The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-25
CONGRESS WANTS FACTS.
FAKES HAND IN ROW OVER
SHIPBUILDING.
Mere Discussions of Programme and
Plans Mark Meeting of GOethaIs
and Board.

took note of the shipbuilding row to-
day when the senate passed without
debate a resolution offered by Sena-
tor Smoot calling on President Will
son to furnish information concerning
the governments ship construction
The resolution asked for facts from
the shipping board on building CO..
tracts let or pending, names of con-
tractors and contract prices, together
with other information TO assist the
senate in considering requests for fur
ther appropriation.
Another half billion dollars for shin
construction will be asked as soon as
it's estimates are approved by the
president
Meanwhile, members OF the ship
ping board and Maj. Gen. Goethals.
manager of the boards Emergency
Fleet corporation, continued discus
sion of Gen. Goethals' plans for
building two government ship plants
and for Communicating tonnage
building in private yards. Gen. Goe-
thals met with the board in the morn
ing and in the afternoon the board
held {. separate conference
Chairman Denman announced to-
night that the board seeks further
information concerning the generals
programme and that no decision az
to approving the programme will 81
made until the subject has been given
full consideration.
Persons in close touch with the sit
uation still see possibilities of diff
ference between Gen. Goethals and
the board which will be hard to set
tie. There have been intimations
that the board may disapprove of
part 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
supreme charge Of the building pro-
gramm Friends of Gen. Goethals
say he may refuse to accept the
boards suggestions if they involve
radical changes in his plans.
Chairman Denmans statement to-
night indicates the board does not
agree with Gen. Goethals as to sites
for the government plants and that
it will insist that they be placed on
government owned land, and saa%>-
Gen. Goethals abandon his plan for
giving contractors who build the
plants option to purchase them.
The shipping board, it is UNDER
stood, is determined that profits in
building the fabricated ships be held
down and that there shall be no dou-
BILE profit on manufacture Of the steel
for the ships and on actual construc-
ton.
Chairman Denman's statement fol-
lows:
I'VE are rapidly acquiring full in
formation as to the contracts propos-
ed to be let by Gen. Goethals last
Monday. We expect to receive tomor-
row facts as to amount of the esti-
mated $50 per dead weight ton per
ship which is to be spent in the gov
ernment yards, and the amount which
is to be spent for the total product in
the private yards where the ships are
to be fabricated.
The matter of communicating is
matter for discussion with the
state department which probably will
be decided almost Immediately.
though the general plan of commah-
deering has been approved by the
administration. how it will be work.
ed out in detail presents questions
which will receive immediate decis-
ion.
I'VE are receiving every assistance
and cooperation from Gen. Goethals
that his great ability can give us. ThA
government fabricated yards will
on government and not on leased
property and no agreement looking to
the giving up of these yards to private
interests will he entered into at this
time
adequate compensation will be
paid to interests who will be asked to
assist the government whose services
can be accepted for the rapid con-
struction of ships.
These men are not Of the type to
ask stimulating profits beyond a fair
return for their abilities and enter
prise and with Gen. Goethals' assist
ance we have no doubt contracts will
be shortly closed"