New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-09
pOI[ER TRUST ALLEGED
r1J, COMMITTEE NAY
INVESTIGATE.
INNS Company Charges FaUor-
;t;su, IN Obtaining GoUern-
n1eq1t Contracts.
IRON The Tribune Bureau

,.-v+on. May s.-A decidedly interesting
"--FlI,y sensational investigation by the
SO ST. committee on Naval Affairs seems des-
H'- -ss,,lt from the effort Of that committee
pDe1 4oi, the cost OF installing a plant to
- steam boilers al the Brooklyn Navy
~ other suitable location resolution
=, for this information was adopted jan
and the Secretary Of the Navy has now
' :, general terms. and seemingly without
Ie1--.-,+inr TO furnish the detailed information
S.-sn+Iv desired by the committee. Further
,,-,nlIcsfe the situation, the vice-president
che Beine Safety Boiler Company, Of St
-. hiss made charges which have been laid
80 the Naval Committee by Representative
'..-,asId OF Missouri. The St Louis company
Nno.os that the Babcock & Wilcox Company
- certain associates have obtained the inser-
.. :, The specifications for naval boilers of
--oz4sion which excludes competition by the
-a-o-4tv Of boiler manufacturers. The Mosher
p,fer company Of Pittsburg. also has preferred
-.-,;1.r charges. which have been brought to the
.-,en+ion Of the committee by Representative
Bsrchfeld.
The text OF the Heine company's letter is 5
follows:
near Sir. I want TO call your attention to a
-,atter Of most unfair and unjust discrimination
~ . large boiler trust known as the Babcock
8 Wilcox Company against our boilers in par
rirulsr and all other boilers outside or the
boiler trust in general Some years ago the
vahrock & Wilcox Company formed combina-
son with the Aultman & Taylor. the Stirling
company OF Ohio, and recently have also taken
!, the Rust Boiler Company, OF Pittsburg. They
are irving TO get monopoly of the entire water
-uhe boiler trade in the United States. Among
ofher things they have managed TO have insert
ed in certain government specifications for boil
ers a clause stating that no boilers having
STAYED surfaces or stay bolts will be considered
IL @E,-e u, 90 - 10 --N -R-,&
every locomotive boiler in the world and most
Of the marine boilers on the high seas and the
lakes and with few exceptions all the battle
shns of the world. have boilers with stayed sur
faces The impertinence of this thing is great
Now, the Mosher Boiler Company. OF Pitts
burg finding themselves aggrieved by this, have
rlsced the matter in the hands Of Congressman
Barchfeld and our president. Colonel Meier. has
furnished Barchfeld with certain facts bearing
on the matter Il is likely to come UP first in
the Committee on Naval Appropriations. I ask
that you call Congressman BarchfeId and
get some Of the data in order to help him break
this intended monopoly We do not ask any
fsvors, but we DO expect square deal. Just
now We bidding on the boilers for the Sol
diers' Home, at Hampton. Va, and we find the
same clause directed especially against US in the
Specifications. ! know that II you can do any
thing in the matter you will do II since by
so doing you Will protect St. Louis interests.
AT the present time we are erecting very large
works in this city, and hope to make same the
most modern boiler manufacturing plant in this
country.
The reply Of the Secretary Of the Navy TO the
House resolution is based on a report OF Chief
Constructor Caps. as acting chief OF the bureau
Of steam engineering. Constructor Capps says
the plant in the Brooklyn yard is now competent
TO make naval boilers with the exception OF the
Babcock Wilcox and the Niclausse types, but
that their manufacture would require the in
stalatioa Of special tools and appliances at
cost Of upward OF S1.009.O00.
He reports that the Babcock & Wilcox Com
pany is willing TO furnish the machinery or the
drawings therefor. but would charge a royalty
for the use Of their processes. etc. which. with
the other expenses. would bring the cost OF
manufacture by the government up to the price
now paid that company. about SO S6 square
foot Of water heating surface.
As there is considerable dissatisfaction among
boiler makers who have been unable to obtain
contracts from the Navy Department, 1t is prob
able that before the Naval Committee is reor-
gained and ready TO take up this subject there
Vli be protests from others in addition to those
already fled.