New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-19
Shipbuilding Inquiry
Is Ordered by Senate
Democrats Join Republicans in Demanding
Reasons for Lack of Progress in Fulfilling
Governments Programme of Construction
(Staf Correspondence

(Stqf Correspondence
WASHINGTON. Dec. ia thorough
investigation Of the whole govern
mcnt shipbuilding situation was or
dercd to-day by the Senate. The IN
ouiry will. be in charge Of the Senate
Commerce Committee under a resolu-
ton proposed by Senator Harding Re
publican. of Ohio. and adopted without
a dissenting voice. At the same time
Representative Edwards, Of Pennsylva-
MIA. introduced similar resolution IN
the House. which was referred to the
Committee on Merchant Marine.
The question was brought up follow
ing the announcement that for third
time tho executive head Of the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation has resigned,
unable to make progress because OF the
impossible situation existing, due to
the conflicting authority between the
shipping Board and the Emergency
Tlctl Noi poidNlVHs
Although the investigation was pro
posed by Republican Senator, not
single member on either side raised
his voice in defence of the Shipping
Board. On the contrary, several Dem
ocratic Senators. including such pow
erful leaders as Chairman Chamberlain
of the Military Affairs Committee and
John Sharp Williams, probably inc
closest friend tho President has IN
either house, added scathiug comment
TO the arrangement of the ineficiency
and disorder which have kept the SHIP
ming Board OH the first pages Of the
newspapers,
Delay and Friction
The whole story of the Shipping
Board dates back to September Z, 1916,
when the President signed the bill ere
ating that organization. lie appointed
members Of the board after delay OF
three and a half months. The board
organized, despite the pressing need for
haste to meet the destruction by u
boats Of the worlds tonnage, one month
and nine days later. Then began the
delays. when resulted from friction,
with the forcing out Of the board of
Bernard II. BAKER 70 make possible the
choice Of William Denman, Of Caliior-
MIA.
81 do not believe that this Congress
ought TO take its. holiday recess without
making provision for an investigation
of the affairs Of the Federal Shipping
Board" said Senator Harding to-day.
81 am not yielding TO the current tend
ency TO enter into Investigations Of all
sorts. but am deeply impressed by the
failure of the Shipping Board III TINS
great emergency of the nation.
eve have literally appropriated not
only millions but billions for the fur
thoring Of the construction Of merchant
ships. Since early last year We have
Witnessed the passing from the ser
vice of the board Of General Goethals.
that great constructor who builded the
Panama Canal. We have witnessed
the passing Of Mr. Denman, who for
long time was the dominant hgure IN
the Shipping Board; and the press this
morning records the retirement or
Rear Admiral Harris. who was sup
posed TO bring to the Shipping Cor
poration not only his talent for CON
struction. but his eminence as a leader
i'm pressing things TO a conclusion; and
il the newspaper reports be well found
ed, our shipping programme for the
merchant marine is in very dis
cOuraCing way.
Situation "Most Discouraging'
"There have been so many changes
responded Mr.. Harding, that 1t IS not
within my ordinary memory to recall
them all But in all seriousness the
shipping situation IS a most discourag-
ing one if the press correctly reports
IL. 1t is of but little use for the nation
10 provide an army that 1t cannot
transport and at the same time sustain.
talked very recently to a great cap
tain Of industry who has under way
line of construction for the navy, and
he made The startling statement that
his plant was constructing for the
United States navy more dostroyers
than there are in the world to-day.
eli that be true. under the leadership
Of department and an individual con-
structing concern which has capacity
TO build more destroyers than there are
IN the world to-day. certainly capable
and efficient Shipping Board could
bring to the service of the nation in
this crisis a merchant marine some
where comparable to our present needs.
81 tell you the winning OF the war
depends upon our strength on the seas
We must have this merchant marine
if we are TO hope to succeed, and |
think IL is a crime that the money
placed in the hands of the Shipping
Board should have been so III handled
that there should have been an en-
tanglement OF red tape and inefficiency
of a character to delay the great Amer
lean shipbuilding programme"
Senator Fletcher rehearsed the his
tory of the delay in the shipping leg
islation in partial defence of the lack
Of ships.
Senator Fletcher then alluded TO the
ship construction on the Pacific Coast
"The Senator speaks about the shin
yards on the Pacific Coast" in.
terrupted Senator Chamberlain. Our
people have been begging to build