New-York tribune., 1917-07-15
Programme Of Goethals
Covers 139 Vessels
Building
Builders Have 70
More Contracted For
Price of Steel Chief Draw
back to Carrying Out
Gigantie Scheme
From The r-ouns Bureau

Washington, July l4.-General Gee F
thals will take over the shipyards OF
the country next Monday. Slmultane-
ously representatives OF the Emergercy
Fleet Corporation will commander the
contracts for all steel ships under con-
struction and will Immediately COM
mence survy OF these vessels IN order
that work may proceed on them &C
cording to plans formulated by Cen .
eral Goethals
Fifteen shipyards will come within
the Communicating order 10 be exc
cuted Monday. These yards have IN
der construction l39 steel vessels. sg-
gregating 1.08s,7OO tons. They have
further contracts for seventy steel YES /
sells not yet commenced. aggregatins
a tonnage of 462,472. In addition 70
this total of 209 steel ships, sggrega,-
ing a tonnage of 1,55l172, the visible
output of the yards. II is estimated that
about 125 ships, sggregating a Tonnage
Of over 100000, will be constructe .
within the two-yesr period fixed by
General Goethals. Within this period
the general manager Of the Fleet Cor
poration expects to build in the neigh F
borhood of 100000 tons OF steel ships
alone.
General Goethals places chief rolf
snce on the fabricated steel ship plans.
These ships will be OF two gene raj.
types, one Of 5000 tonnage and the /
other OF 800 tonnage. II is quite
possible that notifications Of the
standard designs will be permitted IN
various shipyards, in order to accom-
rodate the work TO available equip
ment
Steel Price Vital
The success OF General Goethals's
programme, il was pointed out today
m orticial quarters. depends on an early
settlement of steel prices. Unless 20
government reaches satisfactory
price adjustment with steel producers,
i was stated. the entire steel pro-
gramme may b. seriously retarded.
This question OF steel prices Is nov
claiming the chief attention OF Presi-
dent Wilson. it is said.
In explanation of the proposed fed
eralization of shipyards General Goe-
thals to-day issued the following state
ment:
at has been decided. after consulta-
ton with representatives Of the snip
Yards. that the construction OF steel
merchant ships in all the shipyards or
the United States must De fastened:
"First-By the addition OF overtime
where necessary. ,,...
"Second-By proceeding 20 additlonai
labor shifts as soon as may be.
"Third-By the elimination OF non
essential refnements OF construction
and equipment. -d
~, Is necessary also that each yard
increase its production 20 tne maxi
n,um and after the building berths are
cIeared of ships now under construc-
tion be devoted 70 producing the par
.icrIar TYNE cf ship 70 which 10 is best
suited. ,
Yards Must Be Helped
oeecause Of their varied contracts
for shipbuilding the yards cannot carry
ont tbis programme without the heip OF
tbe Government. II has therefore neen
decided that the shipbuilding lndustty
of tho nation shall be federallzed. 81
steel merchant ships now on the Ou!li-
ing berths will be tortnwlth rsqu
tioned bv the United States, ana eacn
Yard will proceed to compete SUI"
shins under the direction OF the
oral manager Of the United states mp
ming BOARD Emergency Fleet CorpJts
ticn' and will take on new worS otnei
than repair work. only Win MS ~"
sent. ..io, for the
~, Donsrtment or for any other gov,
.rnment department or for tne Cnl.eu
S,ates Shipping Board emergency
Tiao. Cornorstion. and no snip repair
- will he reauisitioned at tnls 'lhne.
vi ~ ;s the policy Of the government
=. ,.La fair paymen:s for the "ola
49, rnder this programme, so tnas
;..os+uent of private FUNDS lh
sbinbuilding industry may be seeuLeu' 10.
- 20 encourage the training oL "e'
10 work in that industry .-- 81 this
81. "a assential to the success OF 1"'
or.ramme that the shlpyards anu
r. men employed n them cooper"'s
with the government .,..o. that
"Tba programme contemplstes OnH'
,.ards under their present manage
n, .ne Iii hire and pay labor, and con-
- IN charge OF ship construction sS
"For work done in carrying OUT unl'
,rograume the yards VIII De Corn1
nensated on the following genera
basis: -, rou, under
construction the yard VIII cohtlhue
furnish, at its own expense Ihe
ard all materials so far as hot nov y"
bandl necessary 70 complete Vhe sh'ps'
and will be entitled 70 hold TOT US o""
account all payments here'oiore "
60 Tho construction contracts, ana
ra.oiye from the government tne
L.,a,cs of the contract prices on me
It's and conditions provided IN the
ea.t-arts with the following modih-
cations):
How Prices Are PAID
81 The prices paid will De minus
amt .ayed bv elimination OF non
.ssential refnements and plus addl-
,'o,al expense of changes IN specihes,
lions determined upon by the genera
manager. 100000. -
The scale Of wages at the yard siter
the date of liberalization, sucn increase
will be paid by the government II u y
found 10 be iustifable and IS approved
by the general manager. 90, -.
"I3l The government will pay the
wartime allowance over yard basis
on the cost Of direct labor on any snip
1or will adopt some other equitable
basis as to the overtime exxPense).
40 In case the yard adds an extra
shift. il will receive a suitable allow
ance 70 cover the extra cost due 70
lover efficiency of night work under
these conditions.
"lBl For construction OF new SHIPS
the government will pay:
First Approved material costs the
.z,.o-,rr.r, reservin- the r Cht 10 fur