Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
FOR LOCAL GUN SHOP
HOUSE VOTES ON APPROPRIA-
TON OF 100000.

After several hours of debate yesterday
afternoon the House of Representatives in
committee of the whole on the naval appro-
priation bill inserted a paragraph in the
measure appropriating 100000 for an iron
and brass foundry at the Washington navy
yard. The paragraph was opposed by
Messrs. Vreeland of New York, Louden-
slayer of New Jersey and Butler of Penn
sylvania. 1t was favored by Messrs. South
ard of Ohio dhe author of the provision),
Sulzer of New York, Gregg of Texas, I'm
derwood of Alabama and Clark of Missouri.
Mr.. Mann protested against the idea Of
undertaking to build up a gun foundry in
Washington, as Congress had evidently
completed its appropriations for the shop
years ago
Mr.. Southland read from the statement Of
Admiral Mason before the naval commit
tee, showing what aggravated delays had
been occasioned by contractors in making
forgings for guns. The present gun shop
Admiral Mason urged, was antiquated and
non-sanitary, and occasioned great loss to
the government continually.
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
Mr.. Nelson. an expert engineer, who had
been engaged to report on the conditions
III the gun SHOP anu Hdu IOuNu lldl lIeIS
was so little competition among the con-
tractors that furnished the forgings that
they caused excessive delays in furnishing
work and kept the shop waiting, with many
other parts Of the guns finished, until the
forgings should arrive. Often 1t was six to
ten weeks before a condemned casting could
be replaced with a good one, and in the in
terval skilled mechanics and important
work had to be kept waiting.
Mr.. Vreeland of New York showed a de-
tor ipn6 n
the foundry in the Washington yard.
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 contractors
was one of the greatest troubles encoun-
tered in the work of making guns at the
Washington yard.
be completed and then they had to pc
stored, taking up great deal of room until
the forgings came from the outside shops:
IF you don't want the government
robbed" appealed Mr.. Sulzer, vote. down
the amendment of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, and vote for the amendment
Of the gentleman from Ohio"
Mr. Gregg of Texas and Mr.. Kitchin or
North Carolina spoke earnestly for the
amendment. ;.
Mr. Loudenslager contended against 1t.
He said the Navy Department heads want
ed to build up a big foundry to cost ulti.
mately 81 ,00OOOO. Inc appropildlion VI
s1OO, 600 was only the entering wedge for
larger appropriation next year, and they
would keep on until many millions had been
spent in the project. He said that the eight
hour law made it forever impossible for the
government to manufacture in competition
with outside concerns.
To this Mr.. Underwood OF Alabama SAID
that every one knew that the government
was now doing the most difficult and costly
part of the making Of guns in the Washing
ton shop. The castings and forg1ngs were
comparativeIy less costly than the finishing.
Mr.. .sutler withdrew his amendment, and
the House, py Ill to 80. voted to adopt the
Southland amendment, appropriating 100000
for an addition to the brass and steel foun-
dry of the Washington gun shop.