New-York tribune., 1917-07-20
Board Insists on Close In
quiry Into General
Coethals's Plans
Chairman Denman
Less Belligerent
McAdoo May Have Sug.
gested That Boats, Not
Talk, Are Wanted
lFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington. July 19.-The delay in
expediting the emergency ship build
ing programme continued to-day with
out material evidence of disposition
on the part of the Shipping Board to
permit General Goethals to proceed
with his programme without painstak-
ing investigation of all its details.
There was, however, less peevishness
and militancy in the air of the Den
man Offices. At General Goethals's
headquarters there was an impenetra-
BILE silence.
Chairman Denman tonight issued
statement which will bear an opti-
mistic Interpretation. The chairman
of the Shipping Board, however. de-
clned positively to be committed to an
optimistic viewpoint. He insisted that
his guarded and more or less ambigu-
Gus statement be interpreted by the
press.
The impression prevails in official
circles that Mr.. Denman has received
hint from Secretary McAdoo that it
might be well TO minimize conversa-
tion and build ships. This may have
had something to do with his less
belligerent attitude toward General
Goethals to-day.
Row Before President
The resumption of the row between
General Goethals and Mr.. Denman was
brought to the particular attention of
the President to-day when resolution
introduced by Senator Smoot. calling
on the President for complete infor-
nation regarding the disposition of the
S750,000,000 appropriation voted by Con-
gress for ships was passed by the
Senate. The President had the matter
brought rather pointedly to his at
tention last evening while attending a
performance at a local theatre.
Two comedians after indulging in
farcical controversy declared for the
edifcation of the Chief Executive:
"0h This is not real fight; it is
only a Denman Goethals rowl"
The sally brought a good laugh, in
which the President Joined.
To-day Senator Jones, Of Oregon,
criticised the President for failure to
proceed with the emergency ship pro-
gramme, pointing out that delay in
Communicating had permitted Japan
csc shipping interests to acquire two
large ships recently completed in
Seattle yard. Four other ships, he
added, were to be shortly purchased by
other foreign interests.
II is certain that unless the Ship
&c
with General Goethals within a very
few days, the pressure on the White
House to settle the controversy will
become too strong to be ignored. There
is growing feeling among members
of Congress that the President Ms per-
mitting the development of most
serious complication in vital element
Of the war programme by his failure
20 issue mandatory and explicit orders
70 the principals in the controversy,
defining authorities and functions and
commanding action.
General Goethals is not without
friends on the Shipping Board, though
his supporters seem TO be in the mi
nority. At yesterdays hearing one
member, il is creditably reported,
demonstrated with Chairman Denmsn
when he persisted in maintaining the
air OF prosecuting attorney III ques-
tioning General Goethals.
"You cannot forget that you are a
lawyer" said this member TO the chair
man.
Mr.. Denman's Statement
Mr.. Denmans statement follows:
I'VE are very rapidly acquiring full
information regarding the contracts
proposed 10 be let By General Goe-
thais last Monday. We expect to re-
eeive tomorrow the facts as to the
amount of the $3.50 per dead weight ton
for ships which is to be spent in gov
ernment yards, and the amount which
is 10 be spent Of the total in private
yards, where the parts are to be fabri-
Gated. The work in the government
yards is to be merely the assembling OF
the ships.
"The matter of Communicating is
one for the State Department to dis
cuss, which should be settled without
delay. Although the boards plan for
Communicating has been approved by
the President, how it will be worked
out in detail presents questions of
state which will be decided as soon as
possible. 80,
"We are proceeding rapidly with the
perfection Of a programme which re-
CURES the expenditure OF SIoO,OOO,OOO.