Evening journal., 1918-09-21
SLACKERS HALT
ship BUILDING
Delay at Hog Island Due
to Draft Dodging Loafers.
Piez Reports
TO BE SENT
TO THE FRONT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2i.-Hog Island
shipyard. Americas biggest plant, Is
furnishing distressing disappointment
in the ship production for 1918, Vice
President Charles Plez OF the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation, told the Sen.
ate Committee on Commerce yesterday.
Instead Of forty-eight ships afloat and
in active service by January 4, 1919,
the Shipping Board Will be lucky II
twenty vessels are in commission.
Slackerism, according TO Mr.. Piez, Is
the fundamental trouble and this he
told the committee promptly and sum-
marily would be corrected by new and
stringent regulations governing the ac-
tivities OF the men who have sought
exemption from military service under
the draft law by engaging in the ship
building trades and then, once safely
out OF me danger Of being compelled to
shoulder a rifle. neglecting their plain
duties.
incidentally, Mr.. Piez also told the
committee the present status OF the
national shipbuilding program. The
total tonnage delivered and ready for
service this year is 1874 900. The total
expected during the current month will
be 100000 The total tonnage for which
ship keels have been laid is 100000.
Mr. Piez outlined 10 the committee
the plan which General Crowder has
formulated for eradicating the deln-
quents and sending them TO the colors
post-haste.
General Crowder, in cooperation with
the heads OF the greater industries es.
sentlal to the war, will inaugurate a
Stacker hunt throughout the ranks Of
the millions of workers engaged In such
industries. The hunt will be conduct
ed throughout the shipping industry
and also will be pursued relentlessly
In all other industries where men OF
draft age have sought immunity from
The draft.
Slackers in industry will be reached
by a regulation now being framed by
General Crowder which will provide
that any man employed In war work
and having obtained deferred classifl-
cation on that ground shall lose his
exempted status il he absents himself
from his work more than three days in
zach month without a reasonable ex-
,use such as sickness.
Conditions at Hog Island furnished |
.he original basis for The proposed reg
llatlOn. Reports have been coming from /
That essential operation that among /
he 10000 workers in the plant, vast |
majority Of whom have been exempted /
lr will be under the broadened opera |
lion OF the draft law, thousands are |
,lackers.
The Emergency Fleet Corporation In |
cooperation with the Provost Marshal |
General" said Mr.. Plez, will sift all |
charges Of slackerism and If well |
founded will at once dismiss the slack |
srs. who will be put into the army. |
feel certain we will take care OF that /
without any trouble"
The Commerce Committee had learned |
hat prize fighters. actors, BARRIERS, |
baseball players and others engaged in /
tasks have flocked 10 the |
treat shipbuilding plants such as Hog
sland, Sparrows Point, Bristol and
,ther places and had obtained employ
nent Of such character as their total
lck Of knowledge would admit Of their
Some OF them, the COM
littee has been informed, were not
,boring honestly or earnestly, but de- {
oted the greater part Of their time ]
} obtaining "cinch" jobs for their !
'iends. 10 is to this class Of men that {
le Crowder orders will be directed.