New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-24
Ship Board Asks
S1,134,OOO,OOO More
To Extend Plans
$719,OOO,OOO To Be Used
on Steel and Wooden
Construction

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-The Ship
ping Board to-day sent TO Secretary
McAdoo estimates for an additional APP
preparation of 100000 for an ex-
pansion of the emergency fleet com
Wandering and construction pro
gramme. Of this amount it is pro-
posed to use S719,OOO,OOO on contracts
for steel and wooden construction. For
communicating ships on the seas 1t is
estimated that 1886, 900 will be nee
essary, and the remaining S150,000,0OO
will be used in moving lake tonnage to
the seaboard.
The Shipping Board plans to spend
S50,OOO,O0O for the acquisition Of 12O
ships on the Great Lakes. II is esti-
mated that il will require an ezpendi-
ture of about s1OO,OOO,OOO to move
these ships through the Welland Canal
to the Atlantic. Twenty-seven Of the
lake vessels are said TO be large enough
for transatlantic service. The remain
der will be used in the coastwise trade.
The larger vessels must be moved
through the Welland Canal, IL Is stated,
in sections.
Estimates to Go to Wilson
The estimates forwarded 10 Secretary
McAdoo to-day after receiving his Off
cial approval will be forwarded for the
inspection and Endorsement of the Pres
ident, after which they will be laid be-
fore the Appropriation Committee Of
the House.
The question Of whether the Ship
ming Board will make an exception IN
favor of Great Britain in commander
ing foreign ships now under construc-
ton in the United States remains still
undetermined. Secretary Lansing, 1T is
understood. favors making concessions
10 Great Britain in the matter, while
members of the Shipping Board are
practically unanimous that the same
policy should apply to all foreign SHIP
builders. The situation at present, It
was officially stated to-day, awaits an
official opinion from the State Depart
ment.
Chairman Hurley of the board an
nounced to-day that he would not per-
init American shipyards TO undertake
orders for foreign ship construction
during the war. Many private ship
building companies have been organ
lied recently, IL is stated, many Of
them paper companies, for the purpose
of taking these foreign contracts. II
is said that foreign governments are
willing to pay as high as $500 a ton
for ships, as compared with the United
States price OF about $40.
Labor Troubles Possible
III this situation were permitted 70
develop, IL is pointed out, il would lead
10 a serious disarrangement of the Ship
ping Boards building programme. Yards
working on the foreign contracts would
be able 20 pay higher wages; they
would draw workers from yards work
/ ing on American contracts, and the
general result might be serious labor
disturbances.
The most important question now be-
fore the Shipping Board is the deter
mination Of ocean freight rates. II was
| stated to-day that the new rates would
! be drafted on the basis Of the normal
value Of ships, not the existing inflated
/ values Ship owners would be permit
ted 10 carry private cargo, It was stated
al current freight rates, but all in ex-
! cess Of 3 per cent increase over the
government rate would be related 10
The government and used as an amort-
lration fund TO be used in paying for
emergency feet construction. Commits
sioner Colby Of the board is drafting a
report on rates, following conferences
With leading shipowners, which, II Is
expected, viii be made public within a
feW DAYS