The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-12-18
SENATE DENOUNCES.
SHIP BOARD DELAYS,
ORDERS INQUIRY
SqIlbbling and Red Tape As
sailed as New Reorganiza-
ton IS Announced.
of The fvsnina Worldly

WAaiffNOTON, Dec. H. - The
United states shipping BOARD. that
for months has talked about building
ships and has not done much build
ing. was brought under sosthinG IRE
In the Benate to-day, and It's insfi,-
oiency and internal sauabbles de-
nounosd on all sides. An Immediate
investigation % the whole situation
vas ordered.
Tho resignation Of Rear Admiral
Harris as head Of the Emergency
Fieet Corporation. after q brief ex-
perience with the Shipping Board,
brought the subject to a climax that
exposed amazing confusion and lack
Of accomplishment In the building Of
Americas great merchant neet which
II had boen announced would win the
war.
Senator Harding OF Ohio led the
Senatorial attack, saying:
Il think Congress ought not 70 take
n holiday recess without making pro-
vision for investigation Of the Federal
Shipping Board. am deeply i'm
pressed with tho failure OF the Ship
ping Board in this great emergency
OF the nation. We have appropriated
billions OF dollars for construction OF
merchant ships. Since last spring we
have witnessed the passing Of Gen.
Goethals. OF Mr.. Denman. OF Admiral
Capps, and this morning OF Admiral
Harris.
The shipping situation is most dis
couraging. There Is little use for the
nation to provide an army II II cannot
transport and sustain II. The winning
OF the war depends on our strength on
the sea. II Is a crime that the money
placed In the hands OF tho Shipping
Board should be lily handled. / do
not pretend TO know what are the DIFF
ficultics, but tho Senate can render no
greater service 20 the country than
20 make determined investigation
into this business"
Senator Fletcher OF Florida, Chair
man OF the Committee on Commerce
having jurisdiction over shipping leg
islation, had no apologies to make for
the failure OF the shipping admins
tration.
81 feel most keenly tho need OF a
merchant marine" he said. There
seems TO be no reason why better
progress has not been made"
Senator Chamberlain OF Washing
ton. Chairman OF the Military Affairs
Committee which is investigating tho
failures and delays in ordnance for
the Army. denounced the Shipping
Board and it's policy.
"Tho Pacific Coast Is begging for
opportunity to build wooden ships for
private account" he said. "The ma :
terial and men are there, but held
back by Government restrictions.
do not mean to charge Irregularities
but tho shipping Board seems to have
resolved itself into n debating society
without being able TO accomplish any.
thing"
| without dissenting voice IN,
| Senate adopted n resolution oftere(
by Mr.. Harding providing for an i'm.
mediate investigation OF the shipping
situation by the Committee on Com
merce.
A general reorganization OF IN,
Emergency Fleet Corporation will fol
low the resignation Of Rear Admira
Harris and the appointment as gen
eral manager OF Charles Piez OF Chi
cago, Chairman Hurley OF the Ship
ping Board announced to-day. Rea
Admiral Bowles, aide TO Admiral Har
ris, viii be given an important plac,
In the new organization. James Hey
worth will take full charge OF woodeI
construction and Charles Day will be
como manager OF the production de
partment.
Admiral Harrs's resignation wa
accepted, Chairman Hurley an
nounced. because Of his insistence ol
moving the Offices Of tho corporation
20 Philadelphia. He also wanted L
give immediate approval 70 an expen
dlture of 2,OoO,O 900 for housing oper
ations In connection with the shl
Yards. These propositions Mr.. Hur
ley felt. he said. should be passe
} on by the trustees. Admiral Harri
then expressed the opinion that hi
|, authority was TO be limited and taa
he could render more service else
where
or the appointment OF Mr. Piel
Mr.. Hurley said: "The grasp OF Nj
Piez upon the whole shipbuildln
programme has been so strong an
his knowledge OF actual conditions 1
; the yards so definite as a result Of hi
study in the field that the best result
! can be obtained by combining hi
p junction as vice president with thos
: OF general manager
. "The result OF the reorganizatio
aIready Is apparent in all the yard