Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-27

me In this discussion know that from the
very first order that we gave for armor
plate up 10 the present time we have OBJ
tained il as cheaply as any other of the
great maritime countries of the world?
Mr. Kelley. Then why did YOU not
/ answer the question of the gentleman on
this side as to the cost of armor To the
Russian government furnished by one OF
our own establishments in this country?
Mr.. Boutelle. | was Just going TO ans
Eer II. | so stated when the gentleman
asked the question. and the gentleman
who now interregates ne has only sue
minute.
Mr. Lewis of Washington. That is a
sad loss to the House.
MT Boutelle tcontinuing) The Bethle-
hem IRON Company was first asked to
supply armor few years ago. fer our
war vessels and entered into contract
with the government. 1t found after its
contract was completed that Congress
was at that time making no provision for
additional armor for ships They have a
plant that cost from 600 TO 100000
on their hands They desired. as many Of
our American manufacturers desire in
times of depression in business to keep
their works going if possible to prevent
deterioration; and. Just as other business
concerns all over the world are in the
habit of doing year after year. they We're
willing TO run their establishments even
nj a loss. or at the smallest margin of
eN pert force together and prevent an en-
tire shutdown of their establishments
They sent their agents abroad 10 Europe
to make bid in Russia for armor plate.
which that government was then desir-
Gus of securing
Another euterprising concern. tho Car
negie company. was also on the grounds.
and the European manufacturers were
also present TO take part in the proceed
ings ANA endeavor IL possible to secure
lar~ r.Ef.
ding there that differs from ours each
concern marking down what ii win sell
its product for. and then submitting.
when all of the bids are presented. the
very lowest figure at which il Will do the
work. The Bethlehem Company in
sharp contest bid down To S2i9 a ton for
small amount of armor required by the
Russian government, They desired to
submit TO the Russian government. one oil
the great maritime powers of the earth. Il
specimen of the armor that could be pro-
duced in this country. which was the
best in the world then as it Is today.
With that view. they made a small con-
tract at that price. and that contract,
MIR. Speaker, has formed the basis for a
vast amount of INSTRUMENTATION and mis-
placed eloquence 1t was something that
Is done year after year by every business
concern in the country during times Of
depression and dulness. j was not only
that, but ii was looking after a new field
as an output for their product They got
the contract. But does that prove that
that company can produce the material
ut that price and make n profit upon II?
What are the facts? They followed that
contract with new contract within a
few months afterwards for $3.50 or $50 II
ton with the Russian government. as
near as | can recollect.
Therefore that contract to which ref
erence has been made. not only In this
discussion. but in all preceding discus
sions on the same subject. cuts no pos
sihie figure here The Bethlehem Com
pany has not been habitually producing
arinor at that rate. 1t does not pretend
that 1t can make it profitably at tina:
rate. IL says on the contrary, that Ii
can not do so. The only object was To
prevent that great plant from being idle
and their skilled laborers from scattering
in all directions. and submit that there
is no business man with capacity sufTi-
cient 10 handle peanut stand who would
not approve of that policy rather than
allow that great plant to be idle.
Now, Mr.. Speaker. | could go into all
the figures II had the time. but that is.
1t seems to me. sufficient answer to the
suggestions which have been made here
In the first place. this contract was made
to keep the works going. and keep the
mon from scattering: and in the second
place, 1t was done to show the quality OF
their products abroad. and finally, we
find that they succeeded in making later
contracts al 4 price considerably over
$500 per ton.
When we first started to build the new
navy our object was. If possible to sue
coed in getting all of our material for the
construction of our ships manufactured
in the United States. and steps were taxi
en- to that end. The very first appropria-
ton bill for the new navy that | voted for
carried money for materials necessarily
purchased In Europe. 1t was urged upon
our manufacturers here to take az speedy
action as possible to enable us to get all