Connecticut western news., 1917-07-26
NEW SHIPPING
 BOARD POPULAR
Washington Now Sees Quick
 Action on Problem.
SENATE MUST CONFIRM TWO

Belief That Steel Vessels Will Be
 Favored and That Construction Will
 gized by Daniels, Is Father of U. S.
 Dreadnoughts and Is Thought to
 Have Received Full Power.
 President Wilson's vigorous house cleaning in the shipping board muddle will result in quick action on the Amer ican shipping problem.
 As soon as the nominations of Ed ward x. Hurley and Bainbridge Colby are confirmed by the senate and the board organizes, Washington expects rush work on the building of the great American cargo fleet that is to offset the terrific losses by the submarines.
 Once the president made up his mind to take a hand in the ship row he acted promptly and thoroughly.
 He requested and received the resig- nations of both General GOethals, gen eral manager of the Emergency Fleet corporation, and William Denman, chairman of the shipping board. In General Goethals place he named Rear Admiral Washington Lee Capps, chief constructor of the navy. To succeed Chairman Denman he se- lected Edward N. Hurley of Chicago, former chairman of the federal trade commission. Bainbridge Colby is nom- mated to succeed John E. White on the shipping board.
 Throughout his action one note was dominant. It was this:
 Build the ships
 Steel Ships Favored. Whether they will be wooden or steel vessels could not be learned from any of the men now entering upon the task | of building. It is certain that if Ad- miral Capps has his way the ships will be of steel. The extent of his exclu- sive authority remains the only uncer- tain element in the situation. It is not believed. however, that MT. Wilson would have made the changes which mean so much in every sense were he not assured but the program would now proceed without the fric- | ton which the president assigns a. the basis for his action.
 | It seems probable that almost q clean sweep will be made in the officers of both the shipping board and the Elmer gency Fleet corporation. It was reported that the resignation of Theodore Brent of the shipping board, Mir Denmans warmest support er, was in the hands of the president. The White House refused to confirm this statement.
 It Is believed, however, that Mir. Brent's resignation is being withheld so that a working majority of three may be maintained on the board. The other two members of the board, John A. Donald and R. B. Stevens. have consistently supported speed in build ing ships.
 Secretary Daniels made it plain that the closest cooperation between the merchant shipbuilders and the navy department may be expected. This was one of the encouraging features of the situation, for there has been friction between the navy and the ship ping board as well as the fleet corpora tiOn.
 "The entire construction forces of the navy department will be at the con- mand of Admiral Capps," MT. Daniels said.
 May Retain GoethaIs.
 Secretary Baker said to day that General Goethals would in all proba- bility be retained in some valuable capacity by the war department.
 ''He has already rendered his serv- ices in any capacity We may need them" MT. Baker said.
 Of Edward NJ. Hurley, the new char man of the shipping board, statement from the committee on Information says:
 "He is peculiarly fitted for the great work now intrusted to him, because he combines actual knowledge of ship building, acquired in his early years with remarkable business judgment and driving force"
 Mir Hurley has been chairman of the federal trade commission recently help l nd with the rpOrganiZatiOn of the Red