better
basis for optimism than there has
been az any time since the emery
encv program was launched ar
Hurley stated The conditions on
rho Pacific coast have SO improved
that records arc heinz broken in
forming out ships The plans Of last
/ May have been translated into bulls
or The ship ways and ships on ne
seas.