Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-20
SHIP BOARD PRESSED
TO FULFILL DEMANDS
Situation Officially Admitted
Prior to Senate Probe Be-
ginning Tomorrow
WASHINGTON. Dec. 20.

Facing allied demands for between
6, 900 600 and 100000 tons OF shipping
in 1918. the United States shipping
Board is hard pressed To nll the order.
This was officially admitted today by
members of the shipping board prelim-
mary to appearing before the Senate
committee tomorrow, opening an inquiry
into Shib construction work.
But we've got to do ii. ana w,ll,'
Chairman Hurley declared,
Red tape and necessity for frequent
rcorganizations of the board and its sub
division, the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton are responsible for a part of the
delay,
\ SERIOUS condition" in shipbuilding
yards also exists OF the old yards
seventy per cent are now being used by
the Navy Department In the new yards
established for emergency building there
is the tremendous work Of organizing
labor TO carry on the work.
Nevertheless Hurley is prepared TO go
on the Senate committee grill tomorrow
artcrnoou-the first witness-.with
story Of much accomplished under trying
conditions and promise of a big tom
mage delivery at the end of 1918.
To-day the shipping board received
telegram from shiphuildcrS in Seattle,
Wash. stating that their yards would
certainly produce the million tons prom
ised for next year. Reports from west
coa~ yards alone show that 3,oCo,O0O
tons will be built,
Return of Bainbrdgo Colby, repre-
senting the shipping board on the Amer
lean commission to Paris. has increased,
/ If anything, the figures the Allies have
placed on what America must contribute
to the shipping cause in 1918. Increased
submarine successes by the German u
boats led officials here TO state that
/ S,OOO.O 900 tons must be provided by this
( country.
TO this end Hurley will tell the Sem
ate committee that day and night shifts
are being organized in the shipyards
Hurley is now in complete charge of
the shipbuilding work--a change from
the regime under Admiral 'apps when
/ Capps was virtually in control of the
building and Hurley, the contracts. This
divided responsibility. 1t is claimed led
to confusion and delay which Hurley
now believes will be eliminated by plac-
ing control under "a single head.
sour story to the committee tomorrow
will be a frank and very interesting
one to the country" Hurley promised
today.
Senator Fletcher, in charge of tho in.
auiry, announced today that Hurley will
take the stand Friday afternoon and
will be followed by other members of the
shipping board.
Senator Fletcher asked the shipping
board to furnish him copies of all con,
tracts let for wooden and steel ships
with complete data on the number OF
ships completed, those under construc
tion and those being built for private
owners.
While Hurley is determined on achiev-
ing at least the 5000 ,000-ton mark by
1919, some critics Of the shipping board
declare he will fall far short
Meantime, the first rivet was driven
today in the keel of the first ship at Tia,
fabricated steel shipyard in Newark, ~
j. This keel will be followed by two
others this month. The ultimate pro
gram for this yard Is $50 ships of 800,
tons each. Fifteen thousand worker
will be employed.
, One element of trouble in the ship
: ping situation destined to come to
head in the probe is the control of crews
; At present inefficient men go to sea a
: 500 a month under shipping board con
} troll, say critics. The board plans L
train new, efficient crews, but the nav,
is ready now to take over the manniu.
Sharpe declares it is imperative tha
direct Government discipline be enforce,
on transports.