The sun., 1918-04-17
SCHWAB TAKES
CHARGEO OF US,
SHIP BUILDING
Big Industrial Leader Is
Named DirectOr.General
of Fleet Corporation.
STARTS WORK TO-DAY
President Approves Choice
Millionaire Will Receive
ST a Year Salary.
STARTS WORK TO-DAY
Special DespdfcA to TIE sry.


WASHINGTON, April l6.-Charles NJ.
schwab was made Director General Of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation to-
DAY. This means that Mr.. Schwab will
have active direction Of the American
shipbal!dIng programme and will devote
his industrial genius and energy to the
greatest national need.
The appointment OF Mr.. Schwab fol.
lowed conference at the White House
to-day at which he. with Chairman
Hurley. Bainbridge Colby. a member Of
the board. and Charles Pies. vice-presi-
dent and general manager OF the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation. discussed the
progress Of the national shipbuildlng
programme with the President.
Mr.. Schwab will assume direction
tomorrow morning. He vii! have .
free hand In the buildias programme
In all OF its industrial AnA. snanufactur-
Ing phases. His selection was approved
by the President and ratified at 4
formal meeting Of the Fleet Corporation
trustees. The meeting voted to create
the once OF Director-Oeneral with wide
powers Of administration.
HIS Services ConnsndeereA.
Mr. Schwab demurred at frst to be-
ing appointed q Government ofiicial. but
accepted on ofic!al urging. Chairman
Hurley stated that his services were
virtually Communicated.
Nr. Schwab is q practical and expe-
rienced shipbuilder and steel maker
with an experience In both that Is prob
badly greater than that Of any man In
the United States to-day. He believes
that this country can turn out 100000
tons Of steel ships during the present
this goal.
He Is the afth man to essay the
active direction OF the shipbui!ding pro-
gramme. Ma3or-Gen. George W. Goe-
thsls. army engineer. was the INST He
resigned last July at the same time that
william Denman stepped out as chair
man Of the Shipping Board. Rear Ad-
mlral Washington Lee Capps. Naval
Constructor. succeeded him. and later
stepped out because OF a breakdown In
health. Rear Admiral Harris was next
appointed, and he retired several weeks
ago. When he retired Charles Pies. big
Chicago business man. vice-president OF
the Fleet Corporation. became general
manager. taking over these duties In
addition to those Of vice-president.
VIII Have F1n PoweRa
A. the meeting OF the corporation
trustees to-day Mr.. Plea recommended
that the post Of general manager OF the
corporation he abolished at oncA 10
that Mr.. Schwab. as D!rector-General.
would be entirely unhampered in carry
ing out his task. This recommendation
was approved. Mr.. Pies will continue
as vice president. exercising all Of the
administrative functions OF that once.
His work and that of Mr.. Schwab will
N no way conflict. II - stated.
As D!rectOr-General Of the Fleet Cor
poration Mr.. Scirwab will receive a
salary Of 81 a year. He refused to ac-
cept on any conditions other than that
he give his services to the Government.
The 81 a year provides technical COM
pliance with the law tiat forbids tho
Government to accept gratuitous serv-
!ces
Tn. appointment Of Mr.. schweb Is
expected to reinforce the shipbuilding
organization that is now carrying for
ward construction work In 100 ship
Yards
The fact that Mr.. schwab is a Re-
publican was not considered In the ap-
pointment.
Appointm mt IL Approved.
His appointment to-day met with un-
Qualified approval in oficial circles.
'hairman Hurley OF the Shipping Board
and Vice-PresIdent Piex were enthusi-
ts'ic over the outcome Of the White
House conference. The naming of Mr..
~hwab has been under consideration
hy the President and BY Chairman Hur-
icy and other ofIicials for several days.
lie came To Washington for the express
PURPOSE Of attending the conference.
The fullest cooperation waSs pledged
. aim at tine meeting Of the Fleet Cor
pTation trustees which he attended.
,ie frankly stated at this meeting that
me programme could not be put through
Nthout the utmost cooperation and that
e could not succeed without the aid
~ every man who had been inStru-
nen'al In building the organization and
2'!nE'ng production to It's present point
The organization, which will come
4nder direction OF Mr.. Schwab to-mor-
Tow. is twice az big as that of the tre-
nsndous interests OF the Bethlehem COM
any, which employs 1000 men. Even
MS gigantic organization In but a part
the task falling to tho Shipping
"oard. The operating department Is now
'o!ecting upward of $4,000. 900, 900 a
ear In charges for ships that are now
IN ODelR tiOn