The Washington herald., 1917-06-21
ECONOMIC PROGRAM
in HANDS OF Three
Policy Of Government Is to Concen-
trate War Authority.

Three men, having almost unlimited
powers. will be charged with the con-
duct Of the war In its economic as
poets, according to a plan which the
President and cabinet are now con-
sidering. The plan, however, It was
learned yesterday. depends for its
consummation upon the early action
Of Congress. The three men, who are
now referred TO as the Big Three"
are:
Herbert C. Hoover, who, under his
authority as food administratr, will
be given vast power over the con-
sumption and distribution of food sup
plies throughout the country.
Bernard NJ. Baruch, fnancier, who
will have complete control of all
purchases whether for the allies or
probably head the munitions board,
similar to the British munitions
board. which is q civilian board that
makes all purchases for the British
army upon plans drawn by experts
OF the War Department.
William Denman. chairman Of the
Shipping Board, or Maj. Gen. George
Goethals. head Of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, to be vested with
complete authority to build ships and
10 0lIeCl lHtlT ODtTdNiOts II - POS-
sible that this authority will be di-
vided so that one department will
have authority in building ships and
the other in their operation: 1t is
said. however, that the President be-
lieves, after the tangle into which the
shipping program has got, that, in
the interest OF efficiency, authority
should rest in one man and that man
be responsible directly to the Chief
Executive.
British Government Approves.
The British government is said to
have expressed its Willingness to ac-
cepl this program and will designate
Mr.. Baruch as its chief purchasing
agent under the direction of Lord
Northcliffe. This action. 1t is eX--
pected. will be taken within the next
ten days.
The movement in Congress for the
creation of a Department Of Avia-
tion is another step for the concen-
tration of power in the interest OF
var efficiency 1t is significant that
Gen. Goethais appeared in the Sen
bill and advocated a similar center
ing OF authority in other branches of
the government.
The question as to whether power
in regard to ships shall be vested In
Gen. Goethals or Mr.. Denman has
arisen over the question OF whether
the government shall build ''Quick"
OGDEN ships. Until last week. IT Is
said, the President favored Gen. Got
thaIs for this position. but the Cen
eraTs attitude in opposition to the
wooden ship is said to have some
what lessened his chances.
TIE President and at least four
members of the cabinet are said to
favor the building of the 'quick'
wooden ships in large numbers and
some of them have had no hesi-
tahcy ia expressing their views. Be
sides there has been a marked change
of front on the part of Congress dur
Gen. Goethals has found his staunch-
es: supporters in the Capitol and it
was generally predicted that IL the
shipping controversy were thrown in
to Congress through an investigation.
tho canal builder would have won
no longer the case. Whether. rightly
or wrongly, prophets here say the
wccder ship idea has pleased the
people who are considering the pos
sibllitH of Yankee ingenuity overcom-
ing the Kaiser's submarine after
Great Britain. the mistress of the
seas. had failed in three years un-
tiring effort.
Plan May Go Through.
Inc pTeNbuinE impression Is lnaV lHe
wooden ship plan will go through. Sig
nifiCant in this connection is the re-
mark of former Representative r. b.
stephens. Mr.. Stephens is one OF Gen.
Goethals' close friends, although he
has not opposed the wooden ship idea.
Asked If the country would get
"quick" ships. he inquired what was
meant by quick ships. He was told
that it meant ships that could be built
within eight months
Yes" was his reply: lots of them. "
Mr.. Stephens was a caller at the
White House this afternoon. He re-
fused to state the reason for his call.
but it is thought it presages n new
difficulty in the Shipping Board. Mr..
stephens and John A. Donald Consti-
tute a minority on the board, the ma
iority consisting of Chairman Denman.
Vice Chairman Theodore Brent. and
Commissioner J. B. White. The friends
of the minority complain that Chair
man Denman assumed to~act for the
entire board and does not consider it
necessary to ask their advice on i'm
portant matters that have to be con-
sidered. Frequently. they say. the
| chairman answers letters and makes
important decisions; then makes
known his decisions to the board.
Both Mr.. Stephens and Mr. Donald
arc known to be dissatisfied with con-
! ditiOnS on the hoa I'd and n has fer