The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-22
TAKE OFF the LID.
SHIP BUILDING SCHEME WILL BE
INVESTIGATED.
Continual Reorganization of Govern
mcnts Machinery for Producing
Merchant Marine Results i'm Action
by Senate Ordering Thorough In
quiry-Picz Succeeds Admiral Har-
riS.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-Continual
reorganization of the governments
machinery for building merchant
| marine eliminated today in the SEN
ate ordering a thorough investiga-
tion Of the whole situation.
| Almost at the moment Chairman
Hurley of the shipping board was an
nouncing the resignation of Rear Adj
miral Harris as general manager of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation
and tho appointment OF Charles A.
Piez of Chicago To the place, resolu-
tons for inves'ti cation were being in
troduced in both houses amid heated
charges Of rcd tape" "inefficiency,"
denunciation.
Action came on the resolution in
troduced by Senator Harding of Ohio
who denounced the boards continuous
difficulties as IAN interminable tangle
Of red tape"
With haste rarely shown the senate
cudting committee approved Sena-
tor Harding's resolutions and the SEN
ate ordered the inquiry, referring it
to the commerce committee. Chair
man Fletcher called the committee
to meet Thursday to arrange pro-
cedure.
1t is considered likely the whole
inside story of the shipping board S
progress, beginning the celebrated row
between Chairman Denman and Maj
Gen. George w. Goethals will be
brought out
The keynote Of the demand for in
vestgation, to which appeared to be
no dissent in the senate, was the ne
cessity of building ships if the nation
is to win the war.
Senator Chamberlain, an admins
tration spokesman. declared the ship
ping board had resolved into de
batting society" and added something
has got to be done. for nothing will be
accomplished as long as there are
constant changes in the personnel OF
the board"
Senator Williams. Democrat, de-
claring for the investigation, said:
NO one can close his eyes to the
J fact that we as a nation have not done
our full part in this war"
THE best thing that can be done,''
he continued, lis to let your own peo-
pie know all about the matter"
Senator Lewis, Democratic whip.
declared officers of the shipping
board would welcome the investiga
ton because it would show who was
responsible for tine conflicts in the
organization.
Senator Lodge declared the boards =
procedure was all wrong.
III we put in one really competent
and tell him to build ships we can
get it DONE" said he.
AL 1uohAHS MI. I'leZ general man.
ager Of the fleet corporation and
confirming his full authority over the
ship building program the shipping
board retains him also as the corpo-
ration's vice president.
Rear Admiral Harris was designat-
ed as general manager just two years
ago upon the resignation of Rear Ad-
miral Capps, who quit because Of i'll
health. He was selected by the navy
department on the shipping boards
suggestion that a naval constructor
be named for the place.
The board accepted Admiral Har-
ris' resignation, Chairman Hurley
said, when he insisted that the office
of the fleet corporation be moved to
Philadelphia and asked immediate ac-
tion on request for 100000 for
housing shipyard workers.
Shipping board officials said to-
night the ship building program was
in good shape and that nothing was to
be feared in congressional investi
cation.