Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-15
DENMAN'SD DEFENSE
FILED WITH SENATE
Through California Member
Declares He Did Not Ham,
per Goethals's Work
DISPUTE OVER HOG ISLAND
WASHINGTON. Aug. If

WASHINGTON, Aug is.
a spirited defense Of his actions as chair
man Of the Federal Shipping Commission
ana president of the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration by William Denman, OF California,
was presented to the Senate today by Sem
ator Phelan, acting for Mr.. Denman. In
MS statement Dcnman severely arraigned
General Goethals. with whom he had the
controversy which resulted in both men be-
ing eliminated from their shipping Jobs
from a reliable source IT Is understood
that material II not controlling influence
III the shipping Commission disagreement
was the result of a pronounced difference
OF opinion between Goethals and Denmnn
over the question Of the location of n ship
bulldlng plant at Hog Island.
bisclaimng any personal anmosty for the
general and expressing the hope that he
would obtain his command in France"
Denman insisted that Goethals was not
hampered by him in his plans to create an
American merchant fleet
Up until July 13 Dcnman insisted that
his relations with General Goethals We're
excellent. on that date he declared that
Goethals, without consulting the board an
nounced that he was about to offer con.
tracts for $3.50 100000 and also comman-
deer certain shipping. The board asked for
full particulars. Denman says, but cost fig
ures were not furnished. He declared that
Government assembling plant was to he
built on a lease hold. the plant costing $50
600, 600 and the land being worth only $3.50.
900, while, under the contract terms, the
owners of the land, the American Interna.
tlonal Corporation. were given an option &c
purchase the land.
Cost figures also were not furnished, Den.
man alleges, saying:
ITO our astonishment General Goethal.
said he could not rememberthe main item,
in the totals; that he had no copy of tn,
| figures In the records of the emergency
| fleet corporation. and that the only copy
| was with the American International Cor
| poration. powerful and efficient institution
allied through it's directorate with the United
| States Steel Corporation"
Denman alleged that General Goethal
| had charged, without warrant, that tn,
| Shipping Board was interfering with con
| struction. He also claimed that so ia,
| Admiral Caps, successor to Goethals. haC
| been unable to estimate costs under the pro
posed Goethals contracts.
Denman declared that he and his asso
ciates never had said that wooden ship
were as good as steel They were to b.
| built to meet an emergency, he said an,
| General Goethals condemned the plan with
out investigation. although it had been ap
| proved by the Council of National Defense
| All General Goethals's representatives wer
| directed to discourage building of woode
ships, Denman alleged.
Throughout his defense Mr.. Denman re
viewed the policies Of the Shipping Boar
| which. he claimed. were at all times de
signed to furnish fleet of merchant ship
to replace those sunk by German subma
rnes.
Most of the other data submitted by hi
already has been made public by him
one form or another.