The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-01
'SlttL SH|PbU|lOfRS
AID SHIPPING BOARD
Biggest Trouble in ship Situation Ii
Lack OF Cooperation Between
Board and Builders.
HOLDS FIRST SESSION TO-DAY
100000 Tons of shipping Promised
ny March I, Although Difficulties
Anticipated With Labor May Cause
Delay,

Washington. oct. sI.--Five Of the
country's biggest steel shipbuilders
vii act as aides to the shipping board
and the emergency fleet corporation
in lts urgent campaign to speed up
the shipping program, It was announc-
ed tonight They are:
II J. Ferguson. Of the Newport
News ShIpbuilding company; Wallacs
Downey OF the Downey shipbuildmg
company; J. " Powell vice presi-
dent Of the Bethlehem steel Ship
building company a NJ. Neeland. OF
the New York shipbuiding company
and J II Hand. president. William
. Cramp and Sons, Of Philadelphia
Tic formation Of this COMMITTEES
wa - the biggest single development OF
an ail-day conference between Allan
tic coast steel shiphullders and re-
personalities Of the shipping board
Emergency Fleet corporation, the
navy department. the department OF
labor and tho American Federation OF
Labor. Chairman Of the shipping
! board presided
! 1t was the sense OF the meeting
that the biggest trouble In the shlr
situation was the lack Of cooperation
4 between N" builders and the govern
ment, The committee will stay on tn.
Job in WASHINGTON 10 make sure thai
proper cooperation is obtained. Mr.
/ Ferguson, was designated chairman
/ To work directly with Mr.. Hurley ant
Admiral Capps. general manager o
! The Fleet corporation
The comrittee will hold It's fqrw
session with tho government execu
ttves today ar' get right to work
II will take w Immediately the fol
lowing questions
! Labor problems. including stand
arGlzatton OF ees housing. condi
tions for employees and development
OF crude labor into skilled shipbuiId
ing labor: congestion Of ra-ds witt
orders from the navy department. i'm
pending mercantile bottoms build
ing adjust m art ~ contracts in case
Of com nlandeered. ships. when suci
vessels have caused trerl endous lossc
to builders and handicapped their exc
J cution OF contracts on other ships 70
! tn, government
/ Under the combined efforts Of tn
| governments representatives and TIL
/ builders these problems are expectet
/ to fade away quickly although som
trouble Is Anticipated IN the question
I of labor Skilled mechanics ar
/ scarce rival firms bid for their ser
( vices few concerns providing adequat
( housing conditions and several othe
/ fartors made the problem knott
1l.!-.lii@=..@l- l.-s.st &.-tsa
I day by Assistant Secretary of Tabo
/ Post and Mr. Powell, Standardized
wnTe scales we're proposed. and ma,
he pat into effect They will frs
! have to be made aoceptab bile to hotl
employers and worknaeu. II was said
I II Is probable that,a new law vii
! be framed TO stop the practice o
stealing expert wcrkTnen. TO which
+ nea riv all the firms represented toda
( pleaded euilty, England made thi
misdemeanor and hartman Hurley
tonight said he thought II likely thi
country would have to do the sam
hing
Mvcr bloomfield aocioIorlst an,
student Of housing conditions. urgei
the shipbullders that they devot
more attention to handling thei
iaborers, carefully. pointing out that
would result In higher efficiency ans
attract men1ta the trade. r. ~.
| NTr Hurley reiterated hts proTnfN
Of / eco, 600 tons OF shipping by Marci
/ made some days ago. This promis
vii be kept he said. largely becaus
of the evident intention or the ship
builders to turn In and give thei
best efforts to close cooperation witt
the government