New-York tribune., 1917-12-22
Ship Builder, Before Senate
Committee, Defends
Administration
Declares IA New
Yards in Operation
Testimony Reveals Con-
troversy in the Fleet
Corporation

SOI pOi otiOii
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l.-Senators
failed to find any weak spots in the
armor OF Edward y. Hurley, chairman
OF the Shipping Board, when he took
the stand to-day in the investigation of
government shipbuilding directed by a
unanimous vote of the Senate earlier
in the week. Full responsibility for
the success or failure of the govern
ment's shipbuilding programme was
shouldered by Mr.. Hurley.
The one significant fact realized by
all when his testimony and that of
Commissioner John A. Donald, Of New
York, was concluded was that dual
authority has been thrown into the
scrap heap at the Shipping Board Of
fees and Hurley is the big boss.
Called as the first witness in the in
quiry, Mr.. Hurley admitted that there
had been delays, but declared that the
recent reorganization of the boards
Emergency Fleet Corporation for the
first time gives the chairman Of the
board proper authority and fixes re-
sponsibility where it belongs. The dual
organization of the board and the cor
noration. he said. has been done away
with. and the presen. general manager
Of the corporation answers directly to
/ the chairman.
He Admits Delays
"The present organization" Mr.. Hur-
! ley said, sis the only way that shlps
| can be built. We do not need additional
legislation. II the head of the instltu-
tion does not build ships, 1t Is because
of his inefficiency and not because OF
! faults of the organization"
HAS your programme moved for,
ward as fast as il should and has all
been done to speed up construction
that might have been done 2" asked
Senator Harding as Mr.. Hurley was
leaving the witness chair. ..
NO" said Mr.. Hurley. IF we had IL
all to go over again we would avoid
some of the delays"
The boards policy respecting the
building of ships for private account
was explained at length By Chairman
Hurley, who said the board was firm
in its stand against private construc-
ton Of steel ships. but was encourag-
ing wooden construction for private
owners when their building would not
interfere with the boards building
doesn't your policy reduce construc-
tion ?" Senator Harding asked.
"No." Mr.. Hurley replied. 1--WE have
enough contracts to keep all yards
working at maximum capacity, and the
building of ships outside upsets the
labor market, disrupts the delivery OF
materials and will not increase pro-
duction."
Forty-nine Vessels Completed
Asked how many vessels have been
completed for which contracts were let
by the board. Mr.. Hurley said only one
had been finished. Forty-nine ves-
sells. he said. have come from yards al
ready established since construction
Mr. Hurley asked that the boards
estimate of the number of ships to be
turned out in 1918 be given in execu-
tive session, as the figures might con-
etitute information OF value TO the
enemy. The estimates Will be given TO-
morrow.
"When will the last ship called for IN
vour programme of 100000 tons con-
IL ~ aekad Spna-
tor Jones. LTD
81 cannot say" Mr.. Hurley replied.
"rhat depends entirely on conditions.
The first contract ship was finished a
short time ago within sixty-four days
after construction was begun. We are
makinp every effort 70 speed up the
vards and are meeting with gratifying
s~ccass in increasing labor shifts.
HTbe fabricated steel ship construc-
,ion when fully under way will give a
tror,endously Increased production"
"Wben will these yards begin con-
strrction and how many of them are
tbcre 2" Mr.. Hurley was asked.
~There are three" he replied, "and
ore already is laying down keels."
Senators wanted TO know particu'
,orIy ;f prospective builders seeking
contracts had been discouraged by the
management of the Fleet Corporation.
"They were not if our Investigation
showed they could build ships the
chairman replied "But we investi-
gated carefully the standing and ex-
nerience of every concern which
sought contracts and turned many
down. At that, we got some dead
wood and some concerns have con.
tracts which will never be translated
into shins. We never have dlScour-
sgad arv experienced shipbuilders."
II was brought out rather succinctly
that Admiral Capps, who succeeded
General Goethals as general manager
Of the Emergency Fleet Corporation,
was shorn of the power with whlch ne
entered Office. and that Admiral Harris
found when he took the place OF I'D
miral Camps that his work was far less
;nportant that he had imagined. Ad-
miral Harris resigned almost at once
for that reason.
Hurley Changed the Bylaws
Mr.. Hurley told the committee that
he had remedied the situation By a
simple change in the bylaws. Prior to
this change the general manager Of the
Fleet Corporation was practically %:
preme in the letting OF contracts foI
shin construction. When Admiral
Capps became too i'll 20 be constantly
on the lob the bylaws we're so changed
tina. this final authority was given TO
the president Of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, instead of TO the general