New-York tribune., 1900-12-22
EXPERT ON SH7PBUILDlNG.
CHARLES H. cRAMP TELLS WHY HE f@A-
voRS SUBSIDY BILL-COULD BULL
wARsHIP AT COST IF HE COULD
GET ARMOR PLATE PROFIT

philadelphia Dec. 21.-Charles II. Cramp, head oil
| the Cramp Shpbuilding Company. appeared oeloit
| the Industrial Commission to-day and gave soilie
| interesting testimony. He read history Oh 'ie
| shpbuilding industry In this city. in which ne
stated that from 17l0 to the present time Fhaoei-
| phia has led the country In shipbuiIolns'
Mr. Farquhar. of the Commission. wanted TO TO
know why IT is that American money does not Se0fN
| investment In transatlantic and Pacific trade
'.The first -eaaon." Mr.. Cramp replied is ehat ~
| does not pay, and the second Is that tie pe0P
| have not been educated 70 the business. person
/ cannot make money unless ne mas peSA ~
| the use OF IT." -
I'm order TO rehabitate the merchant marine SO
that American goods and return cargoes may DC
carried in American bottoms and the pront 80 70
Americans what would you suggest? asked MT
Farquhar.
'I am in favor of the Subsidy BILL. replied MT
Cramp The shipyards in either America or eng
land cannot build ships enough to supply the oe-
mand. This being the case. and Vessels peihs
needed I think if we can build more of our own
by the introduction of free ships we should do IT,
The merchant marine cannot be rehaoihtateo WIFI
out a subsidy"
Mr. Cramp said he thought the subsidy named in
the Hanna bill was "about right He SAID also
that there seemed to be apprehension that
only the big lines notably the lnternationai ,
CATION Company. would secure the ouih u ene -
sidy This idea, he asserted, was erroneous
cause the large freight ships VIII SECURE q NH
erable portion of 1t. -, ~,
Regarding the opposition to the Subsidy DILL MI:
Cramp said it came from numerous sources one VI
then, hens certain Western railroads, which, ne
said "haye looted the United States Treasury
through grants of land" He believed that most OF
this opposition the result OF spite ana jealousy
Mr. Cramp." asked Commissioner Kennedy is
there any truth in the rumor as sent from Lohuoh
to-day of a combination between your mr. -ho the
English firm of Vicker's Sons & Maxim! ..,o.
In answer Mr.. Cramp read puDLsheo ~ ~lIlteINIeM
while in Washington, and supPlementea 1t VIII WIN
this statement "These stories nave arisen from from
the fact that have been endeaVor1ng 10 ehldrge
our plant in the hope of building WaISnlp s coii
plete I have asked people here and people ABROAD
fo help us increase the capacity OF our WORKS
Under the law Vicker's Sons & Maxim cannon colH-
bne with us. The American control Oh tne PldhSS
will not be abolished SO long as am coiihecteu
with the company" ,,,,- . o.
Mr. Cramp then explained that in building war
ship was necessary to secure material from El-
to bring these different industries together IN the
one establishment. Under the old methoo, py
which the hull a ship built in one place, the
engine another and other portions IN sun olner
shoDs a transatlantic vessel would double the
IL would If all these industries were con-
solidated. Continuing, Mr.. Cramp SAID; Great
Brtain's of wealth in her shlpbullGlng IS IL
the vessels she builds for other countries Inc snip
building interests there are assisted by the Govern
ment, either directly or indirectly. want to COM
pete with England"
plate. In building warships for Russia, he said, his
company compelled to pay the full rate or S6OD
a ton 10 Carnegie for arnor. This, he said, was
one-third the cost Of the ship.
clared Mr.. Cramp, II would build a warship at
cost
''At what price could armor plate be furnished to
the Government and give the producer fair
proht?" inquired Mr.. Kennedy.
Il do not know" was the response. Il would
not like to say"