The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-22
Mr.. CRAMP OBJECTS
He Wants a Monopoly of
Shipbuilding.
NO FAVORS SHOULD BE SHOWN
The Secretary, He Says, Should Fol-
low the Bidding, but Irving M.
Scott Is Still at Work.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21-Irving NJ. Scott,
the San Francisco shipbuilder, is persistent
and interchangeable in his effort to secure at
least one of the contracts for the construct
ing of the new naval vessels. Being under
bid by rival concern, some men would
have given up the fight At first, Mr.. Scott
was inclined to believe that IL would be USE
less 10 make a contest with the Cramps of
Philadelphia, who were the lowest bidders
on both vessels but talk with the Navy
Department officials led him 10 believe that
the department people were in sympathy
with him, and wanted TO help along the
Pacific Coast shipbuilding establishment.
The fact that Cramp Brothers had SUBJ
mtted such low bids, under which they
could hope to make no profit. aud might
perhaps be losers. created the belief in
Mr. Scott's mind that the Philadelphia
establishment was trying to drive rival
shipbuilders out of the business and have
monopoly of this class of work again.
Mr.. Scott does not propose to be driven out
of the field if he can help 1t, and besides. he
does not like to 20 home empty handed for
the first time since the Union Iron Works
commenced to compete for naval work.
Both he and Mr. Charles Crsmp are at the
Navy Department every day.
Mr.. Cramp seems just as determined to
win as Scott, and gives his side of the mat
ter as follows: II don't attach any impor-
tance to the rumor that one of the contracts
VIII 60 to the Union Iron Works. l do not
see how this can be true. Which Of the two
ships is to Ice given to the highest bidder?
Docs any one claim that our bids, or either
of them. were defective? Even if one ship
could legally be given to the higher bidders.
80 IL IT.
Iron Works? Why should not the New
port News Company be considered? The
latter yard is quite as well equipped and in
some respects is better equipped than the
San Francisco yard to handle work OF that
character Is the Pacific Slope to be
favored section in that industry? Newport
News is as much Southern yard as the
Union Iron Works is Pacific Coast yard,
and if there is to be sectional favoritism.
why should the South not have an equal
show? The shipbulding industry in the
South is of quite as much national impor-
tance as that OF the Pacific.
"The advertisement for new ships" con-
tinued Mr.. Cramp. was iu the usuAl form
under the general statute without any
qualification. Everybody supposed that the
face value OF the bids would settle the ques-
ton. The former law, which. in the act of
1887 and the act of 1890. authorized the Pres
ident to give one ship to the Pacific Coast,
under certain conditions, was repealed in
the act authorizing these two ships, leaving
the matter wholly subject TO the operation
OF those sections of the Revised Statutes
which govern general contracting between
the Government and citizens. The Secre-
tary of tile Navy Is one Of the best lawyers
and iurists in The country, and ii is per-
fecIly certain that he will not take any
course not fully warranted by law"
Mr.. Scott insists that the intent Of Con-
gress was that one of the new vessels should
be constructed on the Pacific Coast. and
that this would. at any rate. be a wise policy
for the Government TO pursue.