The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1900-04-05
While They Recognize the Neces-
sity for Armor at Almost
Any Price
For Present Needs, They Believe
Exhorbitant Rates Should
Not Continue,
Only Sure Way to Prevent Is
for Government to Build
q Plant.

WASHINGTON. April 5.-Four mem.
bers OF the minority Of the naval affairs
committee, Messrs. Wheeler of Ken.
lucky, Rixey Of Virginia. Kitchen of
North Carolina and Vandiver Of Mis-.
souri,. united in n report opposing GER
tain items of the naval appropriation
bill. Their report dvells especially
upon the failure of the majority to
make provisions for a future supply of
armor plate at a reasonable cost. The
report says the minority agree with the
majority as to the necessity for pur-
chasing 400 tons Of armor for the bat
tleships Maine, Ohio and Missouri, even
though at an eXorbitant price, because
longer delay would injure the ships and
also subject the government to suits by
contractors. The report then criticises
the majority for refusing to attempt to
solve the question Of a future supply of
armor plate. notwithstanding vessels
already authorized will require 1000
tons, adding:
lit seems to be pretty generally IN
derstood the plate factories will
not furnish krupp armor for less than
$545 per ton, but exactly where this in
formation from, we are unable to
state for there was no testimony before
the committee on the subject except
from Admiral O'Neil, who did not, as
we understand it, speal: for the plate
factories.
Price Undoubtedly Exorbitant.
"The sum Of $545 per ton for armor
is, in our Judgment, beyond question
%exorbitant, if not outrageous. There il
not q scintilla of proof from any fac
tory showing what krupp armor costs
to manufacture. Harveyized armor h1f
been recently Gf it is not now supplied
to the government at 800 per ton, ant
no man connected with either Of thu
factories in this country has said to tn
committee or one else, as far as W.
know. that Krupp armo cannot be sup
piled as cheaply.
I'VE have been unable to find, afte
much investigation, where any on
places the labor cost in q ton Of armo
plate above $lS5. SO; the decided weigh
Of evidence puts it at $l65 and mucl
evidence entitled to weight, as low q
ll56; the cost Of the steel ingot vii
seldom exceed $50, which. togethe
with the royalty land there is grav
doubt in our minds if any royalty what
ever il paid) make up the total cost Q
producing q ton Of m plate. Thi
Is. Of course, from the standpoint OF tn
purchaser and does not take into con
alteration the profit Of the company nc
interest on the plant. nor wear and tea
Of same. Estimating the labor q
slS5. so per ton, would make the ne
cost per ton $3.50. 80, and estimating it q
sl65. the most acceptable figure, woul
make it 1890 per tom. Now, we submit
il these figures are in the least reliable
e545 per ton is an e%xorbitant price {
charge for plate. In WORD
1916 or even 1926 per ton profit is 81
cessive.
Saw II Would save Millions.
1--WE believe if the secretary OF tn
navy was directed to buy armor for nc
exceeding $4OO per ton, II he 0 u
not get it ut that price, to build q la
tory. the two companies would reduc
the nrice to a reasonable sum per tor
rather than to allow the government {
become their competitor. One thing
certain: Unless we build our W PLAN
armor plate will never cheaper. In
greatest estimate for the cost OF Col
structiup M armor plate factory CON
plete IN every detail is $4,OOO,OOO. w
helioye the government can save enOug
on armor plats now needed or that WI
he needed, for ships authorized to COZ
struct its factory and have some $4,000
!. 600 left over.
statement Of Constructor Bowles.
The following statement of Coz
.trnctor Bowlcs Of the New York var
II quoted:
II recommend the building OF som
vessels in the present navy yards OF II
limited States, because I believe it to |
oood business, and if l owned tho,
Yards and kept them for the purpos'
they are now kept for. l should say tn
It would be q sensible thing to do
build II ship in each Of the importa,
! Yards all the time, simply to keep the
! IL order and maintain u sufficient fort
!. ready for all emergencies.
The minority then say that while
: TIE report they will not specify Il
} items of extravaganza in hllA the