Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-01
Naval Committee Asks For All
Correspondence Concerning
Submarine Boat Contracts.
WOODWARD IN 1T
Letters Which Have Passed Between
Holland Company and officer For.
merIy Stationed Here Are Wanted,
Too-Lake Officials Siient-Foreign
Naval Attaches Come Here.

Sensational revelations may be
made by the investigation into deal
ingS between The navy department and
the Holland and Lake ~submarine boat
companies. which has just been or
dercd by the House naval committee.
All correspondence between the secrc.
tary of the navy and the Lake com
pany. and the Holland company. and
between Naval Constructor j.. w.
Woodward and the Holland company,
has been called for and when it is
forthcoming some light will probably
be thrown DOn a matter which has
been 4 mystery to people on the out
side ..' -.
Constructor Woodward. who was for
some time stationed at the local ship
yard. was a member Of the trial board
which tested the Holland boat Full
ton. which hes since become Il part
Of the United States navy. He is said
10 bc an enthusiastic champion OF the
Holland type Of submarine. .
Not Talking Now. st..
When asked for a statement concern
ing the investigation last night. an
official Of the Lake company declined
TO ak nDOn 1h& subject. saving that
his company had complained to Con
gress on account of the unfair treat
iient and that it could have nothing
MOI" to say until the result of the in.
vestiGatiOn Of the committee spoke for
itself. "" ."""
The Daily Press reporter asked:
What does the demand for Construc-
Tor Woodward's correspondence with
the Holland company in,imate?' but
the AXE man merely shook his head
and emaine silent. 81. "'
Contract Unsigned.
Although the Washington CORES
pOntcnts Of nearly all OF the larger
papers sent out specials several weeks
~ To the effect that the navy de
partment had let a contract to the
Holland company for four submarine
boats and for a time there was no de.
NAL h a such a contract had been let,
Secretary Morton now says that such
is not h case. He says that the con.
tract has not been signed, although
letters have passed. 1t is supposed
that he secretary means that, while
the Holland company has practically
been contracted with to build the four
boats, the signatures have not yet
been affixed To the document. The
secretary also contends that he was
not exceeding his authority in placing
the order with the Holland
He stated TO the House committee
some days & that the Lake mpan
was duly notified to enter the cOmpeti-
ton for the contract. but thai the in.
Vcntor even failed TO answer the de.
partment's final terms. #. f..
What the Law Says.
The bill appropriating $s5O,0oo to
(. bnMcnnnt in | lDs fyr Mn, e, - /, wv,
Tlded that prior to the expenditure OF
the money a competitive test should
be held. .
Mr.. AXE stated recently that he
would have had his boat, The Simon
Lake ~. ready to cntc: such a test in
a very short time, but that the navy
department failed to give him a
chance, He went on to say tina
through Mr.. G.. 3. circuit, president of
the Newport News S%hipbuilding and
Drydock Company, he notified Score
tary Morton that he would be ready for
the test on December 90, 1904. The
contract for -four boats is supposed
70 have been given to the Holland
company or December 81"
Foreign Naval Officers Here.
The Lake company is entertaining
several distinguished guests at Hotel
warwick. Captain A.. K. DeChair, Of
The British navy; Commander Land OF
the Argentine Republic navy, attaches
OF the legations at Washington, and
Mr.. Bea!e, Of Washington, connected
With the war department, came down
on a Norfolk and Washington steamer
yesterday With officials OF The Lake
company. .... ......z ..... "
The visitors are here 10 inspect the
Simon Lake y which j., still at the
%shipyard, although it has been dis
posed OF 70 a foreign government.
Iheir names do not appear on the
motel register and the object Of their
inspection is a secret.