New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-09
This Hot
weather, Lundborg's Cologne
will be found c~,oIirr and re-
freshing.
SMOKELESS POWDER.
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF FURNISHING
IT TO THE ARMY AND NAVY.
LnY rE:.rnnAru rn rrr rnInrxrl


1T TO THE ARMY AND NAVY.
lnY TE:FoRAPu TO TIE rRIBrNEl
washington. July s-"The STAR prints this af-
'erhoon some interesting interviews with members
OF Congress on the necessity of providing smoke
less powder fer the use of the Army and Navy
heceh' DISCUSSION OF the responsibility for the
iaiiurc or the Government to provide powder Of
'his KIND at the outset Of the war makes some Of
the views expressed today exceedingly timely.
representative Hull, chairman OF the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee. rad this to say: The
trouble is that we could not get the smokeIess
Fo"oe' AT the outbreak Of the war. though It was
an American invention There are in this country
u" Facilities 10 produce Il In sufficient amount
Congress long ago should have provided for tho
manufacture OF such powder in this country Con-
tracts should have been made 80 AZ to warrant
manufacturers to produce IT, But Il cost. a little
more man other powder. and too many Of our peo-
PIE III congress thought never would have a war
anu therefore would not prepare for the possibility
" men the war came We did not have enough smoke
less powder In this country and were not prepared
10 produce II fast enough. We tried 10 buy II
abroad. but Spain lad bought It all therA I think
'he lault lies with our Congressional system Con.
gress is at fault"
NAT Is going 10 be done about ftp was asked
Ahere Is nothing In contemplation in Congress
WISH tho Depar would take the matter in
hand and make contracts"
Representative Loudensager. Of New-Jersey a
member Of the Committee Naval Affairs said:
'ilinK every One will admit the desirability OF
providing sufficient quantities of smokeless powder
for the Army and Navy As long ago as the time
when the Dnsley Tariff bill was considered urged
protective tarin upon smokeless powder to stimu-
ate the manufacture OF that article In this country
"e'eIai manufactures are being conducted on a
'iiAi fcaie IN the United States. but the compet-
ton OF cheap European labor keeps them down
The House adopted my suggestion as to the t.r,nr
on smokeless powder. but the Senate modified the
There Is a smokeless powder factory in nv dis
trict but was not only looking at the protection
OF the american Industry, looking ahead to
'he une "hen the Government might need powder
IN greater quantities and in quicker time than the
limited capacities OF present factories could pro-
duce II. 1t would have been very fortunate II we
couid nave obtained as much smokeess powder az
we wanted FOR this war; and II our own people wore
engaged In its manufacture
The House Committee Naval Affairs" con-
tinued Mr.. Loudenslager. did all It was asked to
90 In connection with furnishing powder Tho
hrst appropriation contemplated for 81 600 900
for smokeless powder. This was subsequently re-
| duced to $4,000. because the Department could
| draw upon the $50 oooocO emergency appropriation
for this purpose. We also $50 900 10 increase
the Government plant at Newport for the manu-
, faciure o. this explosive. l believe the Govern
| ment ought 10 make smokeless powder and keep
large stocks Of It on hand for emergencies.'
| Representative Meyer Of Louisiana. a member
! Of the Committee Naval Affairs, said: There
Is no question 10 the desirability Of supplying
ourselves with smokeless powder The only Ques-
tion s. how 10 It in sufficient quantities
We tried TO obtain 1t before the war. but the out
put Of the material limited that difficulty was
found IN obtaining the powder favor the gen.
eral Of smokeless powder and think the ex-
periences oil this war show that will have to
get II In the future
Representative Butler Of Pennsylvania. a men,
Der Of the Committee Naval Affairs also said:
There is no division OF sentiment lima gine.
about the necessity or the desrability Of obtaining
fSF H. Ay aq Ssy
the communications Of the Department in this
Of the war 70 lay in a stock of the powder sum
! Client for all purposes. as the output was too
from other countries" -
Senator Hale. the chairman of the Senate Com:
proyidins snokslcss powder for the Navy is one to
asked for. | have no doubt they are doing the
IS the f b fap IN haSe donS s
ment is getting IL as fast as II can"
sa m d S ss IN aSsl
smokeess powder. think the question Of the kind
be acted upon by the Ordnance Department They
have the funds to furnish the munltions OF war:
fairs said the question Of the kind of powder to
be used IN the Army would not come before his
committee. IT matter to be dealt with in
the War Department.
Representative Hborn. Of California. member
of the Naval Committee. said: THE trouble is that
there but two places in the United States pre-
pared to make the smokeless powder-the smoke
less powder the Government has adopted. and they
I had Just started on II for the Government when
the war came We had just worked out n
formula for smokeless powder. the best In the
world and had started to make it when the war
broke out. Ordinary smokeless powder IS extreme
! IL dangerous on account OF the ntro-glycerine In
Il we undertook to prepare n formula which
would eliminate this. Lieutenant Bernadeau ex-
| perimened at Newport. and prepared a formula
from which II was eliminated and which makes a
nerfcct powder The Dupont powder mills Ia
J)ela ware and the California powder mills have
started to manufacture II. but when the war broke
ont they were not prepared TO furnish SUFFICIENT
0uenti,v for the use Of Army and Navy /
had thought that some had been bought abroad.
The Secretary asked for 100000 for that purpose;
5000 COO would do I supposed that we had used
some OF the EOnoco 10 buy this powder ABROAD
! mn ~ seems that we have not. 90 not see that
lo.y,, hior for