New-York tribune., 1896-05-25
FORA COUNCIL OF ORDNANCE.
TO PASS ON QUESTIONS OF GUNS AND
PROJECTILES.
THE PROPOSED BODY TO CONSIST OF ARMY AND
NAVY OFFICERS AND CIvILIANS-THE pO-
TIES PRESCRIBED FOR THEM


NAVY OFFICERS AND CIvILIANs-THE DU-
TIES PRESCRIBED FOR THEM.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
Washington. May 2-In the opinion OF many
civilian inventors and others interested IN oruhdhce
there is "close corporation In the Army whch IS
not friendly to guns and war implements generdiy
patented and controlled by persons not IN the mill
tary service. The statement has frequently pee"
made here that civilians have show OF getting
their inventions passed by Army officers, ana that
some action by Congress Is necessary 10 restore
more satisfactory conditions 1t has been suggested
that y Council Of Ordnance should be formed' 10
which all questions relating to guns, CARRIAGES
proectiles ETC. should be referred for consideration
4 bill embodying this idea, abolishinS the ordnance
and Fertilization Board and making the Council or
Ordnance judicial body. has been introduced IN
the House.
The bill provides that the Council Of Ordnance
shall consist of persons, to be appointed pS
tho President and confirmed by the Senate. Two
members OF the Council are TO be Officers OF the
Army selected from the Corps OF Engineers and the
Ordnance Department. Two are to be officers oi inc
Navy and three civilians. The members are to De
chosen with reference solely 10 their character eN-
perence and acquaintance with the princlpies OF
mechanics metalurgy and chemistry "a apprcaole
to questions of ordnance and gunnery. Inc ii"-
tsrv and naval officers be relieved from other
duty while acting as members OF the council Inc
term Of office OF four members OF the Council to ne
selected by lot is fixed IN the bill al four years
The term Of the three remaining members ana OF
the SUCCESSORS of those whose terms OF Office snail
expire is be three years
An members Of the Council are to be eligible for
reappontment Vacancies occurring by reason OF
death or otherwise are to be filled BY appointment
for in.xpired terms No person is 10 be member
Of the Council or connected with it who has any
pecuniary interest directly or indirectly In any de-
vice invention or contract relating 10 the con-
struc;on and of ordnance The salary OF 'He
civilian members of he Council is to be SoUo a
year of the chief clerk 5000 Of the assistant clerK
81 200 and of the messenger $500.
The bill makes 1t the duty of the CouncIl OF Oro-
nance TO conduct In a judicial manner. with hear
.ngs on all questions that may arise and under hin-
tatione which Il may prescribe, an examination mo
all matters relating to the fabrication and use u
ordnance proiectiles and explosives and inventions
and experiments relative thereto when may from
time to time be assigned 10 its consideration by
Congress- the Secretary of War or the secretary OF
the Navy. The Council is 10 report its CONCLUSION
on all questions. together with The reasons the'elo''
70 the Secretary of War. In furtherance OF IT'S au-
ties the Council is authorized TO call for any ,oi
nation relating TO the subject under examination
which may be in the possession OF any depdrtn
of the Government and TO take the testimony, OF
or otherwise of persons who may contribute 10 iIs
information Witnesses required by the Council not
in the service of the Government are 10 receive
Except by special provision or congress. tne co,.- %
clusions of the Council be advisory. ana are
not TO control or abridge the authority veSted IN
the Dcpartments OF War and the Nav. Inc oiI
further provides that before any money now os
hereafter appropriated for the fabrication or use OF
ordnance proiectiles explosives or Tor eNper.-
ments relative thereto shall be expended except IN
fufment OF obligations existing at the tune OF me
massage Of the bill the particular methods OF laD-
rication are tc be submitted to the Council or OTd-
nance together with such Information as the & &Dc
! nartmen: concerned may desire TO present Cpoh
receiving the Information the Council is to examine
info the subject submitted, and report It's concur
sions and recomme nda tions TO the proper Depsr;
ment After June 30 Of this year ne BOARD OF Ufa,
nance and Forfcations is abolished and It's dut es
! are Transferred 10 the Council Of ordnance. Ihr'y
thousand dollars is appropriated by The Bill for con,
tineent and travelling expenses or me NOuHCh anu
| for SALARIES OF the civilian members.