The Washington times., 1909-07-31
Secretary Meyer Forced to
Eliminate Item in Interest
of Economy.
NEED NEW PLANT,
SAYS NAVY HEAD
Thousand Navy Yard Employees and
Business Men Will Be
Disappointed.

The estimates Of the Secretary Of the
Navy for the next fiscal year do not
include the request for an appropria-
ton OF 100000, or, IN fact, any sum,
for beginning work on a new gun foun-
dry at the washington Navy Yard.
In a statement TO a representative
OF The Times today, Secretary Meyer
said that no provision had been made
IN his completed Estimates for the foun-
dry at the Naval Gun Factory, and
that he did not contemplate asking
Congress to make any such provision
at least for some years TO come
This news VIII be g great disappoint-
ment 70 the thousands OF employees at
the washington Navy Yard, and the
people Of washington In general, who
have been clamoring for the new foun-
dry for several years. Repeated ef-
forts have been made 20 get an appro-
priation through Congress TO build a
new and modern foundry, but each time
these efforts have failed By a narrow
margin. The washington Chamber Of
Commerce last year co-operated with
Columbia Lodge Of Massachusetts. rep
resenting practically all the machinists
at the yard. and with the League of
Year before last the fight was won in
the Senate. only 10 be lost in the
House by a mastering of the Cannon
forces, and last year it was won in the
House, to go out on a few votes in the
Senate.
It had been confidently expected that
the Secretary Of the Navy would in
ciude the estimates in his regular
budget. and Emmett L. Adams. presi-
dent OF Federal Lodge Of Machinists.
and James O'ConneIl, president Of the
International Association Of Ma
ehinists, the leaders IN the fight, have
ready pile Of statistical data TO Law
before Congress. This data tends to
show that the building OF the foundry
would save the Government thousands
Of dollars a year, and that the build
ing would pay for itself in few
years. It is claimed by the repre-
sentatives Of the machiuists that the
Government is being mulcted by the
Steel trust for gun castings. With the
present old foundry no gun bigger than
a four-inch can be cast at the Wash
ingtcn Navy Yard, and all the bigger
and modern gun castings have to be
made by the big steel companies. For
these castings the Government has to
pay big price, and then has to trans
port them to Washington 10 be finish
ed at the Washington Navy Yard. It
is an acknowledged fact that the ma
chinists at the Washington Navy Yard
are the best in the country. and Il is
claimed that better work can be done
there. The Navy Department has ask
ed repeatedly for the foundry but 10
all pleas Congress has turned a deaf
ear
Secretary OF the Navy Meyer. in stat
ing that he had not included the foun-
dry in his estimates. said that he had
cut this item much against kis will but
was forced 10 do so through the econ
OHy in naval expenditures. The Sec
Rotary IS a great believer IN the wash
ingtOn navy yard and would like TO
enlarge and improve it, After his re-
cent Inspection tour Of the naval gun
factory, the Secretary expressed his
pleasure al the high state OF EFFICIENCY
OF gun works Admiral Leutze the COM
mandaut OF the yard, went over the old
foundry carefully with the Secretary,
and explained that IL was all but too
small for any practical use in the pres
ent day. With a new foundry at the
navy yard here all naval ordnance
could be made here complete.
Although Secretary Meyer viii make
no definite statement, IL is probable that
he will Include provision for a new fOunk
dry Ia his estimates next year.