The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-03
Build Warships by Contract.


Secretary Long. while making state
ment to the house committee on naval
affairs last Thursday, advised that our
war vessels be built by private ship
builders and not at government navy
yards. He said that ships built in gov
eminent yards cost more than those
built under contract and that it takes
twice az long to build them.
1t was long ago demonstrated that a
private concern is able to turn out any
manufactured product better and more
eheaply than the government can do it.
Self interest and personal supervision
are factors entering into work by pri-
vate contract which do not obtain in
any OF the government establishments,
and there never has been a time when
private concern under the direction of
active men who understood the econ
omies of management could not dupli-
cate government work and do II more
quickly and at less expense
Vessels built for the navy at govern
ment yards have been completed only
after tedious delays and at cost far
greater than that which would have
been necessitated IL the work had been
done under private contract. The gov
eminent may get ship material at the
same price that private concerns nav
nd
may be the same, but there Is a retinue
of yard and department employees who
are Identified with the work directly or
indirectly: and IL the total salaries paid
were charged against the vessel 4
would probably be found that her actual
cost Is really much greater than the
government represents II to be.
The United states has every reason
to be proud Of the warships which have
been built In private American yards
ana put in commission during the last
eighteen years. They have been splen-
did specimens OF naval architecture. ex-
celled by no other nations warships Of
the same class. Their construction has
been substantial and has stood the test
OF time. They have been tried In war
and in no instance has any vessel failed
10 come np 10 requirements and reflect
credit on the builders The great
achievements Of the navy in the late
war were due in large degree to the
excellence Of our ships OF war. and in
our victories there was paid a handsome
tribute to American shipyards.
one Of the strongest arguments IN
favor Of building our war vessels by
contract IS tina, It has been and will
coR,lnue to be- a means OF establishing
American shlpbaudlug concerns. The
fact that the country now has eight or
ter well appointed yards capable o.
! turning out the best vessel aioat be 4,
battleship. cruiser or merchantmen. Ia
due entirely 10 the patronage which the
I government wisely bestowed upon pri.
( vate shipyards, They have grown and
/ iourished. and so superior has been the
work turned out that foreign nations
have found 81 TO their advantage to have
( their war vessels built in American
establishments
There IS yet more important work for
them TO do, II Is to rebuild the Ameri-
can marine. and they viii DO II just as
I certainly and tuss as substantially as
f they have rebuilt the American navy.
( They needed announcement. They
have received st and their work speaks
for Itself. II they are allowed to hu,la
4 the war vessels, which they can build
I better. sooner and at less cost than the
! government itself can build them In its
/ own yards, their facilities for ship con-
/ struetion are all the time being