The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-28
RIVAL ORDNANCE FIRMS.


The Driggs-seabury Company Gets the Con-
tracts, but BeinE Behind Hand In De-
liycring the Guns One Contract Is Re-
vokod-Protest Filed with Secretary AlEer
WAsHINGToN. June PA fight between two
OF the large ordnance firms OF the United
States is now going on before the War Depart
mont, Tho companies involved are the
American Ordnance Company. with fac
tories at Bridgeport, Conn. and the briggs
Seabury Gun and Ammunition Company OF
Derby Conn. These two companies control
the manufacture In the United States OF rapid
fire guns used by the army and the navy. In
April, 1898. contract was awarded the
DriRCs company for eighty l5-pounders and
twenty 0-pounders. Under the contract the
briggs company was to deliver to the War
Department the guns ordered by May |. 1893
Several weeks ago the War Department de-
termned to place another order for guns OF a
similar type and bids were called for the de-
livery Of forty B-pounders and forty -
Founders. The bid OF the briggs. Sea bury
Company was S7O.OOO less than that Of
the American Ordnance COMPANY. Cen A.
r. Burlington. Chief OF the Bureau OF Ord
nance Of the Army. accordingly notified
the briggs company OF the acceptance Of
| their bid Specifications for the guns
, dered we're prepared and copy forwarded
| CURED that such changes in the details OF
| the drawing as the Ordnance Department
| desired should be made when ordered by the
| Department. The cont ract stipulated that for
each day Of delay in the delivery OF each gun
| or carriage after the time stated in the pro-
| bosa there should be deducted the sum OF 81,
and for each lot Of ammunition 50.
! Soon after the acceptance of their bid by the
| department the briggs Company requested
that the time Of delivery should date from
the signing OF the printed contract then
| In the hands OF the printer. This the
| department declined to do and Gen. Bufilng-
ton insisted that the time should date from the
acceptance Of their bond. The company acted
accordingly. and placed orders for nearly
| $40. 900 worth OF machinery to be installed in
their factories at Derby for the production Of
these guns.
Before tho printed contract was signed Gen
| Burlington left Washington for an inspection
trip of the army arsenals and factories in the
Fast. 1t was intended that the contract should
| be signed his return. but when he got
| back to Washington his attention was called tC
the delay by the briggs company in the de-
livery OF the guns ordered in their first con
tract assistant Secretary Mesl, ,S made
Ordnance annul the order given the briggs
| Company, lie based this action on the ground
that the firm was already behind in its delivery
! under the first contract.
ten; BURLINGTON was Of the opinion. however
that tho briggs Company would he able TO full
! was called for and received lay the department
from Lieut. Hobbs, the ordnance. Inspector al
. Derby. Conn. a. to tn" ability Of the company
to carry out their contract Lieut.. Hobbs in
spected the factories and made report showinG
had been installed by the company. 1t was
contend"d by the briggs people that this re-
| fl their obligations. The American Ordnance
Company represented to the depnrtmcnt- how
ever tnSl they were IN P"sis'on to 0nse DE
be able to make deliveries within short time.
The briggs .ompany Ipain ,s,d to The Ord i
stances entirely beyond their control 1t was
a certain composition Of bronze for the cnr-
riages that should at the same time give a GER
said. to procure this com position Of bronze as
required hy the specifications. and 1t was not
until about two months ago thu: the Ordnance
Bureau determined 10 waive this requirement.
There were, however other causes of delay.
owing to the rivalry IN the ordnance business
they were unable to procure from certain
nany materials trequently needed by them in
their business ON" instance OF this difficulty
was in the procuring Of cartridge cases an o s
was rejected. and the briggs Company were
com pelled to erect factory fer their manu-,
difficulty in getting outside firms to make
shields for the new guns. but they have now
succeeded in placing an order and assert that
the shields will be delivered within shor,
time. Owing to this combination the briggs
Company have determined to increase their
plant at Derby. and plans are now under way
for the construction Of factories there for the
manufacture OF large orders of rapid-frinG
| guns.
Since the return Of Secretary AlRer the mat.
ter Of the annuiment OF the contract has been
called to his attention the briggs Company
having filed protest against the action OF As
eistant Secretary Meik"JOhn in again adver-
Using for bids. II is pointed ont that by an
other call for bids undue advantage is given
| the American Ordnance Company over
the briggs Company. because the latter's
| bids under which Il secured tn" contract is al
ready known to the rival company. which vii
| he able IL il so desires To reduce it's hid a..
| cordingy On the other hand. II the depart,
| ment is determined not TO give tho contract tC
the briggs Company. II will cost the Govern
| ment S7O.OD more under an award to the
American Ordnance Company than it would tC
| the briggs Company.