The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-09


by indlrection. Completion of vessels
already authorized has been delayed by
the failure to make proper appropria-
ton for armor plate in previous ses-
sons of congress. and in the cases of a
number Of the vessels for which plans
have been prepared, and the construc-
tlon of which has been authorized, no
contracts have been let at all because
Of an impossible limitation upon the
amount 10 be expended for their armor
The opposition in the present congress.
in addition to the ordinary armor plate
proposition. which has successfully tied
up naval construction, has evolved n
Of the house committee on naval affairs.
in their minority report, now insist that
some Of the vessels TO be provided for
In the new naval programme shall be
built at the government navy yards,
instead of by private contract, hoping
In this way TO raise an issue which will
dtihy the HdsSdRe Oh tne Dill.
A peculiar thing about this minority
report Is that IL completely misrepre-
sents the position which naval officers
have taken on this subject. the report
insisting that the chief of the bu-
reau OF construction and four naval
constructors have advised that vessels
be built in this manner. This is the
direct reverse OF the truth. The navy
department. and navy officers In gem
ships at navy yards, for reasons clearly
set out by Secretary Long; some of the
more obvious objections being particu-
larry emphasized also in the statement
OF Constructor Bowles and the other
constructors before the committee. The
minority report says that these con-
structors. Bowles included. advised the
adoption OF the system. SO far from
this being the case. he simply marshaled
the arguments for and against the
proposition. leaving the committee to
draw Its own conclusions.
The objections to the proposition, sum-
married.. are that the government pays
far more wages for less work than do
| private firms. Wages In New York are
| fully 35 per cent. higher in the navy
| yard than in private shipyards; further.
| in government yards. unskiled and boy
| labor cannot be employed In any de-
! partment of work, and for necessary
! work on holidays the government pays
two and one-half times the ordinary
wages. A still more potent objection he
/ points out Is that the government. In
| it's purchases OF materials OF all kinds,
is necessarily compelled to adopt a sys-
tenn OF advertising. and requires bonds
from contractors. This system results
In long delays the formalities are such
that responsible business men do not
care to bother with II directly. and the
business has fallen entirely into the
hands OF commission mon. who make a
profit Of probably per cent out II
selling material TO the government.
Constructor Bowles. who has had long
experience In experimenting repair
work az Norfolk and Brooklyn. SAYS Il
il rare case when the government
deals directly with the people who fur
nish the material for A. Another dis.
advantage Is that private yards are ar
ranged simply with an idea OF doing the
work in the most economical manner,
while IN naval yards many necessary
restrictions are placed upon the space
The disadvantage upon which be LAYS
the most weigh, Is that In government
work there is no guarantee ~ the per-
formance Of the ship when complete,
whereas the contractor must guarantee
the horse power and speed. that the YES
sci shall he strong and an all the difrer.
en-, requirement OF performance OF spe.
clfcations. ana he and his bondsmen are
res.onsible
Constructor Bowles, naturally. va,
not in a position t. lay before the com.
mittee the most obvious Objection 81 all
which Is the political intrigue and Job
berry that would insult from the estaa
lishmeut ~ this system. Private ship
yards have private ships 70 bwild "a
which their men can be employed whea
To government contracts are on hand
When force Is put 90 work in a gog.
eminent yard. every local influence pos.
sihle viii be brought 20 bear TO see that
that force Is never reduced. Repair
are sufficient, now TO furnish employ.
ment regularly all the year round al
the leading navy yards. The buudins
~ one or two vessels would give tenn
porary employment TO much larger
number. The minute that work wa.
completed, however. political pressur,
] would begin to have more building don,