New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-06

,,,,,,,ross has authorized the twelve new YES
sols for the Navy which the authorities III 'h'
Dcnartmcnt considered necessary. but " inlH"'
almost a. we'll have left the item ont OF the AP
rronriation bill as to make II inei1ecuNe y!
other provisions About all that Is gained TOT
tho Navy is an opportunity 10 plan these SHIPS
ord nerhans do some preliminary work on thcI''
,Thern is no prospect Of their being comph''u
u.ithout the aid of further legislation. Tor the
,,rioo of armor plate for them Is limited TO S'foo
,r \obodv onnears 10 expect that armOr
,,,ota can bc obtained nj that figure. senator
Halo in renortinc for the conference said tha'
tho sbins authorized would not he contractor
for bofore December and ntimated that II dlu
mn, make much difference what this congress
did in thp matter so long as II allowed >f"o
TON for the vessels now under construction ana
- did moi stop work on them. II Will he seen
that The Limitation is largely piece OF
buucombe.
II is not entirely that. however for some men
GRO trying to force the Government To build an
or,ror nlont of lis own. That is Il scheme
v.hich anneals 10 the hearts Of the corporation
tail tvistcrs The steel companies are making
q nrofr on their work Therefore the Govern
mnnt ought 10 undertake the business itself
porhons the manufacturers do charge too hlgh
rrice for armor plate Maybe they ough, 10 pe
willing 70 make il for $500 ton. but there
seems 20 be no prospect thai they VIII 90 So
The real question for the Government j. ho'
whether they are making fair or an unreasoh-
ably large profit. but whether il can make Oh
buy it's armor plate to the greatest advantage
7; is of no benefit TO the people to avoid paving
rho steel manufacturer exorbitant profits if II
fn
Mate than it would have had 70 pay to the
manufacturer The object of the people j. W
got tbe best armor plate at the lowest rate
and if the manufacturer can make II 'h'ai"'
,hap tlAv can ne may rejoice and they need not
Inc angry Senator Hale believes that before
long Congress will be forced to have its own
armor plant 1t certainly will he II II VIII ho'
nay what contractors ask for arolor W men
England pays her own armor-plate makers III
tbc ncichborhood of 500 a ton and Russia pays
the same rate 10 the contractors VINO 90 "o'N
for us M 500. there is little prospect that any
body viii give Ms armor plate nj 81" ION.
rho scheme for n Government plant * not Il
new one 1t was thoroughly investigated ID! Il
commission when the agitation for lower ra*S
began in Congress, and the result was ho' Ell
cournging 1t is hardly 10 b" expected tha' Il
! plant would be any saving. Government P''"''
ere rarely moncy-making concerns. bn' 'n'l'
| may he other than economic reasons Tor the
establishment Of an armOr plant our officers
| have 10 learn the processes and inspect lrlVa'e
work They ought 20 be competent To cohdn''
| ,he manufacture. \ public mandatory would
ciyc them valuable experience and even IL II
| did not begin to make all the arnor required "
would besides training inspectors OF DINER
plants offer 10 the Navy ready instrument l"r
ali the small repairs needed for our vessels
We build ships in the navy yards rather 10
keen them efficient than 10 secure better OF
/ cheaper work than private contractors can
Give. II may be wise for the Government ~
have some limited facilities for turning ou'
everything needed for the Navy. But that =
matter Of policy rather than economy. II we
wish 10 adopt IT we should do so frankly aho
not dscrcdit our plan with childish higgling foi
/ impossible prices.