Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-28
Entered at the Newport News. Va,
Postofflcc as secondclaBs matter
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IS. 1908.
THE PROPOSED INVESTIGATION
OF THE SUBMARINE.

II Is a long time since any proposed
investigation has aroused the interest
that has the inquiry which Congress
man Lilly desires TO be made into the
{ conduct of the company. which ls en-
deavoring to thrust upon the govern
mant It's submarines ut the expens
of battleahips. The plan to re-
dnce the number OF batticships In or
der that the number OF submarines
rlay be Increased caused no little
wonder, bNt as new light la thrown ON
the matter, It is easily understood why
the submarine people have auch pow
erful friends. Even the proposition to
have the inquiry asked for by Mr.. Lii
ley Ia being bitterly fought by the
submarine people and the lnstigator
OF the plan to have an investigation Is
having the hardest kind OF time to got
tho rules committee TO name n date
for q hearing. He Is being met with
all sorts of technlcnlities. but the In =
dicatlons are that he will carry his
point to have the investigation held.
The friends of tho navy have rea-
son to feel alarmed ut the strength
which the submarine people possess
about the capitol. They have not yet
agen teen compelled to show thoir
hand but still they seem
Through powerful Influences. to be
able TO stave OF. for time at least,
the plan to build two and perhaps four
battieships. 1t is more than passing
sstrange that such Is the fact as rca-
son, common sense and facts are ar
SRyeil on the battleship side of the
qaestion.
Naval officers acquainted in detail
With the cost of building both battle.
shlps and submarines are authority
fors.he statement that under the pro-
gram provided by the committee on
naval affairs for the construction OF
eight submarines the cost of the ves-
soils per ton Will be sl.2S6 while the
average cost of battleships per ton is
only about Sf25. Furthermore. they
point out that the cost OF submarines
10 the government is constantly in
crsasing each year. despite the fact
That as far back as 1902 Rear Ad-
mirai Bowles testified before the COM
mittee that they ought to lie built for
not more than s74s.45 a ton.
An investigation of the cost of sub
marines TO the government shows TINT
on April 80, 1907. the Electric BOAT
Company bid for four submarines of
IA tons displacement, of the Octopus
type, $31S.000 each, while for three
OF $40 tons displacement same tyne.
tho bid was $3s2.O0o each, in all 2.11G n
tons for s2,39s,o0O. or s1,1s3 ton.
The navy department cut this price
Tof the 274 ton class to $2s5,000 each
and the $40 ton class to 100000 each
and contracted with the company for
~ ,i1S tons of the Octopus type at So
10000. or 5000 a ton.
IN the present Congress- the de-
rartment recommended the construc-
tion of four submarines Of the octo-
pug type at s3s0.oo0 each. This meant
an expenditure of si.52o.OOO for 1860
tong, or SLIT a ton. The House
committee on naval affairs has recon-
nsnded eight Octopus submarines for
sS,see. 600 or 2.770 tons at $1,2ss a
ton. Figured upon tho basis of the
1921 bid price and contract p9r ton.
q Is proposed By the committee to
~ ~ i 20 HE Electric Boat compAny for
.i6ht Submarines IN the 1908 Program