The Washington times., 1909-03-29
NOT SO VITAL TO 200 MEN AS
TO THE NAVY.

Secretary Meyer has inherited a
problem which no administration of the
American navy has ever settled to the
full satisfaction of anybody. At this
particular time, that is to say today,
tomorrow, and Wednesday, it presses
for special attention. On Mr.. Meyers
action within that period depends not
only large principle of navy policy,
but the immediate welfare of 200 resi-
dents IF Washington, most of whom
lave undertaken to buy homes here in
the District.
The problem is this
Is the maintenance of a non-govern-
mental equipment for the manufacture
of guns and proiectiles worth more
than better construction at lower cost.
tie unbroken employment of an eff
1icient force, and quicker delivery by
Government factories2
The outsider would answer
No one need bother much about the
non-governmental plants They will
put in the equipment with as little de-
lay as is physically possible just as
soon as there is a chance TO make
money out of it. Further, they must
ROW rely upon Government plants for
the Taost distinctive tools they use.
Finally, trained men could be shipped
from Government plants 10 these non
government plants whenever there was
an emergency requiring a maximum
output.
The outsider would not stop there.
He would ask why men who had been
certified TO employment by a Civil
Service Board must be discharged in
order that work may go to factories al
together outside the Government. The
question would be pertinent. But it Is
not the chief issue That has 10 do
with deliberate choice as made here
tofOre between obtaining the highest
standard of efficiency and economy
from the Governments own shops or a
lower standard from shops at Bethle-
4rNAti- -AAAN dllNs anu tiStA llClt
Here are two memoranda submitted
by representatives OF the Government
10 the Hon. Paul Morton while he con-
sidered this problem:
with reference TO the 3" Nix. TX
mounts No. PSI and No. 272, order
number 7279-04 calls for fitting new
elevating and training gear so as to
make them equal 20 the mounts man
Ufactured at the Navy Yard. This
cost the Government S9,9O6,57 labor
Lnd s1,z16-19 material. In addition 10
the contract prices Fitting these
mounts with truniOn bearings, which
should have been furnished by the
Bethlehem Company, cost the Govern
Tuent S532.27 for labor and S294.4O for
material. in addition to the contract
price"
In regard 10 the S" mounts built
by the MidVale Steel Company under
contract for the sum OF SI44I7I7.
Slude the cost OF the ammunition
boiStS, ammunition hoist car cost OF
ammunition hoist operating gear cost
Of chain rammer and handling ram
WeT. which amounts TO S4,112.OO. so
that il will be seen that the contract
price represents only about so per cent
of the work. while the naval gun fac
tories furnish about 40 per cent"
Before Mr.. Meyer decides this ques-
tion, then, he should have information
whether OF not on-governmentaI con
struction is still costing the Govern
ment 40 cents extra on every dollars
work. He should know if it be true.
as is stated ON an authority that can
not be lightly put aside, that the sub
merged torpedo tubes now being manu-
factured by the Wateryliet Arsenal will
cost the Government $500 for extra
material lie should decide whether or
not BE desires to continue a policy
v hich his immediate predecessor ex-
pressed in these words
preliminary steps have been taken
Ter letting the contract for sixteen
Ci6) 5-inch guns and mounts, and the
company who is 20 build these guns
and mounts has been Informed that n
contract viii be placed with il If its
bid is satisfactory
The Government has had an answer
10 all this, of course This same Sec
retary has stated it thus:
1T is further considered only wise.
il IL can be done without detriment TO
the public interest 20 encourage one
or more private firms 10 keep alive
their special shops devoted 10 ord
nance construction, and keep employ
c.i at least a small force OF mechanics
skilled In this special character OF
Ork, so that In time Of war the Gov
ernment could have resource 10 these
arms, as well to its own factory.
II IS, OF course, true that no private
establishments viii maintain special
shcps and special wOrkmen without
employment, and the department s
policy Of allotting excess work, not
necessary to keep the Government
plant constantly employed on full
time 10 private firms has this end in
view.
1t is for Mr.. Meyer 70 determine if