The New York herald., 1921-08-08
U.S.BOARD TO MAKE
GOVERNMENTS ships
100 P. c. AMERICAN.
Drastic Changes Will Take
Place, Forcing Out For
eigners From Crews
and Clerkships.
LARGE CUT IN FORCE
Hostility Of International
Seamen's Union to New
Policy Expected by
Officials.
BIG sHAKEUP IN LONDON
Efforts. Will Be Made to Re-
cruit Personnel With Young
Americans and Increase
Efficiency.
BIG SHAKEUP IN LONDON
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
9hiu Ufo n r. Au~

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., Aug. 7.}
All ships owned and controlled by
the United States Government are to
be Americanized under the policy of
the new Shipping Board
Drastic changes in the assistant and
clerical personnel of the board and
among the men employed on the ships
under control of the board are likely
In the near future. Not only is the
force Of the board to be cut almost
one-half but in no department., nor on
any ship owned by the board, will any
foreigner be employed where it is pos
sible to obtain the services Of an
American. Many foreigners are at
present employed on the ships and in
the foreign offices of the board.
An energetic investigation Is now be-
ing made of this subject and as soon as
the facts are gathered they will be laid
before the board The investigation in
cludes not only the clerical force at
home and abroad, but also the MEM
bership of the crews of all vessels oper-
ated for the board. This may lead to
a fight with the International Seamen's
Union, but 1t is understood the board
is perfectly willing to undertake that IL
necessary.
Gradual Reduction.
The employees OF the Shipping Board
and the Emergency Fleet Corporation
number more than 5000 at present, and
those who arc looking toward economi-
cal as we'll as efficient operation OF the
board and the corporation appear to be
convinced that half that number can
do the work. The reduction In the num-
Der of employees will be made gradually
after a thorough investigation and study.
So far as the Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion is concerned. reports of its condi-
tion as to personnel will probably be
ready for Joseph w. Powell when he
takes office as senior vice-president of
that organization ON September /.
One of the first blows to be struck.
however. probably will be directed at the
London Office of the Shipping Board. 1t is
understood that of the approximately 400
employees in the London Office large
majority are British. This matter has
been brought up before. but criticisms
have always been met with the state
ment that 1t is impossible to get Ameri-
cans to so to London to work in the
board offices for the salary that gener-
ally prevails there.
The new board, it is said, will try to
get along with fewer employees in Lon
don and have them all Americans If
the board has TO raise salaries in order
10 Gsfahlfsb al arsA
London 1t will do so. Even in that
event 1t is declared the. total payroll in
London will not be increased, since the
size Of the force will be materially de-
creased.
The most vital changes contemplated,
however, are those that have TO do
with crews of tine vessels in which the
shipping Board has complete or part
ownership. Some of these ships are
being operated for the board and others
are being paid for in instalments. After
the board gets complete reports on the
crews of all these vessels 1t will begin its
drive 90 Americanize the merchant ma.
rine from top to bottom. 1t win not
consider its jon complete until every man
aboard these ships. from captain TO
ueCk steward, Is an American.
Obstacles Formerly in Way.
Various obstacles have stood in the
way of tho establishment of 100 per
cent. American crews so far. During the
war and the period Immediately after
the war. when every ship afloat was In
demand, the Shipping Board could not
put into effect plans for the complete
-Americanizatlon of the crews. Later
the strike came and the use of larger
percentage of foreign seamen was made
necessary. Now the situation is more
favorable and the board intends to make
the most OF Il.
During the war the President was su-
thorized to issue licenses to foreigners
to officer American ships. and as re-
suit foreigners signed up. They got
what Is known among shipping men as
'red ink" licenses. Some OF these IL
censes are still In effect. but In the near
future they will be cancelled A ma
jority OF the holders OF these red ink"
licenses are British. That is particu-
larly true OF the engineers. In fact, the
percentage OF American engineers is ex-
tremely small.
Those who are investigating the sit
uation for the board consider the en-
sineer problem to be one OF the most
serious and are determined TO rectjfy
X by putting American engineers on the
job as promptly IS possible. Next to
the captain the engineer has greatest
control over the cost OF operations dur
ing voyages and In ports.
Many OF the vessels operated by pri-
vate companies for the board depend
II is said, upon foreign port officers in
various parts of the world. While this
is often necessity. 1t Is believed that
the board will be able to put Americans
In number OF ports where the interests
OF American vessels are now in the
Continued or Sinth Page.