The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-22
JONES CR|T|C|zES
DAN|ELS'S ORDER
Charges Politics in Awarding
Contract to Government
Navy Yards.
EXPENSE is MUCH GREATER
Virginia Congressman Makes
First Speech on Floor Of
House This Session.
EXPENSE is MUCH GREATER
[sneolal to The Times-Dispa.cn.l

Especial to The Times -Dispatchl
Washington, April 2l.--'rhe action OF
the Secretary OF Navy Daniels In re-
jectins; the bid OF the Newport News
Shipbuildine Company to build two
new Drcadnoushts, although II was
tho lowest: and awarding the contract
TO the Boston and Philadelphia Govern
ment Navy-Yards to build one vessel
each. despite the fact tina. neither has
never before built Il battlcship, was
severely criticized by Congressman
William a. Jones, Or Virginia. in his
first speech on the floor Of the House
OF Representatives 1T this session.
10 declared that Secretary Daniels
had allowed politics TO play a part
III awarding the contract for one snip
to tho Boston yard. notwithstandinE
tho fact that the Newport News yard
had made a lower bid, could complete
tho work in less time, at less expense.
with Il thoroughly experienced corps
or wcrlsmen. In this connection he
placed in tho record f. number of clip
pings from Boston newspapers. which
stated that Roston has secured the
award because of political influence
which il was impossible 10 overcome"
referring to tho comparative cost OF
navv-huilt and contract built ships, he
asserted that tho ten ships built in
government yards, chiefly at Mare Is
land. California, and Brooklyn yards,
cost the government, according 10 the
figures of tho Navy Department 3s.-
100000 more than they would have
cost had they been built By contract.
The DreadnouEht New York. JUS,
completed n the brooklyn Navy Yard
said Mr.. Jones. actually cost tho gov
eminent Sl.o00,ooo more than her SITS
ter ship. tho Texas. built az Newport
News"
Mr.. Jones declared that. Secretary
Daniels mad awarded the two contracts
10 the Boston and Philadelphia yards
despite tho fact that the board Of naval
experts, whose duty Il IS to advise
that official upon these subjects, mad
unanimously reported that they could
not be built In those yards for sums
anywhere approaching the bids Of the
Newport News company. THIS onin-
ION was concurred in, lie said. by cx-
ports in naval construction at the gov
ernmcnt yards 1T Marc Island and
brooklyn, who had declared that the
Boston and Philadelphia yards could
not DO tho work Mt the estimates they
had submitted to Daniels
TIL" private shipyards ware all re
dnirca TO complete these ships within
;wcntr-four months" said Mr. Jones
1t VIII require from eight to ten
months TO equip these two navy-yards
10 build these ships. and they cannot
b" COMPLETED within three years"
Mr.. Jones commented at some length
on tn" fact that the figures Of the
navy-yards We're Nero estimates, ana
nobody is bound by them II II should
require sl.ooo,ooo more to conpleta
these vessels than tn estimates. he said.
Congress Will he called upon 10 appro.
pirate the money. II eovernment-built
SHIPS turn out 10 be worthless the
government stands tho loss. no de-
clared. while contract bull, ships mus.
com" up TO every requirement OF the
contract.
AIR. foncc entered into the discus
sion Of the naval appropriation bin to
appropriate 100000 to build a shir,
anc equipment for the Boston ward
ana SliS,ooo for the same purpose at
Philadelphia.
These items. he declared. were real
II part OF the cost OF the ships IN Inc
punt ut these yards. and only a par,
OF the equipment which will be nccas-
sary before the yards can start opera.
uons, whereas the private yards are nh
'~""S ioi business G.. II. NJ