New-York tribune., 1917-06-16
Goethals Tells of Plans

Major General Goethals, general
manager of the Fleet Corporation. told
the shipbuilders to-day that he expect
od IN turn out within the next eigh-
teen months fully three million tons OF
steel shipping, and perhaps more. steel
romnanies he said have agreed to fur-
nish enough steel TO build oOO,OOO tons
q month. The only question, he said,
IS the capacity of the yards, working al
topmost speed. t.:
kbout one million tons of the snip
ming building in American yards or
Contracted for is for British account:
This the British government has agreed
20 turn over to the United States vol
UNFAIRLY. The vessels, as fast as built,
will be chartered by the Shipping Board
to private operators, and perhaps IN
some instances TO the Allied govern
ments. A.
The shipbuilders were told that the
government at this time has no lnten-
tion of taking over the shipyards Il
the shipbuilders exert their utmost CT
forts to speed construction.
The bill as passed vests IN the fres'i
dent the power of communicating, ana
he is expected within the next le"
davs 70 issue a proclamation desig-
natinp either the Shipping Board or
~ Fleet CORPORATION as the agency
10 carry out provisions of the act.
Will Take Over Some Wooden Ships
No statement was made concerning
wooden ship yards, but it is understood
the intention is to commander such
wooden vessels building as the govern
ment needs. General Goethals plans
to supplement the programme Tor a
oreat steel feet with some wooden yes
sols although he will not build IS
many a. vas originally contemplated
hv the Shipoing Board before the FLEET
Corporation was formed, with fulI
mowers to build ships.
TIE price of steel for the SHIPS 20
no built has not been fixed definitely
but II is understood General Goethals
is willing TO pay 500 ton. Some MEM
hers of the Shipping Board, who are
directors of the Fleet Corporation,
favor. it is said, price around sou.
Since Chairman Denman. OF the
hoard. as president of the Fleet Cor
poration, has TO sign all contracts u
Is considered likely that price lower
than $50 will be agreed on. The navy
is having between $50 and $40, but
private shipbuilders, who are seIihs
their output at high prices, are paying
in some instances higher than Sl0O'
Control of the labor situation Is an
important problem in connection with
speeding up building, and Chairman
Denman said to-day that the Fleet Cor,
poration. through its power to control
steel. would prevent shipbuilders from
taking each others workmen. 1t was
suggested that if the government
found any builder offending it couid
shut off his supply of steel under tne
power TO commander, and release MS
workmen to another plant.
Open Shop Problem
Shin workers in the East have de-
clined TO work under an open shop ar
rnneement, and this problem, 100, con,
fronts the government, as II IS hela
that il will become necessary TO en-
nlov omen shop methods in some in
stances to increase the output OF
plants. A..
II was made clear to-day that the
Sbipping Board will not operate ships
itself. merely chartering them for
single or continuous voyages. Ihis
will relieve the board OF the detail OF
operating large fleets, but under its
control of shipping it still can direct
the use of any vessel it owns or those
owned by private concerns.