Evening journal., 1918-04-01
Steel Lack Still
DELAYS SHIP VOlK
Ihortsge of Plates and Other
Material Becoming a
Serious Problem
FERROUS ROW
SEEMS IMMINENT

WASHINGTON, D. c., April H.
Lack Of steel plates and other mate
rial is causing serlous delay IN the
steel shipblhldlng program Of time
when weather. labor and all other con-
ditions are oppOrtune for maximum
production. This situation has brought
serious concern TO Chairman Hurley Of
the shipping Board and 10 Vlce-Presi-
dent and General Manager Peiz OF the
Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Although no direct OF official state
nent could be obtained as TO the cause
Il was learned authoritatlvely that this
condition Is due at least IN a measure
IN the fact that the War Department
and the Navy Department each have
representatives az the big steel plants
OF the country having ship plate con-
tracts
The shipping Board and the Emer-
gcncv Fleet Corporation have left the
question Of deliveries in the hands Of
the War Industries Board, which was
recently reorganized with enlarged
powers said to approximate for pur-
poses OF coordination those Of a min
istry Of munitions. The Shipping Board
has no representative az the steel plants.
The orders Of the Ordnance Bureau
and Navy Department have suffered no
delay. In fact. 10 Is intimated that they
iiave materials ahead which cannot
possibly be utilized for months.
I'm the meantime the building OF
ships has been delayed end I'm some
instances halted for lack OF steel. The
submarine plant Of Newark and the Hog
Island plant the work on which has
been severely criticised, are the princi-
pal sufferers. in the former q number
of Reels have been laid and progress
halted because Of lack OF bottom and
lower hull plates
These facts have been put up % the
War Industries Board by Chairman
Hurley. Unless the situation clears and
ship plates are speedily delivered a ser
sous administration row threatens.
shipping Board officials are prepared to
put q representative ia each OF the steel
,gills with orders TO get the deliveries
This would bring competition between
HE military agencies OF the govern
Inent.
Chairman Hurley is known 20 be op-
posed 20 such a course. He believes
there should be but one government
representative az the steel mills, such a
representative TO allocate deliveries. so
rs 60 keep the essential military and
shipbuilding programs going. At pres
ent, with ships being built on contract
ship plates for the commercial fleet arc
in the category OF private orders snd
The War and Navy Departments have
ample Communicating powers.
The situation undoubtedly win b
brought before the next meeting Of ih'
War Cabinet on Wednesday when th'
President win confer with representa-
lives Of the war and military admins
iratlons.
The Shipping Board and Fleet Cor
poration have sought relief from th'
War Industries Board Conference
lave been held for the past two day
between Chairman Hurley, Genera
Manager Piez Chairman Baruch sn'
steel members Of the War Industrie
Board. The result OF these conference
IS not known. whether or not they vii
result IN single government Representa-
iion on steel deliveries IS problemsti
cal. 70 Is significant, however, that th
military branches have resented inter
ference with plans under which thei
own work was proeressing s7tisfac
torily.
Unless some relief Is afforded FOR th
shlpbuilders, however, oflcials ar
fearful that April lsunchings and Dc
liveries OF steel ships will fsll belo,
hose OF March, which set new rec
ord.