Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23

close of the second days investigation
of the shipping board and Emergency
| Fleet Corporation.
Admiral Bowles explained that he did
| not consider the statement of this fact
as in any way divulging military secrets.
He declined to give in public state
ment as to how many ships were to be
turned out in January, February, or
any given time. He will lay these mat
| ters before the committee in executive
| session following the Christmas recess.
Four Ships in the Water.
| Admiral Bowles added to the state
ment as to what has been accomplish
! ed by saying that four vessels con-
| structed under contract for the Elmer
gency Fleet Corporation are actually In
| the water..One of these will be ready to
| sail Immediately after Christmas. 1t
| was testified by Chairman Hurley of the
shipping board yesterday afternoon. OF
| the four ships in the water. two are
wooden and two are steel construction.
Mr.. Hurley returned to the witness stand
! for few moments and. questioned
| by Senator Johnson of California, he ad-
mitted that when he became chairman OF
the shipping board and president of the
| Emergency Fleet Corporation last July he
found on his desk contracts amounting to
| $100, 100000 approved by Gen. Goethals.
the CORPORATION. He told the Committee
! that he turned these contracts over to
Admiral Capps. who was entering upon
his duties as Gen. Goethals' successor. as
,,,,o, thev. y a aI,1,,;ttsJ tp.t tbara
q delay of two weeks thereafter in let
| ting the smaller contracts and of more
than month in letting some OF the larger
Contracts for very large tonnage
were delayed, then" said Senator John
son. because Aomrrai Capps Wanteo 70
ivoh theiH over. were any substantial
ehahses Haoe IN the contracts!
SOME GnauSeS mace.
NJ t4,r,.,, r.r,,., 49,.
ara attas 20 g es
~ m.aI s nsa ~ =. y's.ss paysSs, anu
49, ..ylsm =. ~. nunipsl u snips ano.eu;
laonl wnaleyer cAIse, iarge
49, we!e 10y, 1S..y ~ 81 ito,n = uay Until
H, !, sa1u, 5siIatoI 'vhASoh.
| II es aani1tea 49e wines.
~ a. we pres
S : IseSg ~
Hoard and fyhariss pin- cIysnssf sarssas.af
manarer 81 the corporation. All inrisf
ca that the aufhorfty has beef, centraI-
fxAds and that eDnfiict of authority In
the control of the shipping program
has been eliminated and ts now in the
hands OF oHe man. D. n. Hurley.
Inere was delay y.-too: in the construc-
lion q tne WOODEN ships, Mr. Hurley
nanaa tha !ns Eerr; Som.see; 6s' no1 only pc.
Eause .ne Fsrrls ossisn Ior these ships
shins Int aisn eSecansa ~ I'm snSn ..ne
Pinn ssnc;at;on ia se,,s ne Soaenern iie.
[ the necessarv fifnh for tha;r go
| struction
Mr.. Piez Questioned.
| When Mr.. Piez took the stand SEN
ator Nelson OF Minnesota directed a
rapid fire of Questions Al him al to
WHY he who had never heAn IN fba
business OF const tructinr or cnara tin =
ships before. should he renerai mar.
| arer Of the E.mereency, F,Aet c,or,o,a to-,
| II know this is rather nersonal hmt
we want 70 get exnert te.fimony bere ;.
said senator Nelson
| Mr.. Piez told the committee that for
iarrs concern man,,factnr;ra a ch;n1 u, q
srv ,,,,ch ~ which &c nsad & nna,n- L;n.-
| shins. that he had had an enr;nsar;ns .
| education -
| .snn,,idr.t there he anra,4;o., s,,,~
NAV 81 The head nf +his cnrresa.;sa,p snip Z
said Senator Nelson ..instesd ~ q NJ :,
who ran beit line man
| .s,ot rsc.ssariIv :" NJ p,.- rn,,as
cnrnara,inrs thsre e u,era =. aaa man iarge
aSers re- Who had ernerf assistan,s - n,an- ha,
a. raa,tca1 astasis aaa's .aa,s,,s 70 nan
ers, ao,icn 70 TIE r,.na@sr .ne gen, !,
ont that +. ~ bsd s,,ch asnar. ne po,n.ed
in Admirai Rawi.s and nthars Asaistalce
~ .I.1,.. ,s,at r,,tti.s 1L ~ osmes
.o,, e,.sd u sS .ssa Ur ,;ea' Me,son. TO 70 put
| Mr. P1ez said he did not think SO.
| II did not s-=this Office. added Mr.
Piez. In fact, ! came to 1t. reluctantly
|
| Makes Further Explanation.
|
MI. Piez iestined that before he be-
came general manager he was appointed
member OF q committee to investigate
the progress OF the construction program.
He said that he found an alarming con-
o,Iion, Win .ne plants s candins steel ships
only operating one shirt, instead OF dou-
pie or triple shiits, and the wooden ship
lscs on ms up 0y ehsnge snid ,h. 81 plans
investigation occupied three or four
hs oodan tna' .h;ns hn fns, ine cona,tion
M me woousn s sn,ps a,inos1 imIneaiateiy'
so ser.Vus 1,u % n1 eons,usr r x1 me sl,uation.
| senator n1AI,lh VI Virginia questioned
.isn'. I, a ma man incompetent iss who makes
lacking in strength demanded Sena-
tor Martin.
M ~