The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-14
COyERNMENT-BUILT SHIPS.


looking toward the more general con-
struction of ships of war by the govern
ment of the United States itself. The
movement appears to have originated
in Brooklyn, and is being urged forward
with much vigor by it's supporters. A
few days go delegation visited Wash
ingten to advocate the plan, especially
with reference to the Brooklyn navy
yard, and it Is understood that their ar
guments and claims received much con-
sideraton from the committees of con-
gress before whom they We're laid.
There is considerable difference of opin-
ion on the question as to whether the
government should do It's own ship
building. and how far it could go in this
direction with advantage. The prepon-
derance Of opinion is clearly that such
a course will be promotive of great ad-
! ditional expense and that political in
| huences, involving extravaganza and cor
ruption, are certain to dominate any
such undertaking in the course of time.
Yet there are many who insist that the
government, having most of the needed
facilities at its disposal, and being in po-
sition to fully equip itself for the under
taking, is called on to do It's own ship
building; and can do 1t with less cost to
the treasury than 1t is being done
through private ship-builders.
rect one, it is not deniable that the ar
gument which presupposes political cor
ruption as a result involves a very sad re-
Election on our political methods. It en-
bodies in itself one of the strongest ar
| guments which can be put forward in
favor of doing something to redeem our
civil service. Must 1t ever be that the
corruptionists alone shall have control
in political life2 Is 1t not possible under
any circums tances to reach such con-
dition Of official responsibility as will
become transformed into moral highway
men when they enter the public service?
Are there no regulations that We can
make that will produce in public employ
ments anything of the business system
and Of the sense Of personal integrity
which work such wonders in private en-
ployment?
There may, after all, be a serious fall
lacy behind this particular class of ar
gument. We collect and deliver our
own mail. The postoff1ces are we'll and
honestly conducted. We man and sail
our own warships. No one claims that
corruption is feature of our naval ad-
ministration. We do our own public
printing at Washington. Nobody claims
that the government printing office is
not honestly or efficiently managed
The true line Of argument against the
undertaking has not yet been advanced
by the opponents Of the government
built war ships. Thus far their conten-
tions amount to little more than that
we are sadly in need of an Improvement
in our civil service in all departments
Of government. If the government went
into the building of vessels Of war on It's
own account. 1t would create sad havoc
with the interests Of establishments like
the Cramps. whose extensive arrange
ments for the construction Of battleships
We're made at least on the implied as
surance Of the government that its pat
ronage would be open to them in casa
certain conditions and requirements were
realized. 1t would certainly work tho
gravest hardship on such concerns were
the government now to go into the bus
mess on its own account.
AS a general principle Of public policy,
corruption or no corruption. the demand