The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-19
Resignation of Rear-Admir al
Harris as Fleet Corporation
Manager Stirs Congress.
PRESIDENT STANDS BY
CHAIRMAN HURLEY
Lack of Desired Authority 10
Given as Reason Why Naval
Officer Gave Up Responsible
Position.
BY ID. M. EDWARDS.

Washington. Dec 1s.-~presiaent
Wilson has nominated Civil Engineer
Charles Welluaan Parks, Z. s. N, as
chief of the bureau of yards and
docks tn the navy department Rear
Admiral Frederick r. Harris, who re-
eefved as general manager of the
Emergency Fleet corporation had
formerly held this position and in
quitting the fleet corporation asked
70 get hts Old place hack Secretary
Daniels had said earlier in the day
that his wish would be granted.
Other Developments were:
/. The president let II be known to
MIS- cabinet advisers that regardless
OF the recent disturbances In the
board he will stand by Hurley.
3. The senate waa stirred to action
BY TIE sudden resignation OF Rear
Admiral Harris, adopted a resolution
calling for an inquiry into the &C
rtyitfes of the government shipbufiA-
ing organization and the progress of
The building program. The probe will
start Thursday.
3. Chairman Hurley says that the
troubles NJ orga nization with the
government bureau have not inter.
TERED with the shipouilding pro-
gram. which win proceed az sched-
uied, The six million - tons ten
tatiwely estimated for .fsis he be-
iiaves VIII bio produced.
Harding Asks inquiry,
While the resignation Of Rear
Admiral Harris was being talked
ahout I'm All official Washington SEN
alter Harding. of Ohio. opened up q
aroadEide on the shipping program
In the Capitol He announced.
i want the chairman of the oon,~
merca committee to ask an inwesti~
cation. ] DO not want 10 introduce
II myself for fear of accusations
~ pRrtfsanship. do not think CON
wress should SO away without inves.
tlgatinx the shipping board We
have spent billions and we seen to
have, tatfed.r sanrsA~ lsst !weasr Ge- szr.. ..
Cocktails. Chairman~ penman, Ad-
iniral Camps and now Admiral Hhr-
4 IT, have left the organization.
There is small use for any army
until we can transport II and sustain
it, The winning OF the war depends
upon ships. think II tn q crime
that the shipping problem has been
80 lily handled"
A rustic of exoitsnent spread
through the chamber, Senator FLEET
Tn@f, CHAIRMAN OF the comm sTTHf COM
mittee declared that no matter
whether an official dropped out" the
shipping work would GO on. This ala
not satisfy Senator Chamberlain who
said that while Pacific coast yards
begged for ships to hniid. contracts
were not made. and when they were
made the builders suffered mystsri-
OTIS handicaps.
TITS an established fact" resumed
Senator Harding. .;hat we have paid
money for ships and are not getting
Them Three men / have talked TO
said their hands had been tied -
The Ohio man then put IN the
resolution OF inquiry and Senator
Williams OF Mississippi spoke In
favor OF IL. He paid sincere trib-
ute TO MFR. Hurley. and at the same
time said he retarded the inquiry az
In no way partisan.
II merely want the loyal men OF
the shipping board TO exniain what
has bafied them said he. The
worst that can be imagined In the
clash of the naval and the civilian
mind"
Swanson Rcsents Tnstnuation-
Senator Lewis, Ncf Illinois. said the
reason for delay was because there
was a conflict in attempting to
hoard. Senator SWANSON resented
what he considered a slight upon the
navy.
III the shipe had been turned over
70 the navy they would have been
btflt now" he cried. Naval officers
were not given the necessary author
iry."
Senator Lodge took the same po-
siticn.
During the discussion Senator
Chamberlain said the shipping board
seemed ''so have resolved itself into
debating society"
Charles A. Piez, OF Chicago. who
was brought here TO become vice.
president OF the Emergency Fleet
ccrporatian, will be made general
manager of the feet corporation.
succeeding .Rear-Admiral Harris
Roar Admiral Herris's dispute like
that OF Rear-Admirsi Washington l..
Cnpps and that OF Major General
Goethais. with Chairman William
D4nman, involved the question OF au-
. .hority.
Rear Admiral Harris was advised
that a chart of his duties was being
prepared The chart was completed
on Friday. Whether Admiral Har-
ris was dssplascd with his outlined
duties or not IL not known.
Represents tive Edmonds, of Pean-
sviyania. introduced resolution In
the house demanding an investiga-
zion.