Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-11
NEED OF A new FOUNDRY
LOCAL NAVY YARD EQUIPMENT
PRONOUNCED INADEQUATE.
Strong Fight to Be Made by the
Friends of Labor in Congress
for the Improvement.

A strong fight will be made by labor
and its friends in Congress during the re-
mainder of the present session to secure
the passage of the bill. introduced by Mr..
Cary OF Wisconsin, appropriating 100000
to begin construction of an iron. brass
and steel foundry at the Washington navy
yard. to cost, when completed, nearly half
| a million dollars. 1t is claimed that more
than S:O.OoO a year could be saved to the
government by the establishment of such
foundry. The monthly pay roll would
approximate 100000 and for this and
other reasons there appears to be strong
local sentiment in favor of the passage
of the Cary bill.
In recent hearing before the naval
affairs committee on the bill which is now
under consideration Admiral Mason. chief
of the bureau of ordnance OF the Navy
Department, explained that the present
foundry is antiquated and entirely made
quate in size and unsuitable as foundry
for such an institution as the naval gun
factory. 1T is. he said, "a menace to
the health of the employees and the officers
resident in the yard. The loss to the
ter facilities in this regard would soon
equal the amount requested to properly
provide for this portion of the gun fac
tory. and its increased product would ma
from this factory, saving both time and
expense.
Practically this same statement is con-
tanned in the report on the naval gun
factory made by s; T; Nelson, steel ex-
pert employed by Paul Morton, when Sec
retary of the Navy, to make an investiga-
tion.
Many in Favor of the Bill.
Many members of the naval affairs COM
| of the Cary bill to representatives Of or
ganized labor, and have indicated their
| intention of voting for it. Chairman Foss,
| however, is opposed to the measure. and
says the gun factory will have no foundry
| this year.
"If 1 find the facts to be as stated. -
said Representative Ellis of Oregon, II
/ will vote for the foundry"
Representative William w. kitchin Of
North Carolina said he had fought for a
| foundry in the Washington navy yard
for years. Il consider 1t a necessity, y
said he. "and will use what influence ]
| have toward its establishment"
Il anu heartily in favor of the pro-
posed foundry" said Representative Mudd
| Of Maryland. Mr.. Mudd said he had sup
ported the proposition at the last ses-
| sion of Congress, and If it could be added
| to the navy bill this year he would vote
| for it. He expressed much regret at the
unfortunate situation In the navy yard
! at present.
Mr.. Lilley Opposed.
Representative Lilley of Connecticut,
author of the submarine boat charges now
under investigation by the Boutell special
committee, told a labor man who called
upon him to obtain his views on the Cary
bill that he was opposed to foundry at
| the Washington navy yard and was in
| favor, in fact, of abolishing three -fourths
of the navy yards of the country He
doubted the statement by Ad, -.ral Mason
that the government would save $4,000
year through the establishment of a
foundry suggesting that naval officers
were not business men.
Representative Roberts of Massachusetts,
| declined to state his position on the foun-
dry propositions. remarking that the COM
mittee did not seem to be in favor of it.
considering it an opening wedge for a
five or six million dollar plant.
Representative Gregg of Texas an
nounced himself as heartily in favor of
the foundry, considering it in the line of
an absolute necessity. Representatives
Shepherd Of Texas and Wilson of Penn.
sylvania expressed themselves along the
same lines.
II have not changed my views regarding
the need of a new foundry at the navy
yard from those expressed by me on the
floor of the House two years ago. said
Representative Dawson of Iowa "Ad-
miral Mason. who was before the conf
mittee this session, laid special emphasis
on the need of this improvement, calling
attention to the fact that the present
foundry Is antiquated and inadequate, and
Ar menaCa to health-n