Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-08
TO SPEEDUP WORK
ON NAVAL PROGRAM
American Shipbuildcrs Pledge
Fullest Cooperation to
Secretary Daniels.
CONTRACTS AT FLAT RATE
Willing to Turn to Government
Construction at 10 Per
Cent Net Profit.
CONTRACTS AT FLAT RATE

WASHINGTON. March 7.-American
shipbuildcrs engaged on government
work entered into an agreement ,vi,b
Secretary Daniels to-day TO accept new
contracts at Nat rate Of 10 Der cent
net profit and pledged cooperation to
the fullest extent Of their ability in
'u*hing to completion the navy's con-
struction program
Virtually All OF the larger priya.e
plants in the country were rcpresen,ed
IN the conference. The builders. who
nave been netting from 20 to 80 pcr
cent on merchant steamers, said the,
were wiling TO turn to government
contracts at 10 per cent as patriotic
dutE. ana the secretary. on his part.
asreeo TO protect them from undue
loss As a result. for the present at
ieast, inc government will not con-
sider exercising the authority given
oN Congress to commander plants.
The next step Of the department will
he to call upon builders not engaged
IN government work TO undertake such
tasks AS they are equipped to carry
out For the most part. this will con-
sist or building submarine chasers. and
possibly some destroycrs
An understanding also will lie sought
TO prevent yards doing private work
from drawing men from those with
navy contracts.
PROMISE TO FURNISH
COMPLETE DETAILS
The companies represented to-day
viii furnish Secretary Daniels not later
than Monday with schedules Of ali
commercial work in their yards for
which they have contracted Details
Of the capitalization OF each concern.
its fixed charges, material contracts
plans OF plants and yards showing
possibility of enlargement aud number
Of employees will he included \ def
mite statement of the amount and kind
Of additional government work that
could be undertaken. with an cstina tc
of wha, might he accomplished in 4
years time. also will be submitted by
each builder
: Secretary Daniels said the list of
subjects TO he covered in the state
mcnts had been worked out. with the
intention or supplying all information
prospective purchaser Of tho plants
would require. II will be valuable in
determining the wisest way of placing
contracts for new ships. and would be
essential should II provo necessary in
mcn:.
The department is in correspondence
with steel makers and other manufac-
tnrcrs who supply material for navy
ships. Similar assurances OF co-opcra-
ton arc expected from them. Mr..
Daniels said he hoped to Interfere with
possible. but that nothing would he
all n ct in nf
clying tho navy with ships and mu-
uitions as rapidly as is possible"
GOMrEns INTEREsTED
IN LABOR SITI ALTON
mother element of tho speeding -up
program is tho task of securing labor.
samuel Goinpcrs. president of tho
American Federation OF Labor and
member OF tho National Defense Coum.
Gil advisory commission. has called a
labor conference in this connection.
All of the conferences and other pre-
liminary measures are preparatory TO
the issuing by President Wilson or =
proclamation declaring that a national
emergency exists which requires tho
use of the unusual powers granted him
by ConcresS to hasten naval construc-
ton. After that step has hccn taken
100000 provided for the purp"sc will
nc available to pay for hGh-spccd con
*truction. and tho department will he
in position to require any ship
builder or manufacturer to begin al
once on work assigned to him.
When the problem OF placing now
ships In yards best fitted 10 do fast
work has been studied out. tho ai"s
tion of getting ways clear of merchant
tonnaG" now under construction Will
he taken up. Wherever possible such
ships will be rushed to completion and
merchant ships will he laid down. how
ever, until the needs Of tho navy have
been satisfied.
In some instances il is expected that.
because Of shortage Of skilled labor
and the demand for structural steel.
merchant ships now OH tho ways would
he completed only TO tho point OF
launching and then held up while navy
vessels took their places.