The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-20
CONGRESS TAXES NOTE OF SHIPPING
 ROW IN PROGRESS Senate Calls on President for Information as to
 Programme GOETHALS-DENMAN4 4 QUARREL UNSETTLED 7 Plan to Build Plants Main Point of Contention Be tween Board and
 Army Officer

Washington, July IS. Congress took note of the shipbuilding row today when the Senate passed without debate a resolution offered by Senator Shoot calling on President Wilson to furnish information con- .cerning the governments ship construction pro- gramme.
 The resolution asked for facts from the shipping board on building con- tracts let or pending, names of con- tractors and contract prices, together with other information to assist the Senate in considering requests Tor further appropriations. Another half billion dollars for ship construction will be asked, the shipping board an- nounced recently, as soon as it's esti- mates are approved by the President.
 CONFERENCE CONTINUES
 Meanwhile, members of the shipping board and Major General Goethais. man. ager of the boards emergency fleet cor poration, continued discussion of General Goethals plans for building two govern- ment ship plants and for communicating tonnage building in private yards Gen. efal Goathats met with the board in the morning and in the afternoon the board held separate conference.
 Chairman Denman announced tonight that the board seeks further information concerning the generals programme and that no decision as to approving the pro- gramme will be made until the subject has been given full consideration.
 Persons in close touch with the stua- ton still see possibilities of differences between General Goethals and the board which will be hard to settle. There have been intimations that the board may dis approve of parts of the generals scheme.
 If this situation arises many believe it may be necessary for President Wilson to decide finally as to who shall be in su- preme charge of the building programme. Friends of General Goethals say he may refuse to accept the boards suggestions if they involve radical changes in his plans
 OPPOSES GOETHALS
 Chairman Denmans statement tonight indicates that the board does not agree with General Goethals as to sites for the government plants, and that it will insist that they be placed on government owned land and that the general aban- don his plan for giving contractors who build the plants option to purchase them.
 The shipping board, it is understood. is determined that profits in building the fabricated ships be held down and that there shall be double profit on manufacture of steel for the ships and on actual construction.
 DENMAN'S STATEMENT
 Chairman Denman's statement fol- lows:
 We are rapidly acquiring full infor- nation as to the contracts proposed t0 be let by General Goethals last Monday. We expect to receive tomorrow facts as to the amount of the estimated $50 per dead-weight ton per ship which is to be spent in the government yarda, and the amount which is to be spent of the total product in the private yards where the ships are to be fabricated.
 The matter of communicating is a matter for discussion with the state de- partment which probably will be de- cided almost immediately. Although the general plan of communicating has been approved by the administration, now it will be worked out in detail presents questions which will receive immediate decision.
 We are receiving every assistance and cooperation from General Goethals that his great ability can give us. The government fabricating yards will be built on government and not on leased property. and no agreement looking to tine giving up of any of these yards to private interests will be entered into at this time
 Adequate compensation will be paid to interests who will be asked to as- sist the overnment whose services can be accepted for the rapid construction of ships. These men are not of the type to ask stimulating profits beyond fair return for their abilities and enterprise, land with General Goethals' assistance we have no doubt contracts will be shortly closed.''