Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-13

Shipping Boards First Chair
man Heard by Investi-
eating Committee.

Employnent of r. w. Boiling,
brother-in- law of President Wilson
by the Shipping Board was first pro-
posed in June. 1917. but no action was
taken, William Denman of San Fran
cisco. first chairman OF the board. tes-
titled today be fore the special House
, committee Investigating Shipping
Board operations. Mr.. Boiling is now
treasurer of the board
Il felt" said MIR. Denman. that it
would be grave danger to the Presi-
dent to have such IL man in our en-
p!oy. because he probably would be
the object of designing persons. who
might want to get him in an embar-
RAISING position. l figured, too. that
it might bring us embarrassment to
have member of the Presidents
family in the boards employ"
Urged Diesel Motor ships.
Mr.. Denman criticised what he de-
-scrihed as the policy adopted by the
board under the administration of T..
y. Hurley of Chicago. his successor
as chairman of the. board. The board
under Mr.. Hurley erred, he said. in
falling to follow recommendations for
the construction of a large fleet of
Diesel motor ships and for the sepa-
ton activities of the board
Mr.. Denman discussed his relations
with Gen. Goethals while the latter
was head Of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, and declared I'VE did not
resign from the Shipping Board as
result OF a controversy over wooden
ships The real point at issue, the
witness added, was the Hog Island
shipyard.
The public has treated Gen. Goe-
thals unfairly" Mr.. Denman asserted.
His accomplishments were great"
Mr.. Denman said he resigned from
the Shipping Board in June, 1917. aft
er receiving a communication from
President Wilson containing the sug-
gestion that he give up his duties.
Mr. Denman said that when he left
the Shipping Board he urged Mr.. Hur-
ley TO construct a large feet of Diesel
motor ships.
I'm all the billions the government
has spent. not d dollar has gone TO
build Diesel engine large enough for
lo,ooo-ton freighter. In the $780,
Gao tons Of our vessels there is but
one motorship. 1t has not yet run its
trial trip
ships Hopeless in Competition.
Mr.. Denman declared that waste
fur steamships. built for the war
emergency are hopeless in competi-
ton with Diesel vessels" which are
being constructed by the shipping in
terests in other countries. Motor
ships carry no boilers or condensers
and but one-third the fuel needed by
our type of vessels. Motorships have
more than IL per cent more cargo ca
pacity This in itself means a hand
some profit in ship operation
Over so per cent of the new cargo
vessels ordered in Great Britain dur
ing the last six months are moto--
ships. Norway. Denmark, Sweden and
Holland build nothing else when they
can get engines.
''The United States can balance It's
feet only by adding or converting from
steam at least million tons OF motor
ships. We should stimulate the build
ing of Diesel factories and produce
more than our British and Scandinavian
competitors. II We do not we have lost
the battle for maritime supremacy and
Will not have even a fair minor share
in the worlds sea carriage"
Mr.. Denman spent most Of the morn
Ing discussing the Diesel type Of motor
ships The Shipping Roard' was ready
TO authorize construction Of number
OF Diesel vessels. the witness said, when
ne resigned The Hurley adm:nistra-
mendations." Mr.. Denman added /!
Opposed Cost-P1s. System.
Both Gen. Goethals and T.. he con-
tinued. "were opposed to tae cos.-pius |
system and signed no contracts based
on it,
Mr.. Denrnan said he had offered Gen.
Goethais $4,000 a year for his services
to the Shipping Board Bur the ger
erai laughed ard scid ne was satisfied
with his Army pay. he was a mighty
good type Of American"
Both Cen Gcefhais and ] detested
the idea Of baiid;n. wooden ships"
the witness continued. Cen Goethais
was no diplomat, and f probably vac
from his attitude tslax ncvyspaDer,nen
spread the impression that he vas
opposed to eonStructfor, of wooden
SHIPS Tor the war emergency. He was
opposed to use of wooden ships for
ordinary commercial purposes"
Question Of Auff,ex1i-.
Question of division OF authority
was basis of Disagreement which led !
10 Gen. Cocktails resignation. Mr.
Dennaan said The PRECEDENT he add
ed. decided that Gna, authority In
construction program should rest in
the Emergency Fleet Corporation in
stead of in its head as an individual.
board management: fs not efficient
Tor rapid work. and FOR week be-
fore our designations we were discus
sing this division Of authority in ref
erence particularly to Hog Island"
Was there any delay in construc-
ton Of ships as a result of disagree
Baent over policyT' the witness was
asked
None. Gen. Goe:halx did not hamper
me. and I'm sure I did not hamper
him."