New-York tribune., 1913-11-23
SEEKING TOLOOSEN
TRUST GRIP ON NAVY
Daniels's Annual Report to Dis
cuss Question of United States
Doing Own Work.
[From Tho Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, November e

w dSfllIlSlOll1 ANoftiiOrl 60
BLOW AIMED AT ARMOR PLATE
MEN.-The forthcoming annual report OF
the Secretary OF the Navy will contain
some striking illusions TO the necessity
of separating the naval establishment
from the 'clutch of the trusts. Mr.. Dan
iels has discovered since he has been In
Washington that there is nothing quite so
iniquitous as the dealings with the gov
ernment of the firms which supply armor
plate, projectles and powder He pur-
poses to break up combinations which he
believes have long existed. and he has
refused TO take the advice of his subordi-
mates in the Navy Department or experts
who advocate the announcement or the
development OF domestic sources OF war
supply.
Mr. Daniels has prepared estimates and
plans in general for the increase OF the
facilities OF the different government
plants. to the end that the Navy Depart
ment may manufacture a larger quantity
OF ammunition. construct its own shells
and produce its own armor. and be less
dependent In general upon the rapacious
contractor.
Mr. Daniels believes that this would be
good investment OF the government
funds. and the the Increases made In the
estimates for the next fiscal year for the
naval establishment. as compared with
the appropriations for the current fiscal
year. about 100000 In amount, are at
~ 30 tha nj
the government manufacturing plants and
the erection of new buildings, In addition
10 an initial appropriation for an armor
plate plant.
The House Naval Committee, which Will
within the next two or three weeks begin
hearing Naval Bureau chiefs on the esti-
mates, will go carefully into this question
OF additional outlay for the government
plants. For one thing, II is quite certain
that no appropriation will be made in the
next session for an armor plate factory.
II any action IS taken on Secretary
Daniels's recommendation II will be to
authorize the appointment OF a commits
sion. largely Congressional In its compo-
sition, for the purpose OF reporting 10
Congress at the beginning Of the follow
ing session. which will be short one
and may afford scant time TO act on so
important a proposal as the establish
ment of an expensive armor plate factory
II Is a serious question. which army and
navy officers Of experience recognize
whether the War and Navy departments
should be dependent entirely on their own
resources in the production of supplies OF
war There is no question, according to
the statistical comparison It is possible to
make, a showing can be made demonstrat-
ing advantage to the government. but
private firms say that in making up
statement Of cost OF government work
many factors are not included. and that
the comparison is therefore unfair.
Army and navy officers generally be-
lleve that there should be private sources
OF supply, regardless of the cost OF their
product, within reasonable bounds. be-
cause II furnishes the War and Navy de-
partments with an opportunity TO obtain
war supplies which could not be derived
IN sufficient volume from the government
plans unless they were established on
gigantic scale at enormous expense
Mr.. Daniels's report however, will aim
to show that the Navy Department is In
the thraldom Of certain big interests
which possess the characteristics OF mo-
nopoly, and II is desirable that there be
relief from such a combination.