when roosevelt signed nira into law on 16 june 1933, he had been convinced that it would be used to fund construction of new ships to create jobs in both public and private shipyards. section 209(e) allowed for the president, within the terms and conditions of the london naval treaty of 1930, to authorize the construction of naval vessels. that same day roosevelt signed an executive order giving approval to the expenditure of $238 million, over three years, for the construction of 32 new ships, this also included provisions for two "erie"-class gunboats.