Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-04

issd crafts II the bodybuilding industry
are deliberately delaying the shipbuild-
Ing program by union limitation Of tho
amount Of work to be done by the
workers. This 10 accomplished he said,
In the case OF drillers, by limiting the
amount men shall earn to 20 cents an
hour, and in The case Of riveters by
making the limit for which the men
shall strive to $50 day per gang or
three men. The reason behind this
limitation, he asserted is a union fear
that If mon make too much the en-
ployers will cut down the scale.
He said this Is a mistake on the part
Of the union men. The average earn-
ings Of men ia the slHpbuilding IN
dustry today he said. Is so cents an
hour with time and half time for over
work beyond the eight-hour period
and a bonus Of 10 per cent in the west
ern Yards.
ships can be fabricated only up to a
certain point" he said. "Then they
m u'st be completed in the old ship
building way. Mr.. Morse. who founded
the New York 1Shipbuildlng Company
went as far in fabricating steel ships
as any one has gone or any one Will
Co. In my judgment, and express also
the opinion of the body Of shipbuilders.
When 1t comes to fitting the ends of
the boat 1t WILL be found, as 1t always
been found, they won't flt.'
You believe the fabricated ship pro-
gram Is doomed them" asked Senator
Harding, Of Ohio.
mo, don't think it is doomed" re-
v>lt %l>1 1ryit t,>,,< 4 halt Nd
I am convinced, that it is going to he
delayed a great extent for the reason
I have given. think a delay of several
months will be encountered
Discussing the estimates Of the ship
ping board and the fleet corporation
as to the tonnage to be ready for the
seas by the end Of this year. Mr.. Pow
ell was very emphatic in his contradic-
tions Of these estimates.
1.-The people who made the esti-
mates" he said, very much over
estimated the possibilities of the
country. figured that 1.250,0OO tons
for 1917 would be q reasonable esti-
mate, and as 1t has turned out it was
even too enthusiastic. I am very sure
that with the inevitable handicaps dur
ing 1918 1t will be a very wonderfulper-
Torrance If the country turns out g.
100000 tons"
SIS that your maximum estimator
asked Senator johnson, Of California.
1T u.s." was the reply, "thc outside
figure
1.-THE situation you describe with ref
erence to the fabricated ship program"
SAND Senator Johnson, lis one I had
not heard of before, and I confess it is
extremely alarming. Do understand 1t
to be your opinion that the program Is
going to be more or less of failure!"
Not failure, Senator" answered Mr..
Powell, the ships are going to be built,
but they are going to find their plans
will not work, and they will have to
shift around for a new scheme after
they have gone to the limit Of fabrica-
ton. 1t will mean delay"
WELL" commented the California
senator, "a delay Of several months IS
a most serious thing In this matter
Mr.. Powell described a new form of
navy shipbuilding contract which he
helped to frame. Under this contract
the vessels for the navy are built at an
estimated cost, plus q given figure OF
profit for the shipbuilder, plus half OF
what Is saved from the estimated cost.
Thus, he Illustrated, IL ship is to be
built at an estimated cost Of $1,500,00O
and the contractors compensation Is
to be s135.o00, and the cost actually
runs only to s1,300.000. the shipbuilder
will receive $2s5,00O or his fixed COM
pensation, plus e-half of 100000.