The Washington herald., 1907-02-15

House Decides to Build Steel
Casting Plant Here.
STUBBORN OPPOSITION SHOWN
Expert Reports on AEgFavatinE De-
lays by Contractors, Combinations
I'm Making ExtOTtiOnate Prices.
Government Caused Loss and In
convenience for Want of Own Plant.


In the House during the consideration
of the naval bill yesterday, an amend
ment giving 100000 for the gun foundry
at The Washington navy yard was passed
by III 10 50. The proposition was stub
bornly opposed by members of the naval
committee Notwithstanding the fact that
the experts of the Navy Department had
urged Il repeatedly
The amendment. which proposed an ap-
preparation Of $4,000. came up early in
the day on the motion Of Mr.. Southland,
of Ohio He sketched rapidly the legisla-
ton had IN former years for the govern
ment gun shop. and showed that the last
appropriation was for SCI, COO in 1888, to
complete the plant Mr.. sherman, in the
chair. ruled the amendment out Of order
on the ground that 1t contained a limita-
tion as 10 cost Of the proposed foundry.
The amendment was then submitted in a
changed form, which brought it within the
rule, the amount being reduced from
SS0O.000 which would cover the whole
cost. TO 100000 to begin the work. This
was held 10 be admissible ard the debate
began i'm good earnest.
Mr.. Butler, Of Pennsylvania. urged that
the amendment was obnoxious TO the
rule. and when the decision Of the chair
sustained the amendment, moved TO cut
the amount appropriated to s20.o00 Mr..
Mann protested against the idea Of under
taking TO build up a gun foundry in
Washington, as Congress had evidently
completed its appropriations for the shop
years ago.
M Sherman called his attention 10
the fact that il had been repeatedly held
that the words TO complete did not
limit the cost Of a project
Mr. Southland read from the statement
OF Admiral Mason before the naval com
mittee showing what aggravated delays
had been occasiOned by contractors in
making forgings for guns. The present
gun shop. Admiral Mason urged, was
antiquated and nonsanitary. and occa-
stoned great loss TO the government con-
tnually.
An Expert Report
John Sharp Williams said that the ques-
ton was whether the work desired could
be done cheaper here than in the North,
and asked for information on this point.
Mr.. Southland quoted from the report of
Nir. Nelson. an expert engineer. who had
been engaged to report on the conditions
On the gun shop and had found that there
was so little competition among the con-
tractors that furnished the forgiugs that
they caused excessive delays ia furnishing
work and kept the shop waiting with
Of
tll the forgings should arrive often "a
was six 20 ten weeks before a condemned
casting could be replaced with a good one,
and IN the interval skilled mechanics and
important work had 20 be kept waiting.
Mr.. Nrecland, OF New York. showed q
determined opposition 10 the establish
mCnt of the foundry in the Washington
yard. He contended that private concerns
could always do work Of the sort required
cheaper and better than government
shops. He unfortunately asserted that the
building OF the Connecticut in the New
York yard had cost the government $500
600 more than the louisiana her sister
ship, and the government had spent mil
lions in preparing the yard for the work.
Mr.. Roberts. of Massachusetts. replying.
said that the appropriation for WAYS on
which 20 lay the keel OF the Connecticut
had cost S1750jo. and that was the whole
extra cost of making the New York yard
ready for the work The eight-hour law
had made the cost Of the Connecticut
$4,000 more than the Louisiana. the ap-
Precipitation for each ship being 81, 200000.
Mr.. Sulzer, Of New York. read from the
Nelson report, which had been made. he
said. at the request of Secretary Morton
in May, 1905 Mr.. Nelson said that the
slow fitting Of forgings by outside con-
tractors was one Of the greatest troubles
encountered i'm the work OF making guns
at the Washington yard.
ExOrbitant Prices for steel.
Nearly all the other parts of gun
would be completed and then they had
10 be stored, taking up a great deal Of
room until the forgings came from the
outside shops. As to prices. Mr., Nelson
found that they were exorbitant. The
contracts used TO be made at the price
Of % CENTS a pound for steel. Now they
were up TO 50 cents for large guns, and
% cents per pound for small ones. There
were but two bidders. the Bethlehem and
the Midvale companies. and they always
submitted the same figure. and so in the
combination the government was at the
mercy of the contractors. Mr.. Nelson de-
Clared EndL NleFe was fortune Tor the
steel companies at 20 cents a pound but
with existing conditions they would
probably raise the price from 81 and 45
cents a pound TO a much higher figure
IF you don't want the government
robbed" appealed Mr.. Sulzer, vote down
the amendment of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, and vote for the amend
ment Of the gentleman from Ohio"
II certain kinds Of steel required the
Nelson report showed that the cOntrac-
tors combined to put the prices up to 80
cents and rs cents a pound.
Mr.. Gregg, of Texas, and Mr. Kitchin
Of North Carolina. spoke earnestly for
the amendment. Mr.. LOudenslager con-
tended against 1t. He said the Navy De
partment heads wanted 70 build UP a
big foundry to cost ultimately $7,50O,000
The appropriation OF 100000 was only
the entering wedge for a larger apprO-
priation next year, and they would keep
on until many millions had been spent in
the project. He said that the eight-hOur
law made il forever impossible for the
government 10 manufacture in COMPETE
ton with outside concerns. To this Mr.
Underwood. of Alabama. said that every
one knew that the government was now