Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-11-10

8 Chairman Benson of the shipping
board refused tonight 10 discuss the re-
port, declaring that any sfAtemnnt he
might have to make wonlds ~. MfldA fkOs
the house COMMITTEES MhiensH M - I
dueting its invest sstspp l.,
operations ssss5 II 81 Ne h1 asstsas 1
Payroll PaddIsu cssfs Il u
Padding payrolls by firms arepaiSing'
shipping board vessels, ownership by
companies operating government vessels
of stock in companies furnishing supplies
to those craft at prices ranging any
where from 40 to 80 per cent above
wholesale costs, wholesale theft of sup
plies and equipment from ships, and the
loss of millions of dollars through i'm
properly secured loans made to con-
tractors building government vessels
also were charged.
The charge was also made that in
many cases shipbuilding plants with ma
terials which are going concerns, are
turned back to contractors as salvage
propositions, and the contractors thus
reap large profits at the expense OF the
fleet corporation"
Millions Are Lost.
Going into the matter Of salvage OF
shipubuilding plants, uncompleted bulls
legged that it was asserted by persons in
position to know that the sale of the
| s4railngns of dollars R1orth-of materials"
owned by the fleet corporation had net
ted no more than 13 IL cents on the
dollar.
The report said that the 'Barde com
pany" was trying to purchase under
blanket contract all supplies and stores
Of the fleet corporation and charge that
one of the officials of this company was
also "an adviser to the shipping boards
cancellation and claims board
Work on Basis of Wages.
It was alleged in the report that re-
pair work on shipping board vessels was
done on basis of pay for workmen on
the job at current wages plus o0 per
cent for overhead and profit, plus ten
per cent of material cost to cover cost
of purchase and profit to the contrac-
tors.
"Overcharges Immediately became and
continue to be common, under this form
of agreement said the report. ut is
to the advantage Of the contractor to
pad payrolls, slight work, put too many
men on the job, encourage loafing on
the Job, corrupt inspectors and time
keepers, use helpers and charge for
first class workmen. use common labor
and charge for skilled workmen. drag
the work to make it last longer. find
additional work to do, and get it speci-
fled, etc.
Honest Men lnsultsd.
Corruption Of United States shipping
board emergency fleet corporation ein-
ployes and officials became the tendency
under this practice
1t was charged that good men" were
'heckled insulted or even frightened eff
the work, where they will not prove
susceptible to the corruption
The report dealt at length with the
furnishing of fuel and supplies to ship
ping board vessels. declaring that "ex-
penditures of millions of dollars was
left in the hands of masters, chief en-
g:neers and stewards"
The report charges that ships offic-
ers We're enabled by the fuel allowances
made for each voyage to finish with
excess fuel, that they receipted for
full supply on rebunkering and then
get a rebate from the bunkering COM
pany" to the extent of the excess.
Use Political Influence.
1t was charged that through political
influence ships had been assigned to
in which officials of the ship
ping board were or had the financial
report by to insure safe and proper man
asement and operation" got all tonnage
applied for by that means.
While many Of the government ships
are making profit, the report said,
others are operating at loss.
Reviewing shipbuilding contracts and
settlements, the report charged that
valuable and expensive shipbuilding
plants" erected on 'lands owned or
leased by the contractors in several
cases" were not properly safeguarded
as to title.
Serve Two Masters.
The report also charged that in some
cases, attorneys who represented the
fleet corporation in drawing the con-
tracts later engaged with the contractors
as counsel ito assist them In interpret
ing or in breaking or in attempting to
break the contracts"
1t also alleged that some companies to
which the corporation had "over r-advanc-
I'd many millions of dollars" were un-
able to repay these over advances aIN
that they were permitted all sorts or
axorbtant claims to absorb" them. Num-
arous cases were on record. the report
said where doctors, veterinary sur
,eons, BARRIERS. dry goods clerks and
,thers of similar callings were placed
rs inspectors over work OF construction
If both plants and ships.
TO PROBERS
BY BOARD STATISTlCIAN
- rfNt