Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-26

ehEss UPoN THEJUDdE ADVOCATE GENERAL.
The result Of the readvertisement BY the
Navy department for new bids on the three
2,00O-ton cruisers, announced in Saturdays
STAR, will be watched by those interested in
naval affairs with great interest. These bids,
to be opened October 26. will, it is hoped, be
within the limit Of the appropriations. II they
are the department. will consider that it has
scored point as against the contractors,
but II the latter's figures remain high some in
teresting developments may be expected. In
fact, crisis in governmental ship building has
Just about been reached, and the time has
come when change of method is inevitable.
There are two ways to build war vessels, one
being at the navy yards, under the direct su-
pervlslon OF the government, and the other is
to let contracts for the work. Formerly the
hrst plan was followed. for the struggling in
fancy of American ship building made con-
tracing next to an impossibility. OF later
years, however, the government has wearied
vi the long periods required by the growth Of
ships built at the yards, and the
ENORMOUS EXPENSE ENTA1LEp,
and has given the work to private firms. For
time John Roach had almost q monopoly,
during one administration. and when the po-
lltical tide turned it wrecked his fortune
Every since then the tendency has been to put
screws on the contractors, limiting them in
time, requiring more and more in the way of
achievements, until it has come to be proverbial
tnat TO take contract for a naval vessel meant
almost sure ruin. The Cramps have built a
number OF ships, and by reason of extra good
Workmanship that has brought high premiums
have pulled through SO far without disaster
But the grinding down process has had its ef-
fects, and the refusal of the ship builders the
m oil cato Tho
limit Is but the voice of the growing dissatis-
faction with the present methods. When these
olds We're published there were whispers started
Immediately of
SHIP BUILDERS TRUST,
formed for the purpose of forcing higher prices
and better terms. This, however, is generally
dlscredited by naval folks and the general
opinion is that the high bids were merely the
result OF necessity. II the department can
succeed in persuading any one to bid low
enough on the amended plans the threatened
storm Will probably be averted tor while,
but If all OF the bids received in October are
again high it is more than likely that the con-
tractors will make an onslaught upon the sys-
tenn In vogue through congressional action.
1here ls even now q nebulous movement on
foot to secure a change in the personnel Of the
department. bearing on this matter. 1t is
among the possibilities of the next session
that bill will be introduced abolishing tho
detail Of
A JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
OF the navy and providing for the appointment
OF lawyer by the Attorney General to look
after the strictly legal interests OF the navy,
corresponding somewhat to the solicitors of
other departments The reason for this pro-
posed movement is that Col Remey, the
marine officer who is the present Judge advo-
cate general, is not very well hked-in his off,
q h.. l.
business with the department and whose noses
he holds down to the grindstone with great
PAYING HEAVY PENALTIES.
1t Is a rather remarkable fact that every YES
sei now building for the navy is under penal
ties or will be before completion. The gun
boat Petrol, building at Baltimore, is earning
tne government SZ0O day. The gunboats
concord and Bennington, under construction
oy the Palmers of New York. began paying
800 day last Saturday, and will continue that
Tor three months, after which they will pay
SloO day for three months more, and thence
forth 500 day. The dynamite cruiser We
snvlns, built by Cramp, is paying $500 day.
The Charleston pays $50 day, although It's
SlOO limit has been reached. This is on ac-
count Of some allowances made to the SCOTS
owing 70 certain defects in the
plans, which were furnished by the
department. The Baltimore, q Cramp vessel,
Is now putting 500 day into Uncle Sam 8
purse. The only three vessels now paying
penalties at present are the Newark and Phila,
delphia, at the Cramp works, and the San
Francisco, at the city OF that name. The con-
tract time Of the first two will expire October
~, after which the vessel will pay penalty at
the rate OF $50 day for three months 500 o
day for three months, and then $780, The San
Francisco is being built on the same terms. but
a hya 1nnfh haS n
not begin her payments until March &c.
NOT PLEASANT FOR CONTRACTORS.
So 1t will be seen that, financially speaking,
although the contract system, as at present
conducted, is profitable to the government, it
is rulnous to contractors, and this fact is the
argument that is making the latter think very
seriously just now.