Evening star., 1898-12-19
BUILDING OF WARSHIPS
Secretary Long Urged to Recommend the
Use of Government Yards,
Letter of George }. Campbell, Jr.. Re
fcrrinG to the Success of
the TeNnS.

The officials Of the Navy Department are
not much concerned over the report that
the private shipbuildius plants of this coun-
try are secretly organizing trust for the
purpose Of forcing the government to pay
them higher prices for the building of war
ships. Their comDlaCence is due to their
belief that such a combination, even if con-
JcnF.ated. would prove Intellectual. for the
reason that the government. if put to that
necessity. could readily make its own war
ships. Tnat this is possible was clearly
demonstrated in the case Of the battle ships
Texas and Maine. both Of which were con
siructed ut government navy yards. the
former at tEe Norfolk yard and the after
at the New York yard. Although the gov
o-nnant plants at these yards are not 50
complete as those At some Of the private
shipyartis. such as the Newport News com
pBuy the Cramp company and the Union
iruu works. il j. C1uJcUdcd that they could
bs made equally efficient at q comparatively
small expense. The fact that the govern
msut is not cutjTe.y dependent upon private
Yards for this work is accepted as an inGi-
cation that no serious effort Will he made
for the formation of the alleged trust.
8Ir- George J. Campbell. jr.. formerly
president Of the board Of trade of Va aleJo.
Cal. who is in this city on Il business trip.
has written "a letter to- the Secretary of the
Navy making a strong argument in favor of
the cons -rUctiun OF naval vessels by the
government in preference to having such
work done a. private shipyards. He gives
several reasons in support Of his argument,
vEe of the principal of which Is that 1t
would be cheaper and better in every way
for The government to build its own ships
Changed Conditions in the Yards.
IN his letter Ea says in part:
All comparisons Of actual cost have been
.rr "a wards
when JE-y were under the control Of the
politicians. Under that system men were
charged 10 jobs when working on other
work. ana the wards were flied with heel
CrS and strikers, VINO were never intended
fo~ vnGE. bJt merely to draw pay for
political service. The yards were then filled
with incompetent furemcn, placed there not
for merit. but for political reasons. Things
arr now entirely different. The yards are
run On business basis: civi. service and
merit count. and the government gets
days Wprl, for days pay
The work done at the yards at present
l. IF better character than that done by
contract. and if il costs more (Which !
denyj. the government gets a better ship,
and for that reason the ship does not cost
so much for repairs in the following TWO
years of It's lie. When these TWO items
are added together the difference is in favor
OF the navy yards
Building the Texas.
The contractors would not build the
Texas for the amount appropriated by Con-
gress. but the department built her at a
navy yard within the limits of the appro-
priatiOn- This vessel, well others
built by the government has proved to be
first class. Although the government pays
higher wages than contractors, it gets a
J. CHER class of work. and the increase of
pay goes 70 that deserving class. the work
iTH;rnea- The heads of the different depart
mcn;s of the navy yards are naval officers,
educated a. great expense by the govern
ment. The positions of foremen are filled
by competitive examinations, and the
forces are composed of the best working
nel in The country. nearly all of them hav-
ing previously been employed by great
sh.FJuild!Eg concerns.
Advantages Of the Government.
The government pays no interest on the
COS, Of its plant, has no insurance charges,
no wear and tear charges. no dividends to
pay. furnishes its own plant, and is able to
pay cash for all necessary material. All
the shuFbuiding plants in this country
have these fixed charges TO pay and are
obliged 10 earn money 70 pay dividends TO
stockholders
II, with all these items not charged
3Iaius- ships built at IA Wy yards they cost
more than when built by contractors is it
not about time to find out why or to close
UP thr yards?
2 nave been trying 10 show the Coun-
Try for the past four years that ships-of-
var CIl be constructed at navy yards IS
cheaTly as by contract. and a better class
OF ships produced. costing less for repairs.
W. lave met great deal OF opposition
from ,ldcr.ut places. but principally from
your department and the chairman Of the
naval committee in the House.
Appeal to the Secretary.
You have it in your power to recommend
thai some of the ships YOU are asking for
be built at the navy yards. and if that
course is followed you will break UP the
trusts, receive the thanks Of the working
men OF the country and save the admins
tration from making a mistake"