New-York tribune., 1901-07-07

TO deterioration there OF necessity be an an
nual depreciation in her value fighting unit.
This depreciation. conservatvely stated. will
age per cent of her first cost. delay of two
years. therefore, II the construction Of battle
ship and this has occurred in the OF the Ili-
nos, would result in a direct loss TO the govern
ment OF nearly S75O,00.
THE EVIL EFFECTS OF DELAY.
But this direct loss does not comprise the sum
total OF the evil that results from delay in ship
construction. II is often the that innovations
in design are incorporated in new ships. and this
was notably the case with the Kearsarge and the
Kentucky. where superimposed turrets were in
stalled. From the day contracts were awarded for
the construction OF these ships the naval experts
were exceedingly anxious TO find out the worth OF
design. and this value could only be ascertained
after the ships had been placed in commission and
the guns had been repeatedly fired. The delay in
completing these two ships prevented the naval
authorities from passing judgment the worth OF
the design II IS only recently that the Navy De
partment decided to build more ships with super
imposed currents. and the long delay in determin-
ing the fighting efficiency OF the Kearsarge and the
Kentucky has undoubtedly caused many able and
courageous officers 10 discredit the type. II these
two ships bad been finished time the value of
that class OF turTets would have been known at
least eighteen months ago. and more of this type
or the former Cf vessels might have been author
lied by Congress As matter Of fact, the worth
o. the innovation IS seriously doubted at the
Through the action of the Navy League Of Eng
land an association which has branches through
cut the empire. snd whose primary object is to
strengthen the British feet and overcome its
Weaknesses, the taxpayers OF that country have
been made acquainted with the manner in which
the shipbuders have treated the people. The con-
tractors have laid the fault the frequent strikes
that have taken place IN their works This ex-
euse has been accepted by the Admiralty but has
not altogether satisfied the people 1t has been OBJ
served that nearly all the delay in construction has
been on the warships of England. The merchant
ships under construction at the same yards have
almost ali been finished on time and the battle
ships building for foreign nations have been de-
iyered the time and place appointed under the
original contracts. II has been contended by the
Navy League Of Great Britain that all customers
should be treated alike by the shipbuilders, and
That, particularly in the construction OF battle
ships. the foreigner and possible future enemy
should be the wait. 1t has even been as
serted that the shipbuiIders have so apportioned
the work the battleships that construction on
them would practically be done only when there
was slackness in orders from the merchant
marine and foreign governments. Public Senti-
ment in England has been bitterly aroused in re-
gard 70 the matter, and the patriotism Of the
shipeuilders, as well as the Judgment If not the
integrity OF the naval administrators. has been
sssailed Cor the continuance of this evil Whether
or not the shipbuders have been at fault diff
since the Admiralty has decided to hereafter heav-
iy penalize all delinquent contractors. If salts
factory speed construction cannot be secured in
any other way, then the experiment Will be made
" intrusting the work TO the dOckyards.
CONGRESS TO LOOK INTO IT.
Ihs question Of the speed of construction on
United States battleships and other naval vessels
uhoer contract is going to be well ventilated by
'he coming Congress. 1t is said that not single
thphuilder in America has constructed bsttleship
W unae. The Navy Department has cnstomari!y
showed six months longer for ship TO be com
Ieiso than does the British Admiralty for
nilat vessel. and yet American shipbuilders have
fehe 20 De regularly eighteen months or two years
ierans, ana n1ne IN fulfilling their contracts su-
ransaat M knowledge of the business and manage
any one TO understand that il is exceedingly preit
s1;' 20 nave at all times an order on hand which
ssg1aunuee sa IT will. Then. when business is brisk
the an emergency order is secured. the work on
tier,s99rh m9rh that pays the best. II has been par
shIs shIstg y. noticeable IA the last two years, that
xrs ell tie shfpbuildcrg have been seeking delay
rn.aking requests to the Navy Department Tor
dow not hesitated seek work In other direc,
csntrse sha among the shipbuilders having naval %
fss Tor extension Of the time limit.
srs thah three years ago there were only three
a Al cared 70 ntrust the building of batteshps.
ss'r spe present time there are seven hrmr. abso-
~, ndsunet from each other building battleships
nave recently demonstrated that they are
lent 70 do the work. When there were only
law lims 10 which the work Of building up the
ssssr .ooid De assigned, IL was natural that the
sss.s,nient offei9ls should do all that was con-
tAs within their power TO encourage these
<toDDutt, nov that the government Is no longer
s.srsesl on few shipbu6ers. more stringent
tG 1 pt ,lpt OF the contracts can be expected. sew
Hesta ans national navy yards. with the great inn
AH f,ntA made since the Spanish war began arc
that his hais prepared TO build the largest warships
cstst ~ yet been designed, and If the strike
aenem .sspnet be obiiterated from the contract
ouAders4. always made with the private ship
ia fneun from for
forced s'pr reubles the government is likely TO
ute yes.., INTO the work OF constructing Its own
70 he go There FIRE already strong expressions
peftmcrn. ibat naval efficiency must be made
4' 70 stockholders' dividends. and that in