The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-10
ARE SHY ON SM0KELESS
American Ships Are Obliged to
Use Black Powder.
A SPANISH ADVANTAGE
They Bought Up All OF the Available
Supply in Europe Before Hostili-
ties Began Trying to
Place the Blame.

New York, July "a special to the
Tribune from Washington says: Rep
r~esentative Hull, chairman of the house
military affairs committee, had this TO
saw In regard to use of smokeless pow
der:
THE trouble is hat we could not
get the smokeless powder at the out
break of the war, though 1T 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 manufac-
ture of such powder in this country.
Contracts should have been made so as
TO warrant manufacturers to produce
Ii. But II costs a little more tina 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 IL
abroad when the war came, but Spain
had bought II all there. l think the
fault lies with our congressional sys-
tenn"
What is going to be done about it?"
was asked
There is nothing in contemplation
in congress. / wish the department
would take the matter in hand and
make contracts"
Representative ~Loudenslager of New
Jersey, a OF the m on
naval affairs. said:
II think every one will admit the de-
STABILITY of providing sufficient guam
titles of smokeless powder for the army
and navy. AS long g as the time
when h Dingley tariff bill was con-
sidered. l urged a protective tariff upon
smokeless powder, to stimulate the
! ~, nut "a atnriaG nf that article in fms
country. The house accepted my sug-
g~estion as to the tariff on the smoke
less powder. but the senate modified
the rate. IL would have been very for
tunate II we could ave obtained as
much smokeless powder as We wanted
| for this wal n If our own people were
engaged in its manufacture.
"The house committee on nava az
fairs continued Mr.. L~oudenslager,
did all IL was asked to do in connec-
ton with furnishing powder. The first
appropriation contemplated was for
81 900 900 for smokeless powder. This
was subsequently reduced to $3.50 900
because the department could draw
upon the $50, 900, 900 emergency appro-
priation for this purpose. We also
gave $50. 900 to increase h govern
mant's plant at Newport for the manu-
facture OF these explosives. i believe
the government ought to make smoke
less powder and keep large stocks OF IL
on hand for emergencies
Senate Hale, chairman of the senate
committee on naval affairs, said: THE
question OF providing smokeless powder
for the navy Is to be dealt with within
the department. We have given to the
department every dollar they have
asked for, and I have no doubt they
are doing the best they can in that re-
spect."
Representative Hilborn OF California.
a member of the naval committee. said:
1.-THE trouble is that there are but two
places In the United States prepared
to make smokeless powder for the gov
eminent. They had Just started on Its
manufacture for the government when
the war came on. We had Just worked
out a formula for smokeless powder
the best In the world and had started
to make II when the war broke out.
We undertook to prepare a formula
which would eliminate the extreme
d-angerousness of ordinary smokeless
powder. The Dupont powder mills
in Delaware and the California pow
der mills have started to manufacture
but when the war broke out they were
not prepared TO furnish a sufficient
quantity for the use of our army and
navy. I had thought that some had
been bought abroad. The secretary
asked for 1 1000, 900 for n purpose
and after the $50. 900. 900 had been ap'
propriated. he said 5000. 900 would do
I supposed that we have used some o.
the $50, 900, 900 TO buy this powder
abroad, but IL seems that we have not
I don't see that any one is particular,
TO blame for the situation"