Evening star., 1937-11-07
SWANSON WARNS
OF NAVY DELAYS
Holds Interruptions in Build
ing Ships Will Jeopardize
National Defense,

Jeopardy OF Americas national de-
Tense will result from any interrupt
tions to the Navy building program,
Secretary Swanson informed Presi-
dent Roosevelt yesterday in his annual
report for the past fiscal year.
Delay in the program. the Secre-
tary emphasized. will reduce the ef-
fectiveness of the fleet and lead to
increase in costs connected with spo-
radio and intensive construction neces-
sary to make up for lapses in build
ing.
In pleading for continuation of the
building program, particularly in
auxiliaries. the Secretary said the "ef-
ficiency and morale of the Navy con-
tinue to be of the highest order"
Urges Higher Pay.
The cabinet officer pointed to the
need for higher pay for officers and
enlisted men; said the Navy is feeling
the pinch of higher costs in food
stuffs and materials. as we'll as "a
steady advance Of prices paid for the
Nays fuel OIL" and declared "the
Importance of continuing an orderly
program of needed additions and re-
placements from year to year without
lapSeS must be stressed"
Secretary Swanson said that the
Walsh-Healey Act designed to give
workers wage and hour standards de-
sired by the Government, imposing
new cOntractual representations and
stipulatiOns, has slowed up procure
ment i'll many lines of material" He
pointed out, however, that now many
OF the problems first occurring have
since disappeared and as a general
rule contracts are being made for exc
cution subject to the representations
and stipulations of the act without
much objection" In another part of
the report. Mr. Swanson said:
THE Navy Department is definitely
apMehensive regarding the results to
our national defense of the increasing
amount of restrictive legislation deal
ing with the procurement of material
and execution Of contracts for naval
work. The department is in favor
OF efforts to prevent collusive bidding,
TO prevent excessive profits at the
expense Of the taxpayer and to prevent
sweatshop methods and exploitation
OF labor"
Auxiliaries Overage and Slow.
Pointing out that Congress has au-
thOrized construction of six auxiliaries,
but made funds available only for two,
ha s,lh &at ofR ansL IL, l.
that the Congress will appropriate
funds for the other four ships in the
near future and that authorization will
be obtained and funds appropriated for
additional construction Of auxiliaries
in subsequent years, following a con-
sistent plan to supply the urgent need
for these vessels.
Auxiliary vessels would be required
in time OF war in numbers too great
to be built and operated by the Navy
In time Of peace. Therefore. the num-
bers to be operated in time of peace
should be limited to q sut1iciency to
meet the peacetime requirements Of
the fleet. 1t must be recognized, how
ever, that certain auxiliary types that
have no commercial use, such as re-
pair ships and destroyer, submarine
and aircraft tenders, cannot be sup
Piled from the merchant marine when
emergency neceSsitates. and such
types must be provided for by con-
struction program similar to that for
combatant vessels. Also the creation
Of q merchant marine OF modern fast
vessels Is essential as an auxiliary
war reserve.
Shipbuilding Delayed.
due to various causes, many Of
them beyond the control Of the Navy
Department, completion Of new ship
building by both private contractors
and navy yards has continued to be
handicapped and delayed. 1t Is hoped
that this unsatisfactory condition may
be improved during the coming year"
On the subject Of pay, Mr.. Swan
son had this to say:
AT present. inadequate pay Is occa-
sioning discomfort and hardship to
naval personnel Of all ranks. but par
ticularly to the younger officers and
enlisted men. To the credit OF the
service, the morale and efficiency of
its PERSONNEL remain high despite
this inadequacy Of. pay. but fairness
and equity warrant a proper adjust
ment Of pay schedules. The reports
Of the Joint Service Pay Board in
1929 and of the Pay-Personnel Board
in 1880 are still generally applicable.
Measures along the lines recon-
msnded b. thees boards are urged"