Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-13
PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES
Communicating OF Ships
Order Gives Government Power to
Take Over Vessels Now Build
ing and on the Seas.
ALSO TO SPEED UP CONTRACTS
Expected That Number Of Craft at
Command of United States Wnl BE
Increased Nearly so Per Cent by
End Of Month.

WASHINGTON. July l2.-President
Wilson issued an executive order to-
day giving power to the Shipping
Board and Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion to commander shipping in the
building and on the seas. This will
speed up the government shipbuilding
program by more than 25 per cent
| The Communicating order. repeatedly
urged by both Chairman William Den
man. of the Shipping Board. and Cen
, eral Goethals. of the Emergency Fleet
| Corporation. places the power in the
governments hands TO speed up con-
tracts. take over the building of ships,
seize ships on the seas. and take over
existing charters. 1t is expected that
the number Of ships at the command
OF the government will be Increased
by almost SO per cent by the end of the
month.
No question OF a conflict in authority
between the Shipping Board and the
Fleet Corporation is expected, princi-
pally as result OF President Wilson's
decision in the controversy as TO the
merits OF the wooden ship program
versus the steel ship plan, advocated
by General Goethals. Chairman Dem
man. TO whom the executive order was
| sent to-day, Immediately dispatched a
letter to General Goethals apprising
i him OF the action Of the President. and
suggesting that the Shipping Board
wished to work in entire harmony to
the end of increasing the tonnage avail.
able.
Coming Immediately after the an
nouncement that the steel manufac-
turers Of the country had agreed upon
program for selling steel to the gov
ernment at minimum price. the ques-
ton OF Communicating steel plants
practically is disposed OF. but the ques-
t;on Of communicating war supplies
still remains open.
QUESTION OF COMMUNICATING
RAW SUPPLIES Still. OPEN
1t was authoritatively stated to-day
that the Shipping Board may feel
called upon to seize supplies OF pig
iron. coke. coal and ore, that they may
be supplied to the steel companies at
price that will allow the manufac-
turers a fair profit in selling the
finished product to the government at
the agreed price. 1t was explained
thdl tHe Steel companies dependent
upon outside sources for their supplies
Of raw materials could not hope to
supply steel to the government at a
stipulated price. If they were forced to
pay exorbitant prices for the materials
entering into the manufacture thereof.
The order delegates divided au-
| thority. and affects Immediately $780,
100000 available for ships. The order
gives to the Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion power to commander materials
and ship contracts. and the Shipping
Board Is given power to commander
ships under construction and ship char
ters. The Shipping Board also is given
the power Of disposition, operation and
management of the commandeered YES
sells. and commercial ships acquired by
the United States.
or the s750.000.ooo at the disposal OF
the government for ships, $500, 000, 900
will be used by the Fleet Corpora ation
in letting contracts for new construc-
tion. and s250.oo0.o0o will be used
jointly by the corporation and the
Shipping Board and the Communicating
program.
One immediate effect OF the order
will be the seizure of contracts for
ships now on the ways. and the plac-
ing of extra shifts to work to hurry
completion.