The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-03-08

PiledriFers Are Paid Twenty Times
As Much There by the Govern
ment rs Men Are in the
Trenches.

SnlpEarC. Ine largest IN the WOrlG,
will be taken over and operated by
the United States aIrer the war,
Chairman Fletcher, of the senate
commerce committee declared this
afternoon.
His statement was made to officials
OF the American international Ship
bilding corporation, who appeared
before the committee to tell their side
Of events which led up to President
Wilson's order of criminal inquiry.
Dwight p Robinson, president of
tie company. was subjected to sharp
questioning by Senators Johnson, Of
California. Nelson Of Minnesota, and
Vardaman, of Mississippi. He was On
the stand all the afternoon and will
continue tomorrow.
Hog Islands New Phases.
score Of new phases were brought
out
Robinson was introduced not only
as the man who knew how" but a5
the man who would "put it through"
He, objected to the term profit"
insisting On compensation.
He said the corporation did no
work at Hog Island which it could
hire done for it; its watchword he
said. was control and direction"
Chairman Fletcher's statement was
made as result of an explanation by
Robinson. of why the company had
an incentive to keep costs of con-
struction down. His statement was
that the company had contract to
buy the yard from the government at
the end, q the war if the govern
ment didn't care to keep isfot,ssde'hl
esberation.' }
Robi9soa said. it must % OBVIOUS
that the company would Napt to keep
costs down so that eVafeisingeifs pos
sible option. ii. could buy the plant at
!: nal cos
81 would not worry about that pos
sibility," said Senator Fletcher, "The
yard. in my opinion, will never go
hack to private ownership. 1t will
be owned and operated by the gov
ernment to upbuiIding a great nation
al merchant marine"
A general assent came from around
the committee table.
Ex0rbitant Salaries Paid.
The committee probed closely into
a statement by Robinson that all sal
ary raises were the same as would
have been given the employees if they
had STAYED with the company in pri-
vate work. Robinson said the gen
eral manager of the work had re-
ceived $4,000 last year, and this year
was raised to $4,000. This, he said
was On the theory that vast resnonsi.
hilities would be placed upon him at
Hog Island
Under cross examination by Sena,
tor Johnson. Robinson admitted that
the managers 1917 salary was s12,-
REQ rlus a $1,000 Fonus. and that this
wear it would be $4,000 regular, plus
the usual bonus.
What you have really done. then"
said Johnson. "is to double, yes more
tran double this mans salary the
minute he went on government
work?" =
You might say said Robinson,
that he got $4,000 last year and
about $4,000 this year"
Cutting off bonuses in both years,
which as you say, are dependent on
the con? )any's general earnings, he IS
assured Of more than twice as much
by the government as he ever earned
before in his life"
Mr.. Robinson said this was so, but
that nevertheless, the manager was
worth all he was paid.
Paid to be Patriotic.
Senator Nelson received letter
from Minnesota banker saying thai
it has become difficult to sell war
savings stamps because the public be-
lieved the money was 'tgoing to
feather some big mans nest"
Cant you help us reduce big sal.
aries asked Nelson.
"The only way I know" said Rob-
inson. "to speed the work is to get
big men and pay them we'll"
Cannot they be persuaded to work
for patriotic motives" Nelson asked.
Our men are patriotic, many OF
them have enlisted in the army"
"None apparently has enlisted N
this work excent for bigger pay than