The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-12-30
MORE BATTLESHIPS.
Beard of Bureau Chiefs Has Made I'm
portant Suggestions.

Washington, December 24.-lt IS learheu
that the suggestion made to Secretary 1ei-
bert that he recommend congressman
appropriation for the construction Oh iouI
more battleships OF the kearsarge type
I'm order that contracts for their consJruc-
ton might be awarded to the three p4uuela
for building the two authorized by the last
congress and thus secure advantage OF the
economical proposals made, were submit
ted Informally by members OF the board o.
bureau chiefs and were not empodied III
their formal report, the DECISION haVinS
been reached that it was outside me pro-
vince OF the board to make such recon-
mendations officially. The board was mere
~ called upon to examine and report upon
The, bids offered Nevertheless the suggcs-
lions will have all the force of formal
reports. in which form they would proDapiy
have been embodied II consistent with the
functions OF the board.
The recommendation of the board as
shown In the formal report Is That the
bids of the Newport News Shipbulldihs an"
Dry Dock Company for constructing the
Kearsarge and her mate, on plans prepared
by the navy department be accepted; pro
vided, however, that the Union Iron WORKS.
of san Francisco be gwen the opportunity
of scaling its bid to a figure accepiaoie 10
the secretary, IN which event It IS recon-
mended that the Newport News company
be given the contract for the building Oh one
ship and the Union Iron Works the con-
tract for the other. in the informal put
nevertheless semi-ofiiCial manner previous
IN Noted the secretary is urged to CONSIDER
the report and IT'S recommendations as con-
tngent only on his rejection Of ue pan
proposed for securing SIX batticsnipS Ih
place of two. How much this radical prop
osition has impressed the secretary canhos
be asCertaiued. rs he has gwen no mint OF
his views on the matter. me SusGesIlon
however. viii undoubtedly be given consid-
GRAFTON by the president and the cabinet
before Mr.. Herbert acts, shouid ne De H.
clined to look upon IL faNOrahly.
Two Contracts Awarded.
washington. December 2G-Secretary
Herbert today, with the approval OF the
president. awarded the contract for the
construction Of battleshipS NO. ara no.
6-the Kuarslrge and her unnamed mate
to the Newport News ship building ana
Dry Dock Company Of Newport news
Va. 81 its bid Of }2,@5o,o00 for building each
ship according to plans prepared by the
navy department. The secretary closes a
long communication 20 the president set
ting forth his reasons for taking TINS
course instead of awarding one TO san
Francisco at a greatly increased cost or
accepting the propositions OF the cramps
as follows:
"To me il seems clear That the depart
mont cannot undertake to say that q blo
by 4 responsible and competent company
fairly made after due CONSIDERATIONS, rs
lower than n fair price for such work.
This company is bidding not only for one
of these ships, but for hoth, ana II m
sists upon its right to build both. For the
government TO reject the bid under these
Circumstances and insist upon paying
higher price FOR the ships OF for one or
them, to he built elsewhere on any suoh
ground as that the bid of the Newport
News company Is below the market price,
would he ruin0us policy. The government
IS entitled to haV" its ships buiir IT the
lowest prices az which it can procure the
doing Of the work and the policy would
dictate the encoura cement instead OF the
dfs,otira cement of low bidding
Named It the Kentucky.
1vasria.ten. December 27-Secrctary
Herbert announced from the cabinet meet
irq today THAT the twin sister OF the bat
tleship Kear5arge naI been named the
kontuCly.
Nr ths members wen" present az today 5
cabinet meeting. which was "A prolrdCted
arr. SECRETARY Oluyy was AT the "hllc
house early in the morning and secretary
Carlisle WAS i'm cont renee with the pres
idant for an hour before tNc nvc'tnG X
is understood that aside from routine mat
t.r- finance was tho main topic 81 con-
sheraton to5ay. The cabinet approved
Secretary IIcrbert's suggestion To name
battleship No. 6 kentucky.