Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-27
WHY SH|PBU|LD|NG
PROGRAM IS SLOW
Shipping Board Official Says La.
Dor TOubles Have Been
Serious Setback.

washington, Dec. 26.-Labor troubles
we're blamed for much of the delay in
the governments shipbuilding program
by Raymond b. Stevens, vice chairman
of the shipping board, testifying to-day
in the Senate commerce committees
investigation.
Since the United States went to war.
Mr.. stevens said, shipyards have lost
a total Of $4,000 working days by
strikes and other disputes. This. he
figured, represents the work of 10000
men for a month. happily, said Mr..
Stevens the situation Is improving by
reason of measures taken by the board
to adjust differences wherever they
arise.
Senators took n lively interest In the
story Of the labor situation and the In
uuiry turned to the whole subject OF
labor and it's position during the war.
Questions as to the wisdom OF con-
scription of labor for shipyards and
other government work drew from Mr..
Stevens emphatic opposition to any at
tempt to force civilians to work under
prescribed conditions and government
fixed wages.
Telling of the boards work in estab-
fishing with the aid Of the labor depart
ment employment agencies on the Pacific
coast Mr.. Stevens said that with their
institution also in the East the board
hoped to obtain from other industries as
many men as it needs. He added that an
appropriation would be needed to pro-
vide housing facilities at isolated plants.
THE number of men should actually
| be more than doubled" said he, III we
are to accomplish our full aims. Roughly
there now are about 10000 men engaged
in shipbuilding. We could use from
1000 to 100000 more. We are obtaining
new men gradually now and hope to
obtain them much faster later on. Re-
Gently LOG yards reported they could use
Immediately 10000 more men,"
| Mr.. Stevens described a bonus system
instituted in Pacific coast yards and said
| II 1t proved successful an extension to
the East was planned.
"Is not that an excess profit you are
paying?" asked Senator Nelson.
| 1--WE do not consider 1t as SUCH" Mr..
Stevens replied, but IL 1t will speed UP
the production Of ships we think 1t is
wise to pay it. What we are concerned
with now is the production of ships and
II the bonus will help accomplish that
it is worth while despite the cost"
The labor situation, the witness said
presents a problem too big for any one
department to handle. A centralized
| policy as TO the relation OF the govern
ment to labor during the war. he said
SHOULD be worked out Immediately
This brought up the discussion regarding
CONSUMPTION.
Senator Sherman asked II it was fair
or Just to conscript men for the army and
permit workers to strike for higher
| wages. Mr.. Stevens said he did not be.
lieve Consumption of labor could be en-.
forced. as the sentiment was too strong
against it. Senator Nelson argued that
sentiment had been against the conscrip-
ton of men for the army, but that II
had been put into force.
And" he added, II think it was wis,
now. although 1 voted against 1t at thu
time. Sentiment may change respecting
labor CONSUMPTION too"
Asked II quibbling over prices had de
layed ship construction Mr.. Stevens sale
he thought 1t had to some extent He told
Of the delay in closing contracts FOL
fabricated ships while Admiral Caps
formerly general manager Of the emer
gency fleet corporation, was reducing
figures approved by his predecessor
Major-General Cocktails. The delay it wa
brought out, saved the government SIS.
100000 in the contracts.
Mr.. Stevens took occasion to denounce
published charge that he had let contracts
to friend in New Hampshire at a higl
price. He filed with the committee lette
from General Goethals. who. upon seeinl
the charge, wrote that he negotiated tn,
contract In question, and that Mr.. Stevens
had nothing to do with It,