Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-11

move hulls which were on the ways in
an unfinished state at the time the con-
tract was signed or 20 secure from the
builders or the owners OF the land upon
which the hills and ways rested re-
lease from further liability.
For some reason said the report
the United States Shipping Board saw
At to make contract with Rogers to
pay him s. ono per hull fo- each hull thus
handled by him. The result has been
that In many cases the United States
Shipping Board has paid an additional
5000 per hull to have Rogers sell the hull
or give it away, in many cases the cost
of the hull representing several thou
sand dollars. Rogers has found no diff
Guilty in selling these hulls at a
very fair price, which revenues revert
to Rogers, in addition 20 which he coll
,ected from the United States Shipping
Board Emergency Fleet Corporation
5000 per hull fee."
SOME PECULIAR CONTRACTS
The report said the contract entered into
with the American Lumber Sales COM
pany should be gone into by this COM
mittee, because it presents some features
that are questionable, to say the least"
The report then goes on to charge that
the company was to some extent COM
posed of persons previously engaged with"
the fleet corporation; that 1t purchased
materials from the corporation at a stip-
ulated price and sold these materials at
an advance sometimes Of more than 100
per cent over the purchase price and that
in many cases II appeared that the COM
oany used fleet corporation plants and
equipment "to reap enormous profits from
ha Gov ~ p1otn ia1 x,,ki InI
chased" from the fleet corporation.
The contract with the Southern Sciap
Material COMPANY. which, It was stated.
had been abrogated. also was criticised.
II was charged that the contract was
mace by an agent Of the board az New
Orleans without the knowledge Of his
home office and that materials In many
;.scs not declared surplus, were sold to
The company at prices far below the mar
ket quotations at tho time Of the sales.
CHARGE PADDED PAYROLL
II was alleged in the report that repair
work on Shipping Board vess sls was done
on a basis of pay for workmen on the
Job at current wages plus 20 per cent foi
overhead and profit, plus ten per cent
of material cost to cover cost OF purchase
and profit TO the contractor.
"Over charges Immediately became anc
continue to be common under this form
Of agreement said the report. at is tc
the advantage of the contractor to pat
payrolls. slight work, put too many mer
on the job, encourage loafing on the job
corrupt inspectors and timekeepers. us,
helpers and charge for first c'ass work
men. use common labor and charge fo
skilled labor, drag the work to make /
last longer, find additional work to do
and get 1t specified, ETC.
GOOD MEN SCARED AWAY
" was charged that good men" wer
"heckled, insulted or even frightened Of
the work. where they will not prov sus
ceptible to corruption" The re ie
clared 1t was comparatively .; ',
ter to accidentally" drop
wrench into ships hold
straight" timekeeper or insp, ~
standing under.
The report doalt at length with the fur
n'sAing Of fuel and supplies to Shtppin.
Board vessels declaring that the Eek
pendltures Of millions Of dollars was let
in the hands Of masters. shiet 81 greer
and atewards.'" In raany cases. it we.
asserted. the supplies are phi haoa
. from br okers. who added a profit ci fror
25 to 40 per cect, give gratuitieS t. mas
launches. free automobiles, free liquor
free entertainments, etc." and charg
them In with the price Of supplies.
POLITICAL PULLS WORKED
/; was charged tina. through politica
influence ships had boen assigned t
companies in which officials Of the Ship
ping Board were or had been asoo
clated," and that companies which dI
not have "tAe standing or the Gnanc'a
responsibility TO irsurc safe and props
management and oreration got all tor
naRe applied for by that means.
While many OF the government ship
are making a piofit. the report sEit
others are operating at a loss and II we
asserted that there were many who bt
lieved that a final accounting Of III
operations Of the ships would show
Serious loss on the gross tonnage opel
ated,"
PLANTS NOT SAFEGuAEDEC
: Reviewing shipbuilding contracts an
. settlements, the report charged this
!, valuable and expensive shipbu.Idin
( plants" erected on lands owned {
leased by the contractor, in sewers
, cases' were not properly safeguarded 6
: to title.
> Numerous caaes We're or record, II
9 report said, where doctors. veterinar
SUI eeons. BARRIERS, dry goods clerks an
= others of similar inept callings. wei
placed as inspectors over work of coi
struction OF both plants and ships.
In a foreword to the report. Mr.. Fish,
said:
while desire to give full credit
= the United States Shipping Board for 1
ar complishment OF having construct,
and launched under abnormal and a,
verse conditions. such fleet of shi
as it did. feel that this task is full
= equalled by the problem now confrontir
. the Shipping Board of creating al
: :. nourishing an American mercha.
marine"
New York. Nov. 9.-The report ma,
u public in Washington. charging CORFU
% ton of employees and officials of II
" Shipping Board. was submitted In ev
dence here late to-day at a hearing b.
fore the congressional commit" inve
s tigatina affairs OF the Shipping Boar
IS Afterwards It was supplemented by fu
d ther testimony of graft by A. NJ. Fishe