Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-19
PIEz new HEAD
OF EMERGENCY
BOARD

Washington. Dec. 1s.-Charles Piez
Of Chicago was today appointed genar-
al manager of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, succeeding Rear Admirai
Harris, who resigned.
A general reorganization Of the fleet )
corporation will follow. Rear Admiral
Bowles, aide to Admiral Harris, will be
given an important place in the new
organization.
James Heyworth will take full charge
Of wooden construction and Charles
Day will become manager Of the pro-
duction department.
Admiral Harris resignation was ac-
cepted. Chairman Hurley announced.
because of his insistence Of moving the
offices Of the corporation to PhiladeI-
phia.
Admiral Harris, upon the retirement
of Admiral Capps, on Dec. l, on account
cf i'll health, was designated general
manager" said Chairman Hurley, in
{ prepared statement. While the re-
organization was in progress, he suS-
sested 70 me that the Emergency Fleet
Corporation be moved to Philadelphia.
7 suggested that matter Of this kind,
involving policy as well as possible
have to be submitted to the board Of
trustees, as it would be submitted in
any corporation to the board of direc-
tors.
Admiral Harris also wanted TO give
his immediate approval to an expendi-
ture of s12,000.0 900 for housing opera
tons in connection with the shpyards.
This being a departure from the cor
poration's functions of shipbuilding. !
felt that the trustees should pass upon
it.
admiral Harris then expressed his
opinion that his authority was to be
limited and he would be able TO rem
der more service elsewhere. The board
oil trustees concurred in this judgment
feeling that their duty required care
ful consideration Of projects apart
from shipbuiding."
Mr. Hurley adds that there is now
a better basis for optimism than there
had been at any time since the emer-
gency program was launched.
"Conditions on the Pacific coast" he
says, have so improved that records
are being broken in the speed with
which ships are being turned out. The
reports of Admiral Bowles show that
construction work is progressing as
fast as human labor can turn it out.
The plans of last May have been
translated into hulls on the ship ways
and into ships on the seas. We are
close to the point where the results
Of what has been done will be apparent
to everyone.
THE carefully checked figures of
Admiral Bowles show s.395.30s dead
weight tons under construction and
under contract"
Charles W. Parks. civil engineer in
the navy, was nominated today by
President Wilson TO be chief OF the
bureau Of yards and docks for four
year term with the rank Of rear ad
miral.
Mr.. Parks will succeed Rear Admiral
Frederick r. Harris. detached from that
position to become general manager OF
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. which
position he now has resigned. What dis
position is TO be made of Admiral Harris
was not announced.
In naming Mr. Piez general manager of
the fleet corporation and confirming his
Iul authority over lne ShlpDulidlng pro-
gram the shipping board officials said to-
night the shipbulding program was in
good shape and that nothing was to be
feared in a congressional investigation
Friends of Admiral Harris declared to-
night that his resignation was prompted
by dissatisfaction with the fleet corpora.
tons form Of organization and objection
to having his suggestions wait for cor.
sideration by the board of trustees