New-York tribune., 1905-02-21
FIGHT OVER ARMOR CONTRACT.
Secretary Morton Tells Why 1t Was Not
Awarded to the Midvale Company.

Washington, Feb. 9o-Secretary Morton has trans
mitted to the House statement the cancella-
ton of the armOr contract with the MidvaIe Steel
Company of December Is. 1sO8 and of the rejection
OF the bid of that company February T. 1908. in
response TO q recent resolution OF that body. The
statement is made up of explanation by n. =.
Mason. chief of ordnance. and the correspondence
in the case.
With reference to the cancellation of the con-
tract it is said that the Navy Department would
have become liable to ship contractors for claims
for delay If the action had not been taken. The
Midvale people were consulted and expressed a
willingness accede to the bureaus tentative sug-
gestion,' and thereupon the proper steps were
taken, relinqushing the contract and providing
for the construction of the armor by the Bethlehem
company.
In a letter from the Mdvale company relinquish-
ing the contract this statement is made:
And the company in making this REIMBURSEMENT
does not in any way recognize or admit its inabil-
time for the requirements of the shipbuilders But
it takes this action in the line of the policy which
ernment not to permit any consideration of private
advantage to be considered by 1t that might in any
ment TO become involved in unfortunate complica-
tions with shipbulders
AS to the rejection of the recent bid. the follow
ing explanation is made by Mr. Mason. chief of
the ordnance bureau:
In making this recommendation the bureau has
followed the recommendations of special board
of five officers. experienced in the manufacture of
question of the probable ability of the different
bidders to meet the requirements of the department
to the delivery of the armor required in such
quantities and at such times will avoid delay
in the proper prosecution of the work of the
ship contractors In addition to the question OF
'i-a"s considered by the board in making its
recommendations, the bureau invites attention To
the inadvisabilty of awarding to the MidVale Steel
Company further contract for arnOr until that
company has demonstrated its ability to manu-
factqre suitable armor under its existing contract
at the rate that is required While the MidvaIe
Steel Company has submitted trial plates that
have successfully withstood the required ballistc
tests 1t has not yet commenced the regular pro-
duction of armor in quantity and the bureau does
not deem that the production Of the trial mates
submitted Is such guarantee that the company
can produce suitable armor in the quantities re-
quired would warrant the department AT this
time to award to that company further contract
for armor.
A vigorous protest lodged with the Presi-
dent to-day against the award by the NAVY De-
partment of the contract for amor plate to the
Bethlehem Steel Works. The protest was made
by the officers of the Midvale Steel Works who
were introduced TO the President by Represen+a
tive Morrell. of Pennsylvania. They declared their
ability to fill the order Of the government as
promptly and as satisfactorily as the Bethlehano
works. They urged that the fact that their hid
for the armOr was much lower than that of the
Bethlehem company entitled them to consideration
which they did not receive at the hands of the
Navy Department They said they fell iniustico
had been done Inem by awarding the Contract 10
much higher bidder. The President said he
would take the matter under consideration Later
representative Morrell and the officers OF the Mid
vale works had a conference with Secretary Nor