The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-16
SAYS AMATEURS
BUILT US. SHIPS;
FEARS DISASTER
Inspector Discharged for
Sending Sample Rivets
to White House.
PROTEST NOT HEEDED
Technical Work Trusted to
NOvices After Three
Weeks Training.
MORE GRAFT REVEALED
Commander Of Craft Tells Of
Opposing 100000 Deal for
Fake Repairs.
MORE GRAFT REVEALED


ing it's hearings at the Federal Build
ing into the charges of graft and mis-
management under Government oper-
alton of shipping. listened yesterday
to the recounting Of two picturesque
tales.
At the morning session Capt. Will
lam Henry Chambliss, once the mas
ter of the steamship Lake Elkwood,
told Of his election a year ago from
his own vessel in Rio de Janeiro when
he refused to enter into conspiracy
by which the Government would have
been robbed of 100000 for unneces-
sary repairs" In the afternoon
Thomas A. Purtell. formerly hun
inspector for the Shipping Board. ex-
planned in colorful language how he
lost his Job on a charge of insuoordi-
nation when his workman's conscience
would not let him send new ship TO
sea with its plates fun OF rotten
rivetting from one end to the other.
Sees short Lie Tor ships.
Purtell came into the committee room
with a box Of rivets under one arm and
n huge bundle of letters. drawings and
other documents under the other. In the
course Of the preliminary questioning by
Representative Jose IN Walsh. charm IN
OF the committee. Purtell admitted that
he was "as good a right and left handed
riveter as ever picked up hammer.
He said he was appointed hull inspcc-
tor and assigned to the Submarine Boat
Corporation at Newark Gay on A1rch
25. 1918 Later ~ was va ins0ec tor at
the plant OF the 3tan,.ar.t ShipbuNding
Corporaticn at shooters Isiani
''The fiercest lot % rivrtt'ns ever
saw" said purteii was pulled or at
the ways OF the su5msr!ne Boat CO..
porat ton. The maa were wholly mex
perienced. 1t was esDacinlly Lad on
h,lls 13 and IA. Why. the men there
knew no more abo IT rivetting than n piS
krows aobrt playing a jewsharp."
DO you think whatever def Give riv-
citing was done on these ships made
them unsqfe?'' asked Chairman Walsh.
''1f went to sleep on one, replied
purtell. "and she was launched alongside
the dock. I would want to Keep one eye
open"
PurtelI said that riveters were given
three weeks OF trainsNg and then rut -
wors or ships. He apP-ar9d reseItiui
tina. in that short time the noNioss
srouid come TO be reC1ir;rd as exp rt
riveters when II took him years 10 learn
tha trade He said that many of re
mon encouraged by rrizea. would do an
enormous amour of cs~e'css ard co1sT-
ouently dangerous rivattin.s in one iay.
and that In his Judgment none OF the
sEips, with the posS re exception or
tho Sc built at Hog IT, mi. could be eN-
pected TO hold toge:h tor more than
40 years.
Repeat ted refusals TO approve defec-
tive work, the witness said. brought
upon him the displeasure OF hts imme-
date superiors.
He was afraid. in common with a few
other conscientious inspectors. he said,
that accidents and loss Of life might
happen to the poorly constructed ves-
sells and that the inspectors who gave
their approval TO the work would be held
responsible and 'sent across the line"
Purtell caused laugh when he told
OF how, in desperation. he bundled UP a
N~v of rivets and sent them to President
Wilson. When he got letter OF ac-
acknowledgement he said ne WIS called
into the main office of the Submar' NJ
Boat Corpora ton and summarily d's-
charged. Then he wrote to the Presi-
dent again and got "a reply from Secre-
'ary Tumulty, he said. assuring him o.
- carly reinstatement with back paw.
is was arranged and he went 10 work
for the Standard Shipbuildlng Corpora
ton. There, he said. conditions were
even worse. He said the workmen were
getting away with murder" and that
he never saw anyth ng like IL In my
born days" His objections TO work on
the hulls of the Dallas ard the Shooter
Island. he said. wore Ignored and ne
went to see Basil Mayor OF i15 Broad
way. Shipping Board director for this
district Mayor. he said. sent him TO
Philadelphia. where he was discharged
for insubordiration.
Purtell told OF conference he had
with Edward " Hurley. director OF the
Emergency Fleet Corporation at the
Hotel Bltmore. where he aired his
grievances. Nothing came Of IT, how
ever. and since then. the witness de-
clarod. ne has been unn bic 10 get en-
plovment NJ Nis o'd trade.
While evnlainlng from drawings tho
various techrical marks of defective
rivet'-G Purtell became excited. beating
fhe table with the rivets he hod brought
alorg as SAMPLES. and veher1entlv de-
cloring ttat he wns actuate1 purely by
motives OF patriotism whe~ he refused u
rlace his inspectors o X upon a hun
which might fall to pieces In midccean.
Elected From own Vessel.