Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-09
i910SHIP OUTPUT
SET AT 100000
Newport News Company
Head Cites Errors in
u. S. Program
HOUSING BIG FACTOR
Senate Probers Will Make
Immediate Inquiry Into
Conditions
HOUSING BIG FACTOR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-The output
=, merchant ships in this country In
tafs will probably be 100000 tons,
..oordinp 10 Homer l.. Ferguson, presi-
Ssnt and general manager of the New
mort News Shipbulding Company, tesu-
sv,ng at the Senate shipbuilding inquiry.
T,stimates frequently made OF from
= oo0. 900 to 8 100000 tons, he declared.
we're misleading TO the public and should
not be permitted to go unchallenged.
Tho greatest obstacle in the way Of
mid construction, Mr.. Ferguson said,
I. moor housing facilities for shipyard
-orkers. His story of housing conditions
~ Newport News so stirred the commit
Zee that a subcommittee, comprising
chairman Fletcher and Senator Harding.
vas appointed to confer today with
.he nroper Government officials with
.',.u, ~. IN attaining immediate relief there
and elsewhere.
Mr.. Ferguson, for seventeen years
naval constructor, was on the stand
most of yesterday. He blamed the Ship
ming Board and the Emergency Fleet
Corporation in large measure for the
slow development of the Governments
nrogram. Mr.. Ferguson said:
"The housing problem is one Of the
ronfiuct of the war You cannot get the
shIps unless houses are provided for
workmen."
ON STEEL OUTPUT
Afr. Ferguson said Lloyd Georges esti-
mated the steel output at only 2,5OO,0OO
inns Mr.. Ferguson said he doubted II
wooden vessels would be fit for trans
atlantic service. They could be used to
ereat advantage, he said. on coastwise
runs.
Members of the committee were inter-
ested TO know what had caused the delay
IN the Governments providing housing
facilities for shipyards. and Mr.. Fergu-
son said he thought 1t was due to a lack
Of coordination by the War and Navy
Departments, the Shipping Board and
the Council of National Defense.
Concentration of shipyards In the Phil
adelph!a district was criticized by Mr.
Ferguscn as likely to increase housing
difficulties and to add to railroad conges-
tion. The industry. he said. should have
been scattered more along the coasts.
shipbuilding in established yards was
hamper ed instead of expedited. Mr.. Fer.
guson said, when the Fleet Corporation
commandeered construction. Until De-
cember, he declared, the corporation was
unwilling to pay additional costs fol
speeding up operations although the pri'
vate owners of ships under construction
always were ready to pay for speed.
CAUSES OF DELAY
Wooden construction was delayed Mr.
Fergucon said, because the corporation
attempted too ambitious a program a
. the start
would the program, in your opinion
have moved any faster If a practica
| shipbuilder, in the first place. had beer
put in as general manager or the Flee
| Corporation" Senator Martin asked.
YES" Mr.. Ferguson replied. so ia,
as know this Is the first time since tn
program was put under way that {
practical -shipbuilder ever was asked. OF
fcially for his advice or suggestions a
to shipbuilding.'
At the time Rear Admiral Capps re
signed as general manager of the Flee
Corporation Mr. Ferguson was asked
he said, to take the place, but whei
he found he would be given no authorit.
he declined.
"If housing is needed that badly.
said Senator Martin. the Government
can get the money within forty-eigh
hours for the purpose. 1t can get 1t be
fore you leave the city,
Then I'll stay" said Mr.. Ferguson
II have been trying for nine months t
get housing at Newport News and haV
talked to Government officials until
am sick of the subject"
George M. Andrews, of the New Yor
plant at Camden, n. j.. said his com
pany wanted to add on large numbe
of employees, but coud not transpor
them to and from it's yard.