The Washington herald., 1907-02-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Officials and MachinistS Carry
Fight to Congress.
OPPOSED BY STEEL TRUST
Present Method Entails Much Ex-
pense 20 Government and Causes
If Done Here Would MEM That
400 More Men Would Be Employed.

Machinists Of Columbia Lodge. No ia,
are making a strenuous campaign for the
necessary appropriation from Congress 10
build the proposed new foundry at the
Washington Navy Yard. The legislative
committee Of the lodge. composed of
President II. T. la Clair. chairman; T.
+. Dornin, John Simering, Frank New
ham. f. l.. Tucker. r. B. Crump. and l.
n Dolph has had frequent hearings be-
fore a subcommittee Of the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs in the interest
of this itam in the appropriation bill. Not
only this, but central labo- unions In
every city throughout the United States
.Ve memorialized Congress and sent APP
reals 20 their Congressman for the sup
port OF the provision. The American
Federation Of Labor has also taken Up
the fight. as has the local Board OF Trade
and the Jobbers and Shippers Associa-
ton Capt. Leutze. commandant Of the
yard. made an urgent plea for the new
foundry. and the Navy department has
taken similar action.
Notwithstanding. the subcommittee has
made an unfavorable report 20 the full
committee. and this week the naval ap-
preparation bill viii be reported to the
House with the item OF 100000 for the
commencement Of work on the new gun
foundry stricken out
The fight Will be carried TO the floor
% the House and a last effort made 10
have the 100000 again inserted in the bill.
According to the contentious Of the ma
chiIists the present foundry is old. out
grown. and obsolete. It is not roomy
enough for the brass work alone. and
brass. iron. and steel are being handled
in the same building. The machine plant
| has been doubled in capacity in the last
eight years. while the present foundry
building has not been enlarged during ths
/ last fifteen years despite the heavy in
/ crease in output
steel Companies Oppose Move.
The only persons opposing the new
I foundry. il is claimed. are the outside big
steel companies. It was pointed out by
the machinists' legislative committee, by
Admiral Mason. and Capt Leutze. COM
mandant that the government is paying
about ~ cents "a pound for big steel cast
ings that could with the new foundry, be
made al the yard for between Z and
cents "a pound. This difference in price
would make an enormous saving in
money. and making the castings at the
yard would result in an equally great
saving in time. At the yard a casting
could be turned out by the new foundry
ana maChined up Immediately. Under
/ present conditions. il is necessary "a
make pattern. get estimates, make the
award, receive one casting. and test IT,
II, in machining IL should develop a flaw.
it must De returned. and there is another
long delay.
With the exception OF the foundry. the
present plant is modern in every par
ticular. and probably the biggest and
most complete gun factory in the United
States.
Complaint is also lodged against the
sanitary condition of the building. IL be-
ing said that there is no ventilation
For this reason. two Of the men are az
present at their homes III Of mental poi
soning from breathing the poisonous gases
that arise from the combining OF metals
These statements were all concurred IN
and substan,iated by Capt, Leutze and
/ the Navy Department.
The machiHists set forth that the new
gun factory would employ over 400 ad.
ditional men, and would be- a good thing
for Washington I'm general, and particu-
| larry beneficial 20 the Southeast section.
VIII Continue the Fight.
As an illustration of the manner ir
which the night for the foundry item vii
De carried 10 the floor Of the House. The
legislative committee OF Columbia Lodge
has In its possession a lot Of correspond
ence with local unions and central bodies
throughout the country. showing the ac.