Evening journal., 1918-01-09
ONLY 3 NILuOl TONS
Of ships Possible
Newport News Company'S
He'd Says Lack of Co.
ordination is TO Blame
COMMUNICATING OF
WORKERS URGED

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-After hearing
testimony yesterday by Homer L.
Ferguson, president Of the Newport
News shipbuilding Company. that the
probable output OF merchant ships by
the United states in 1918 would be g.,
100000 tons The senate Committee on
Commerce decided that there must be
immediate concentration Of efforts be-
tween the legislative and executive
branches Of tho Government TO speed
The shipping program.
At the conclusion Of the hearings.
on motion of Senator Martin. Of Nir-
ginia Chairman Fletcher designated
himself and senator Harding, of OHIO,
as O committee lo wait ON the proper
officials OF ihe executive branch of the
Government and ascertain in exact
terms the specific legislation needed TO
meet existing dclinduencics
Mr. Ferguson in his testimony said
that estimates 'of frlm 1,O0OW 10 s.
0OO,0oO tons output of shipping for
1918. as frequently m1dr. were inislead-
Ing and should NOT be permitted 10
20 unchallengcd. He explained ilai the
grcatesi obstacle in the way OF rapid
construction was the moor housing
facilities Tor shipyard workers.
The testimony OF Mr.. Ferguson Tor
seventeen year. naval constructor.
made a visible impression on the COM
mittee The housing problem" Mr..
Ferguson said. "is one Of the most vital
facing the Government IN the conduct
NJ the war. You cannot get the ships
unless houses are provided for work
men. We want 20 add 5000 men 10 our
force and there is nowhere in Newport
News for them TO I've. 7 understand
that conditions elsewhere are equally
as bad.
"There j. mo- limih 60 the amount OF
ships This country can build If 20 really
sets itself 10 The task. The shipyards
already built and those building can
urn ont 5WOoo0 tons OF ships an
nualll under proper conditions. and
me country could, II put to IT, add still
other Yards and produce 100000 tons
year But it canmot be done without
faan power. and man power cannot
be obtained unless housing is provided
"ll is Just as necessary for the Gov
ornmont 10 buid houses for shipyard
workers as it il for soldiers Il must
do 10 II 70 gets ships If ! had the
power ] would commander houses,
md Isthinh the Government should do
This. There 3. talk of working men
Two and three shifts In our yard we
have not enough men to work one
shift. and I'm ono house I know of
eighteen persons who arc living IN 1--WE
rooms We have not the money "a
build houses. aud 10 is the duty oc. tho
Government 10 put them up We are
ready io furnish The land"
IN asserting hat 100000 tons Is
the probable maximum production thi'
year Mr.. Ferguson I said That Lloyd's
special report estimates The steel out
put at only 2MNO0O tons. Nlthougl
he did not condemn iho wooden shiT
program. Mr. Ferguson said he doubt
ed II the vessels after they were built
would be nt for transatlantic service
They could Doe used 90 great advantage
DE said. on coastvise runs.
Members of the committee wero IN.
tercstod 20 know what had cansed the
lelay I'M the Governments providing
housing facilities for shipyards ant
Mr.. Ferguson replied that he thought
70 was due 90 O. lack OF coordination
by the War and Navy Departments, lh'
shipping Board AMI The Council OF
National Defense To Newport News
he said. the growth of The military es
iabnshmcni had absorbed an available
housing.
Concentration M shipyords in ih'
Philadelphia district was criticised b,
Mr.. Torcueon os likely to increas'
housing difficulties and 20 add 10 rail
road congestion. The industry, lac said
should have been scattered more alonl
ihe coasts.
shipbuilding in established yards was
hampcred instead OF expedited. Mr.
Ferguson said, when the Fleet corpora
tion commaudeered construction. Unit
December be- asserted, ihc corporation
was unwilling 90 pay additional cost
for speeding up building operations
1llhough the private owners of ship
under construction always were read,
20 pay for speed
Wooden construction was delayed
ton attempted too ambitious pro
Mr. Ferguson said, because the CORPORA
gram at thc start. Changes in specIa
cations caused delays. he explained
when, if the corporation had s'arle'
with a few ships and developed thl
tyne it wanted few vessels would haV'
had to be changed.
Mr.. Ferguson told tho committee tha
for four months me pleaded for assist
ancc. lle said he had appealed success
sively TO General Goethals, 90 William
Denman, 90 Rear Admiral Capps, Il
Rear Admiral Harris. TO Chairman Hur
ley and 20 Commissioner Donald.
"The situation which had been ere
ated through the various conflicts %
authority aud conflicts OF instruction
have been such as TO make the citlzel
The co-ocdinalov of his Government
mnctlonarles." added Mr.. Ferguson, ant
the committee laughed.
Engineers, metal workers. clerks ant
drivers will find positions by seeking