New-York tribune., 1907-09-25
COAL BIDS FOR FLEET.
FOREIGN SHIPS CHEAPER.
Problem for Nary Department IN
Coming Cruise to Pacific.
TFror1 The Tribune Ptireau I


Washington. Sept. 24.-The Navy Department
opened to-day the bids OF American and foreign
vessels offering to transport to the Pacific Coast
and points route the coal which will be
needed for the approaching Pacific cruise of the
Atlantic fleet. While decision has been
reached. the bureau of equipment. which has
the matter in charge finds itself confronted with
a serious problem
The bids submitted by the British vessels
range from s6 Il to 81 % a ton for coal deliv
cred on the Pacific Coast. The lowest bid sub
mitted by an American vessel is that of the Vir
glnian which offers to lay down coal at Magda-
lena Bay for So ton
There is. however, serious question to
whether or not the department is warranted IN
employing foreign vessels when American bot
toms are offered. The total amount of coal
required is 1:s2 900 tons and already contracts
for transportation have been awarded to about
fifteen foreign vessels Transportation of about
ti0oon tons in American bottoms was offered in
the bids submitted to-day.
Two small American sailing vessels offered to
transport coal 20 their full capacity at SS ton,
but all other bids submitted by Americans
ranged higher. as high S13 30 ton.
For instance. tho New England Gas and Coke
Company of Boston. offered three steamers
the Maiden. the Everett and the Merose-hav
ing a capacity of 1000 tons each at S13 -
nfentn each.
4 number Of American vessels were offered
on the time charter basis. While the bureau
has not yet been able calculate the cost
ton entailed by such charters. it is obvious.
the surface of the bids, that the to the
government would be materially greater than
If foreign bottoms employed.
The shippers explain their inability make
lower bids and their submission of time charter
bids by the assertion that the most earnest
effort. pursued for a number of weeks. has failed
to obtain any cargo for the return voyage so
that the present prospects that the vessels
will be obliged to make the return voyage in
ballast
Among the time charter bids three vessels
offered by the Boston Towboat Company the
Lira. the Hyades and the PIeiades. capacity
5000 tons each, which are offered at So -
day II delivered 10 the government on the Pa
ciic Coast, where they are. at 81 Is a
day If delivered on the Atlantic Coast; also the
steamers Lewis LuCkenbaCh. the j. l.. LuCken-
back and the Success. offered by Edgar F.
Luckenbach. OF New York the two former
having capacity of 5000 tons and the latter
:,7O0 tons. The larger are offered at 81 day
and the smaller at So day. The Navy Depart
ment is also considering offer for the Ameri-
can steamer Massachusetts, with a capacity of
10000 tons. although that not included in
to-day's bids.
The Navy Department is disposed to regard
sailing vessels as Zoo uncertain for employment
at this late date, and will probably confne its
awards to steamers.
The New England Gas and Coke Company
asserts that II has been seeking a return cargo
for its vessels for some time without success.
but that should it be able to obtain such cargoes
now, il would gladly submit revised bid
Of SS a ton for transportation of coal to the
Pacific.
The representatives Of the shipping interests
maintain that they have hitherto assumed that
diplomatic crisis existed. which necessitated
the immediate transfer of the fleet to the Pa
cifc Coast and that they have not. therefore,
against the employment OF foreign bottoms, but
add that they have been advised since they
came to Washington that no such crisis exists.
They insist. therefore. that the Navy Depart
1rent should observe the coastwise laws and
patronize only American vessels
They assert chat the departments construc-
ton of the law permitting the transportation of
army and navy supplies in foreign bottoms In
an emergency applying to this is too
broad and that il will not hold in the courts |
They say they have consulted prominent MEM |
bers of both houses of Congress- including the |
men who were responsible for the enactment |
under which the department claims to find au- |
thority for the employment OF foreign bottoms, |
and that no one of these legislators admits that |
the departments construction is correct
They further assert that the employment of |
foreign bottoms by the Navy Department has |
already had it's effect the building of Ameri- |
can ships. which has received severe check
In exclamation of the higher rates asked by |
the American shipowners. their representatives |
declare that the wages paid on American YES |
sells are 80 per cent higher than those paid on |
british ships and that the wages paid in AHeri- |
can shipvards are not less than double those
paid for similar services abroad.
The bureau of equipment is not disposed to |
admit that any anxiety is entertained regarding |
he correctness of the legal opinion pursuant TO
which 1t has called for bids for transportation |
by foreign vessels. and let number OF such |
contracts. although there some indications |
that the expressions of Senators and Repre- |
sentatives that the opinion is unwarranted have
had their effect.
II is stated at the bureau of equipment that |
the decision the bids opened to-day cannos |
be made for xeveral days.