New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-19
Offer of Steel Bridge Concern
Is Made Public Through
Senate Discussion
Can Keep Up Supply
AS Long as Wanted
Allies Considering Construc-
ton of Submarine Merchant
men to Dodge U-Boats


a few Of the facts with regard ~ the
shipping situation brought out IN to-
days debate in the Senate, disclosing
information gathered by General Goe-
thsls and the Shipping Board:
A bridge company has offered to con-
tract with the government to deliver,
beginning six months from date, one
steel ship Of 5000 tons every day as
long as needed, or 365 ships year.
The price would be 1888 ton.
England has now building IN the
United States 1s9 steel ships. with
total tonnage of 1,O24,Ooo. The price
ranges from sl7o to 5000 ton.
There are sixty-four steel ships build
ing in the United States for other ma
tions, making total of 233 ships build
ing here for foreign account.
General Goethals has placed con-
tracts so far for 214,o0O tons. Chair
man Denman has placed contracts for
70 900 tons, a total Of .s6,ooo tons con-
tracted for TO date. These contracts
are made with the s5o,ooo.OOo appro-
priation granted in the bill which or
ganized the Shipping Board long be-
fore war was contemplated
Closing Of further contracts waits
for further appropriations.
Would Spend $5o,o0o.ooo
The Shipping Board purposesto to spend
$3.50 900 900 on ship construction ana
$3.50 .ooo, 900 for the commandeerlng OF
shin, now under construction. The
construction would total 100000 tons
and the Communicating more than u
600 900 tons
The government can construct wooden
,hips At s135 a ton and steel ships AZ
3153 ton.
In addition TO this information, fur
,;shed from tho testimony Of General
Goethals and Chairman Dcnman' Sena'
tor Weeks contributed the following
bits Of information:
Several European governments are
considering the construction Of sub
marine merchantmen. to run the Ter
man U-boat blockade as large as 1o'oVo
tons.
TIL. full capacity Of the shipbuilding
ward, OF the country is 5,ooo'ooo IONS
nor annum. The present rate OF con-
s,ruction is 100000 tons. 1t can be
rroduced at about $3.50 ton.
The most remarkable happening IN
IN. Senate during the debate in which
these facts were brought out was the
.c,ion in voting down by 4s to an
.uondmcnt proposed by Senator Smoot
,vh;ch would have exempted the BRUSH
sh;nn;nr now under construction from
being commandeered.
Opposes u. s. Interference
Senator Smoot read the testimony OF
C.n.ral Goethals showing that all he
desired was the right to expedite TINS
Rritish construction, go as to get IL on
tho vays and get other ships on: ne
msds r" a strong plea against the United
States interfering, pointing out that the
ships would 60 into the same service.
nAu Mr.. Denman wants. he said,
";s TO have what is left Of this ship
ping after the war is over. But then
pormal conditions will return. AM We
wiIl have ships which cost us s2oo a
TON competing with ships built by our
competitors after the war at not more
senator. Martin. Underwood and
o,hers told the Senate that the com
Wandering power was regarded As
@s.cntial by President Wilson. the
shinpinc Board and General Goethals,
y'ho will have charge Of the building
nrorramme. although it WAS not
,LoSph. il would have TO be used Its
fYistcnce. they said, was desirable TO
insure complete success in acquiring
Senator Knox and other Republicans
aid such discretion in war times
could safely be lodged with the Pres
ident.