The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-09

One, discussed two days ago in
this column, Is the problem OF
speeding the production OF hum
dreds OF desperately needed cargo
vessels. AS revealed In that ar
tlcle, this vast program is being
seriously hampered by waste, In
efficiency and piifcr4ng Of public
funds and materials.
The other, the equally vital Job
Of loading and routing the great
fleet OF merchant ships needed TO
supply the efnbattled war ma
chimes Of tho United Nations,
Here too the story Is often the
same Encouragement, tragic
waste and worse.
Tho picture Is not all black,
As In the case Of shipbullding,
the situation OIL the West Coast
now Is very gootl-thanks 70 re.
cent marked improvement due TO
tho appointment OF n regional
shipping car, Dean Wayne Morse
Of oregon university. Authority
was centralized In his hands on
tho Joint recommendation OF ship
operators and the CfO longshore.
mans union, the dominant mari
time labor organization.
But on the Atlantic Coast the
picture Is very different. There
II smells 10 high heaven.
Following tho excellent results
obtained by the appointment Of
Morse, the President advised War
Shipping Administrator Emory s.
Jerry Land TO clean up the dis
NAL East Coast mess the same
way. The inside word Is that
Land baked under pressure from
the operators and Jack Ryan,
burly boss Ct the AFL longshore-
mans union. which rules the Bos-
stonA New York and philadelphia
waterfronts.
Rival CIO marine leaders charge
that behind the opposition OF
Ryan and the operators Is the
fear that under an impartial fed
eral shipping car the CIO unions
will wrest control OF the water
front from them. But whatever
the reason, it is fact that Land
has resisted to takingu step that
has produced such excellent re-
suits on the West Coast.
MIsMANAGEMENT
AND SABOTAGE
1t Is also a fact that the ship
loading situation on the Atlantic
Coast has become so bad that the
Justice Department and Tru-
man committee have started
probes that already have uncov-
cred shocking evidence.
These disclosures are so seri-
Gus that insiders say 1t Is prac-
tically certain there will be arrests
and prosecutions on criminal
charges.
These are some OF the things
discovered by the investigators:
I. That large numbers OF
known members Of the Bund,
Christian Front and similar or
CARNATIONS are permitted to
load ships Carrying war supplies
to Britain and Russia.
2. That che ship broke in
two and capsized in mid-ocean
due to improper loading. Tanks
and other heavy equipment had
been loaded fore and aft and
light materials amidshipS, VIC
lating the first rule OF ship
loading 20 distribute a cargo
evenly. Investigating agents
are convinced this was sabot-
age.
8. Shifting cargo forced an
other ship TO turn back from a
Russia bound convoy. The yes
sci was. torpedoed and sunk
q day later.
4. Five other vessels which
developed cargo-shifting trout
bic also had to turn back, but
fortunately escaped Nazi subs.
However, to save them from
breaking up and capsizing.
considerable portion Of their
precious cargo had to be thrown
into the sea. When the ships
landed 1t was found that In two
OF Them there were no cotter
pins In the shackles TO which