New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Hog Island
Bv THEODORE NJ. KNAPPEN

transportation normal and labor ready and
efficient? In detail there has no doubt
been a waste of money-but, under the cir
cumstances, an inevitable waste. Unscrupu-
lOus workmen have succeeded, in what Mr..
Robinson has called "an organized riot" in
getting on the payroll twice. There may
have been some minor graft, and doubtless
some things in the way of petty profiteering
and even thevery have been put over on
the company by some of its employees and
others, and, possibly, in connection with
some of the sub-contracts. You can hardly
expect to eXpend vast sums in such many
sided work as this without some irregu-
larities and some malversation. Payments
to sub ntractors have been liberal, but
not too liberal, keeping the need of haste
in view. Haste is always waste in the
row sense, and sometimes offers special op-
portunities for deceit and fraud. But there
has not been a single fact brought out so
far that in any way reflects on the fidelity,
ability honesty Of the management of
the American International-not a single
fact that tends to prove that it is not dis
charging it's obligation with whole-souled
devotion and extraordinary energy.
Salaries Matter Of Judgment
Salaries matter of judgment and
opinion. Considering the temper and pa
triotism Of the executives, I should say
that all of them would do their work for
less money. Would it have been wise to
ask thcm to do so? Many of them will
doubtless reduce their years of efficiency
by as much five by the year or two of
excessive work at Hog Island Some of
them will have burned themselves up on
this job. Between the hard work and the
shame OF the unjust charges and insinua-
tons that have been made against them
some have already been scrapped
1t is stated that since Admiral Bowles
took charge of the fabrication plants he
has cut the Hog Island salary roll by about
$4,000 month. 1t may be that this trim
ming is justified and that the salaries have
been too large and numerous. But it must
always be borne in mind that the salary
list was made up N consultation with the
Emergency Fleet Corporation and that it
has at all times had the right to regulate
salaries rs it pleased. If they were too largo
the fault lies rather with the Fleet Cor
poratlon than with the American Interna-
ticnal. The same is true OF all cxpendi-
lures and sub-contracts. They are entirely
within the control of the Fleet CORPORA
ton, and they all made with the ap-
proval Of that body. 1t would appear that
Mr.. Hurley should have taken the burden
Of defence and explanation Of these mat
ters. If mistakes have been made. thew
were, at least, all made in the open. At
any rate, nothing has been uncovered that
would justify the apparently inexplicable
attempt that has been made to make q
scandal out Of these mattefs
No Inefficiency Shown
AS to the purpose of proving that the
general management of Hog Island affairs
has been lax and inefficient, the facts as
OtpN in,
selves. The purpose of the Hog Island
plant is to get ships with all possible speed
1t will, predict, succeed wondrously. The
progress IS ahead of schedule and is likely
to continue so. Time in shipbuildinc is
money now, if time ever was money. Sim
ply an investment, every month saved in
the time of producing ships is worth mill
IONS of dollars. Here is an investment of
S20o,ooOooo. At per cent, every month
gained IN utilizing its product is worth a
"lllloh dollars Each additional month
means mllhon dollars in wages The
service these ships will give is worth
S9,000,000 month to the government 50
Tar as 1T can De measured in money only.
80 1t might be said that if high pressure
hlgh salaries, disdain of red tape and the
waste that goes with rapid decision and
eiective action are resulting in some slop-
ping of moneys now they may be great
economy in the end
What is there in all this to warrant tho
unique stigma of a Department of Justice
inquiry under Presidential commando The
Emergency Fleet Corporation, with its con-
slant inspection and supervision of evcrv-
thing at Hog Island from accounts to pile
drivers, was in position to know whethor
'here was anything warrantng special
crlmina! action. The fact that it took mona
indicates that It xnew OF nothing to iustifv
It, Then why appeal to the President? Did
the shipping Board merely want an extcr
h"' vindlcation Of itself? If so, it is OBJ
tanning 1T cruelty ut the expense of men
ana companies Of high rcputc and to their
lasting humiliation and modification. Tho
senate investigation has the merit of pub
Hshlng TO the country what is being done
at Hog Island, but the Department Of Jus.
tce investigation is eratutous. At tho
worst 1t viii only find out what the Shin
ping Board could have moro easily and er.
peditously ascertaincd for itself.
Wny single out dog Island for this high
dishonor7 e