Evening star., 1940-05-21
Navy Will Speed
Program With
Extra Shifts
$1,000 Increase
In ShipbuiIding
Forces Ordered
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
All navy establishments were or
dered today by Acting Secretary
Lewis Compton to speed up defense
preparations by working additional
shifts and by increasing civilian
shipbliding forces by at least $4,000
within three months.
Mr.. Compton sent a letter to tie
commandants of all naval districts,
yards and stations, all bureaus and
offices of the Navy Department and
to headquarters of the Marine
Corps.
The proposed increase in $1,000
in shipbuilding forces, the Navy
said, would be distributed between
the Portsmouth, New York City,
Mare Island, Philadelphia. Boston,
Charleston, Norfolk and Puget
Sound Navy Yards. The force at
the gun factory at the Washington
Navy Yard also will be increased.
There are 66 warships under con-
struction or projected, including
eight battleships.
May Discuss Labor Laws.
Even as Mr.. Compton's order was
announced, President Roosevelt con-
centrated on Navy affairs, summon
ing ranking admirals and Senate
and House Naval Committee chair
men to conference at which the
effects of Federal labor laws on ship.
building were expected to be dis
cusSed.
The House committee approved q
proposal to authorize the Navy to
dismiss, without regard to the civil
service law, employees engaging in
subversive activities. The commit
tee withheld final action on the
legislation, however, until Chairman
Vinson could take to the White
House a set of amendments designed
to relax the labor laws.
Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr.. Vinson said,
had asked to see these amendments.
This gave rise to speculation that
the Chief Executive might turn
thumbs down on the law modifica.
ton suggestions and insist on keep
ing intact such New Deal enact
ments as the Wages and Hours
and Walsh -Healey Acts.
The Walsh-Healey Act permits the
Government to fix the labor stand
ards of private employers on Gov
ernment contracts. This has re-
suited in widespread application Of
the 40-hour week with time and
one-half for overtime.
Prefers Added Shifts.
Mr. Compton ordered as the first
move toward speeding up defense
work, that where possible, plants
should step up to two-shift basis.
Where three shifts already are being
worked "all practicable steps shall
be taken to eliminate the bottle
necks'."
'The shipbuilding yards" he con-
tinued, should be able to increase
their civilian forces by at least $4,000
within three months"
He expressed a preference for more
shifts rather than overtime work,
but authorized where necessary the
working of 48-hour week, with
overtime pay where legally required.
Mr.. Compton also ordered that "all
employees needed to expedite the
completion of present and antici-
pated work loads, particularly those
in groups and 3 (helpers and me-
chanics) should be taken on and
trained (if training be nedede) as
rapidly as they can be obtained and
absorbed"
In spite of the urging to press
preparation, officers in charge of the
various plants were ordered to "ex-
ercise the utmost discretion in in
suring that the authority granted
in this letter is not abused to the
disadvantage of employees"
The naval conference was the
Presidents chief national defense
meeting scheduled for the day.
Move to Modify Law.
The bill tentatively approved by
the House Naval Affairs Com
mittee would modify application
Of wage and hour laws where neces-
sary to speed up the Navy's ship
building program. 1t also would:
Authorize navy yards or private
shipyards working on Government
contracts to go up to 48-hour week,
with time-and-a-half for all above
(See NAVAL, Page A-3)
M lnll e