New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-31
Owners of Atlantic Yards
Will Be Represented at
To-day's Conference
Problems To Be Solved
Private Firms Confess Their
Construction Work Can Be
Greatly Increased

WASHINGTON, Oct. S0.-Confessing
that they are not yet doing all that
,hey are capable Of doing. and. at the
same time, intimating that the Shipping
Board has not fully availed itself of the
advice and experience Of the shipbulld-
crs. the Ship Builders Association OF
,he Atlantic Coast has notified Chair
man Hurley that il is its purpose to
.sleet q committee OF five to confer and
advise with the board. Every member
Of this association, which comprises
seventeen Of the big companies, will be
represented at the meeting Of steel ship
builders which the Shipping Board has
called for tomorrow TO consider ways
and means Of hurrying to completion
steel ships under contract in Atlantic
yards.
The association names five subjects
which it thinks should be dealt with at
once in. order TO accelerate shipbuild-
ing, viz:
|. Adjustment and Standardization Of
,, Collection. direction and regula-
ton of labor for emergency shipbuild-
ing. fC,
3. Proper ordering. priority and de
livery Of shipbuldng materials.
4. Coordination and cooperation by
the navy and Shipping Board with the
shipbuilders.
s. EQUITABLE policy Of adjustment of
question of compensation on unfinished
eommardeered ships.
To Have No Sore Spots"
The fifth point covers the question OF
additional compensation for the build
ing Of ships whose cost has been in
creased by the Shipping Boards direc-
tons. or in consequence of delays and
increased cost Of labor attributable to
labor DISCRIMINATION consequent upon
the establishment of new yards to
meet the boards building programme.
The Shipping Board is disposed to be
fair with the builders on this point.
I'VE shall not have any sore spots.
says Chairman Hurley, "if we can help
it,
Many shipbuilders and builders of
ship yards besides those in the associa-
ton will attend to-morrow's meeting,
and as the full membership of the
Shipping Board and chief executives OF
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, as
well as representatives Of the navy, De-
partment of Labor and other interested
government agencies will be present
the attendance will be about 100. 1t is
considered that no more important
conference in regard TO shipbuilding
has been held since the beginning Of
the war, and that it will lead to a very
gratifying acceleration of shipbuilding.
Owing 10 the Italian front crisis the
Shipping Board is Fastening as much
as possible the diversion of shipping
TO Italian needs, and in consequence
the delivery of ships TO the French will
be delayed somewhat.
II has been decided that shipbuilders
and mechanics who are potential ship.
yard workers will be exempted from
the draft hereafter. This will protect
the present forces in the shipyards anC
will tend TO act as a magnet to draw
men TO shipbuildng. 1t is not likely
that men already drafted from ship
yards will be released.
Plans for Communicated Ships
Shipping men who were building ship:
that were commandeered have beer
wondering what their relation TO those
ships will be after the Emergency Flee
Corporation has completed them. IL has
been decided TO give title TO the origi.
nal owners upon their making up TO the
corporation all moneys expended by
the latter in completing the ships. The
owners will then turn the ships over
TO the operating department of the
Shipping Board for use during the war,
just as if they were eommandeered in
service
This plan will make it possible for
shipping companies TO build up and
maintain their own operating organiza ar
tons while the vessels are under char
ter 70 the government, and assures
them Of no permanent interference with
their private plans. They will run their
ships subject TO the direction of the
Shipping Board. just as if they had
completed them themselves. In the event
Of dissatisfaction on the part Of owners
the board viii take title to the ships
and compensate the owners for their
equities.