The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-10
SM0KELESS POWDER

New York, July "a special to the Trib-
une from Washington says: Representa-
| tive Hull, chairman of the house military
| affairs committee, had this to say in re-
| gard to the use of smokeless powder:
| The trouble is that we could not get-the
| smokeless powder at the outbreak of the
| war though it was an American invention.
| There are in this country no facilities to
! produce 1t in sufficient amount
Congress long ago should have provided
| for the manufacture of such powder in
! this country Contracts should have been
made so as 10 warrant manufacturers to
| produce it, But it costs a little more than
/ other powder. and too many of our people
in congress thought we never would have
a war and therefore would not prepare for
! the possibility. We tried to buy it abroad
when the war came, but Spain had bought
| it all There. l think the fault lies with
| on congressional system"
What is going to be done about it?'
was asked.
There is nothing in contemplation in
| congress. l wish the department would
| take the matter in hand and make con-
tracts"
Representative Loudenslager OF New
| Jersey. member of the committee on
( naval affairs said:
4 think everyone Will admit the desira-
! biity of providing sufficient quantities Of
/ smokeleSs powder for the army and navy.
/ As long al the time when the Dingley
tariff bill was considered, l urged q pro-
! tective tariff upon Smoke,ess powder. to
/ stimulate the manufacture of that article
/ in this country. Several manufactures
are being conducted on small scale in
/ the United States. but the competition Of
cheap European labor keeps them down.
/ The house adopted my suggestion as to
/ the tariff on smOkeless powder, but the
/ senate modified the rate.
! There is a smokeleSS powder factory in
my district but I was only looking at the
( protection Of the American industry. I was
/ looking ahead TO the time when jhe gov
/ eminent might need powder in greater
quantities and in quicker time than the
/ limited capacities OF our present factories
would produce it, I, would have been
/ very -or,Una1e of we could have obtained
/ as much smokeless powder as NE wanted
. Tor this war and if our people were en-
/ gagged in its manufacture.
( The house committee on naval affairs"
tt4-eAs4tsCtA NJ ll0atCk.N4a-El. A-0 al II
was asked 10 do in connection with fur
/ nishinng powder. The first appropriation
Z contemplated was for Sl.e)o 600 for smoke
less powder This was subsequently re-
GuCed TO $4,000 because The department
could draw upon the S50,c,0oo9 emergency
appropriation FOR this purpose. We also
5 gave $4,000 N increase the government
/ plant At Newport for the manufacture Of
! this explosive. I believe the government
ought TO make smokeless powder and
/ keep large stock 81 il on hand FOR emer-
/ gencies."
/ Representative Meyer, Of Louisiana.
member Of the committee an naval anairs:
/ There Is no question as 10 she desira-
! bility Of supplying ourselves wi,a smoke
! less powder. We tried TO obtain /, before
/ the war but the output . fthe material
+ is so limited ,har difficulty was found in
obtaining il. I savor The general use OF
+ smokeless powder ard think the expert
I ences OF this war show thai We VIII aave
/ TO sc; Il in The future
Representative Butler. Of Pennsylvania.