The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-29
NEW BRITISH BATTLESHIPS
TO BE MOST FORMIDABLE
Vessels o. the Lord Nelson Class VIII Be Speedy and
Garry Powerful Batteries of Long-Range Guns, Ex-
ceiling in This Respect War Craft Building for America

the progress on the Boston built vessel
has been more rapid, the relative state
OF completion being on August / at 81
and 45.4 per cent. 1t behOOVes Mare
Island TO make good its claim for ad-
Nantages over Eastern yards and es-
tablish better record in shipbulding
Mare Island is as well equipped as the
Boston yard, and the superior climatic
conditions here ought 10 offset the dis
advantages in getting less prompt de-
lFery OF material. There was a SINH
lar discrepancy between the tugs Pen
tucket, built at Boston, and the Soto
yomo' built at Mare Island, which may
have been due to more active superin-
tendence Of work, but whatever the
causes may be the California navy yard
appears to be handicapped, and rene
dies should be applied
Inc failure Of some recent ships Of
me United States navy TO come UP to
lhe contract requirements Of structural
strength and speed has suggested the
pTOprlety OF returning TO the premium
system, which was discontinued ten
years ago. Much as the contractors
would desire IL, the system is not likely
10 be reintrOduced and the better plan
would be 10 enforce the payment of
penalties for failures in timely delivery,
speed and proper strength Of vessels.
OF the thirty-four ships built by con-
five earned premiums aggregating 49,
2S4,Sl1 81, in addition TO S460,15 SO re-
FUNDED 70 the contractors for trial trip
expenses.
PENALTIES ARE NOT PAID.
On the other hand six vessels having
failed 10 develop the required horse
power or speed were assessed about
100000 In round numbers, but not
single dollar has been paid Of such
penalties, while on the contrary the
trial expenses Of four Of these deficient
vessels. amounting TO $25,4Ss 55. were
paid by the Government. Under the
old system the contractor escaped the
payment OF penalties and received
handsome speed premiums, but since
1885 the Government has saved the
premiums and obtained probably as
good and speedy vessels as were turned
cut prior TO 1880 The contracts en-
tered into since July, 1884, have appar-
emily been framed with due regard 10
the rights and obligations TO both par
ties, but in their execution the Govern
ment interests have been ignored. It
IS not alone that time limits have been
extended again and again and thus the
penalty for nOn-delVery on time has
been waived, but incompetent builders
have had the effrOntery 10 make claims
upon the Government for failures in
speed ard other contract stipulatiOns
for which the builders themselves were
responsible. II is within the limit to
state that not less than S4,000000 is
thus involved and is likely 10 be al
lowed by the compassionate House and
Senate.
There are still five vacancies in the
number OF assistant civil engineers al
lowed for the navy, as none of the
candidates for appointment passed the
requisite examination The small pay
r,F
ability 70 enter the service. Beginning
with $500 a year, this salary is in
creased TO $500 after five years ser
vice, and when promoted TO the civil
engineer grade TO S240O and at five
year intervals increased until It
reaches the limit Of $500.
SERIOUS HANDICAP.
The military rank is lower than that
Of any staff corps in the navy, as il
carries fewer captains and command
eTs than the corps Of chaplains, pro-
fessOrs Of mathematics and naval con-
structors. Thus the chaplain corps,
numbering twenty-three, has four cap
tSins and seven commanders; of the
twelve professors Of mathematics
three have the rank of captain and
sour that of commander. The naval
constructors corps of twenty-three
has five captains and five command
ers, while the civil engineers corps,
numbering twenty-eight, has only
ers. Other Determinations are made
against civil engineers, such as with
holding Communication for quarters,
which is allowed all other officers as
signed 10 duty at naval stations The
services and responsibilities of an as
sistant naval constructor just out of
the Naval Academy are less than those
Of 40 CT nj W
education has not been paid for out
OF the national treasury, yet the assist
ant naval constructor receives $4,000
salary and the assistant civil engineer
only $500.
Paul Morton is the thirty-fifth Secre-
tary OF the Navy since 1898, when that
department was organized. Only one
naval officer has occupied that Office,
namely Captain Lewis Warrington. who
was appointed at interim February Is,
1914, upon the death OF Secretary Gilmer,
and served until March Il, 1914. All the
other secretaries have, with two eXcep-
lions. been lawyers. more or less prom
inent in politics. A. Z. Borie was a
business man. but held the office only
a little over three months-March Q,
1869, to June IS, 1S69-when he signed,
and was succeeded by George NJ. Robe
son. It has been claimed for W. c.
Whitney that he has been the only
business man who ever wcs appointed
Secretary Of the Navy, but while It
Is true that he conducted affairs Of the
navy on business principles II is also
well known that he was a lawyer by
profession and also a prominent poll
tician. The new Secretary is the second
man who has not been a lawyer nor ac-
tive in politics, and he IS likely, with
the assistance Of Assist. mt Secretary c.
H Darling, TO institute some much
needed reforms in the contract system
and general accounts Of the Navy De-
partment.
RECOVERY OF RELICS.
Two relics Of Nelson. stolen Deem
Der s, 1900 from the Painted Hall at
Greenwich Hospital, were recovered
under rather romantic circumstances in
July last. A sailor, recently arrived
from Australia, left a package at the
Customs Depot at Greenwich After
the usual lapse Of time had passed
without any claim being presented for
the urOpertv. the package was opeued