Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-03
Private Contracts Executed.

Private Contracts Executed.
I'm order to relieve the situation, the bu-
reau recently executed contracts with pri-
vate establishments for the manufacture of
twenty-four eight-inch and thirtysiX seven
inch guns and mounts for vessels whose
date of completion is the most remote.
These contracts aggregated nearly 5000
600, and in order to place them the bureau
was obliged to pay SO per cent, amounting
to half a million dollars, than the
work could be performed for at the naval
gun factory. 1t remains to be seen
whether these guns and mounts Will be
completed within the prescribed time, but
Judging from it's past experiences with
contract work the bureau fears that they
will not be.
.Itmay be assumed that no private manu-
facturer will incur the heavy expense neces-
sary to install plant for making large
and medium calber guns unless he can
recover the amount invested within mod
crate period of time, so that II the govern
ment goes outside of its own shops to pro-
cure the armament for its new ships 1t
must be prepared to pay the cost of such
plant as is necessary for Its production.
The bureau is of the opinion that under
such circumstances it would be to the in
terest of the government to invest con-
siderable portion of the money required
for plant in it's own shops, which ii would
then own and control, rather than to pay
it all to private parties. The manufacture
..
q very complete and expensive plant which
is not useful for other purposes.
1T also requires a thorough knowledge
of the subject and a good organization
These latter the government has at its
own gun factory, and, therefore, 1T would
seem to be easier. cheaper and quicker to
expand it to a reasonable extent rather
than to encourage the building up OF 100
MANY new plants which the government
would have to pay for, with no certainty of
having continuous work for them in the
future.
Government Loses Control.
Moreover when the government gives out
a number of guns and mounts to be made
by contract, it loses control of the situa-
ton so far as their completion is concerned.
Private establishments cannot give eNclu-
siye preference to government work. where
as at the government shops, if the arma-
ment of any particular vessel Is Dehlnd, the
whole resources of the establishment can
be turned upon it. Again business reverses
may overtake the best and soundest prf-
yate establishment through no fault of its
own, especially in this day of mergers and
trusts and they are more liable to suffer
from strikes than are government estab-
liShmentS
THE bureau is not averse to giving out a
portion of its work to private parties, but
believes that the major portion of 1t should
be done by the government IN its own
shops in order that 1t may exercise full
control and supervision or the work, ana
because it can do 1t in a more satisfactory
manner than any one else, and above all,
because it is deemed advisable for the gov
eminent to be in a position to control, to
great extent, the manufacture of its naval
ordnance"
Congested Condition Of Shops.
Owing to the congested condition of the
gun shops at ethe9Washington navy yard
and of their inadequacy. in their present
state to perform the work required within
the proper limits of time the bureau sug-
gested the appointment of special board
of experts to fully Investigate the subject
and recommend what engagements, if any,
should be made to the plant The sugges-
ton was approved by the department and
the board made a comprehensive report
sustaining the previously. expressed views
of the bureau The board recommended an
of the plant and necessary improvements
to water front, railroad service, drainage,
grading, paving, ETC. The bureau however,
is of opinion that 1t would not be advisable
at this time to undertake so extensive a
program, because the unusual and extra
ordinary conditions now existing at the gun
factory may not occur again. and because
it is more than doubtful whether such an
increase to the plant as is recommended
could be made In sufhc-ent time to AFFORD
relief '..-.sf ~
Nor is 1t certain" says Admiral O'Neil.
that tho, improvements recommended by
the board even If made as soon al practica-
BILE, would be sufficient to meet the require
ments OF the present situation The bureau
therefore, is of the opinion that the judi
ciouS course to. pursue under the cireum- -
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