The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-11
NEWPORT NEWS YARD
WILL NOT GET VESSELS
Not Chance That Contracts Given
Boston and Philadelphia VIII lie
AnnuIlcd by Daniels.
ACTION IS UP TO SENATE
IT Certainly VIII Vote TO Restore
Philadelphia Item, Which WINS Out
Out In House.

SSalttlS any OcuDt IHat senators
tin and Swanson Will he quite able TO
retain In the naval appropriation bill
the items making appropriation for the
Improvement at the Norfolk Navy
Yard. when the bill comes UP for pas
sage in the Senate. but there has been
scarcely hope entertained that any
clnnge could be effected in the bill ira
either the House or Senate by which
the Newport News sh;pbuiliing Inter
csts could secure contracts TO build
the transport and supply ship which
Secretary Daniels directed to DO con-
Etructed at the Philadelphia and Bos-
ton Navy Yards.
The Virginia itcIns IN the bill arc
100000 for the construction OF q float
ing revolving crane at the Norf0ll:
Navy Yard: $4,000 for repairs and
buildings at the saint Helena training
station. and $3.50. 600 for additional fuel
oil .toragc At Norfolk.
In the night made In the House By
congressman Jones and Saunders.
aided By the other members OF tho
Virginia delegation, To have stricken
out The items for construction OF
building ways at Philadelphia and
Hoston. tho Item Of $4,000 for the
floating crane at Norfolk was stricken
out on point OF order made In re-
taliatiOn b. Congressman I.ogue. OF
Peun3ylvan!a- At the request OF Con-
groahnan Holland and other Virsinians.
however. l-ogue later withdrew his
point Of order. thereby restoring the
Norfolk Item In the bill. 50 that the bin
passed the House With all the Virginia
items Intact.
The only possible chance Newport
News had TO secure contracts 10 build
either tho transport or supply ship af-
ter Secretary Daniels had directed tn.
Philadelphia and Boston Navy Yards
10 Guild them was TO have the item of
S2oo.oo0 TO build :, slip and equipment
at Philadelphia. and sIis, 900 for q .irnl-
lar purpose at Boston stricken out.
in that event, ;t would be Impossible
for the navy-yards TO do tho work. and
Secretary Daniels might have been
forced 10 AWARD one or Doth OF the
contracts to Newport News
DELEGATION 10 MAN
AIDS CONGRESSMAN JONES
With this object in view. the Viz
Einia delegation 20 q man went 10 tho
aid OF CONGRESSMAN Lones. represent
ing the Newport News district. and
chiefly through tho most able par!ia-
fncntary argument made by Congress
man Saunders. acknowledge to be the
best parl!umentar!an IN tho HcuHe OF
Representatives. had the Philadelphia
item stricken from the bill. but were
defeated in their efforts TO strike out
tho Boston appropriation.
The rules OF the House provide that
no appropriation can be added TO
army or navy appropriation bills un
less Il IL to continue some project al
ready under way. Ate: a wovdy bat
tie lasting all day. during which SOW
cral points Of ORDER were made BY Mr.
jones against The item offered ia many
different forms. and sustained by Il
parliamentary argument made By
Saunders. the chairman finally ruled
tina, the Boston item could remain In
tn. bill, because IL appeared that
there WAS actually q slip al Boston,
no matter how ant!uuated. and that the
FiiS,ooo could be used In technically
Continuing ITS construction.
But the same ruling made II possible
Tor the Philadelphia item TO he stricken
out. AS 1t vas proved that there is no
building slip there. and. therefore, It's
construction cannot be continued.
But in the Senate there are prsct.-
cally no parliamentary rules, and cour-
tesy Is tho only restraining feature
ANY Senator can rise and talk for a
Week on any subject he pleaseH, re.
Eardless OF whether or not II s. ger
mane TO the business before the house
and he cannot be suppressed. Should
Senators Martin or Swanson make a
point OF order against the Boston item.
or any other item IN the Senate. the
question Is put to n vote of the full
Senate. and the presiding officer has no
right 10 declare whether or not Il point
Of order shall be sustained and az: item
stricken out
Tho bill Is now before the senate
Naval Affairs Committee, or which
Senator Swanson IS a member. Sena.
tor Penrosc, OF Pcnnsylvan! and Sen
ator Lodge, OF Massachusetts, are alsL
members OF the committee. so that It
Is obvious the interests OF all three
yards Wtll be ably cared for.
Supposing Senator Swanson sholld be
BILE 10 keep the Virginia items In. ano
have the Philadelphia and Boston Items
stricken out which IS highly improb-
able, then Senators Pcnrose and Lodge
could offer an amendment on the foor
or the Senate. and when put TO "A vote
u is almost certainty they could gain
enough votes 10 have the bill amended
But the action OF Senator Swanson OF
Senator Martin in attempting 70 strike
out the -yo.00 for Philadelphia and
sl4S.o00 for Boston. would not be look
ed upon araciously In tho Senate, in
view OF the fact that Virginia has three
items In the bill calling for arpropria-
tons Of sG25.00
The Senate VIII almost certainly vote
TO restore the Philadelphia appropria-
lion. for the obvious reason that, the
Secretary OF the Navy, having AWARDED
the contracts TO the Philadelphia and
Boston NavyYards. as he was author.
ICED TO do. no matter how unwisely he
may have exercised his authority, that
body cannot withhold the appropriation
aecessary 10 enable the work TO be
completed.
NEWPORT NEWS FIGHTS
FOR VERY EXISTENCE
In this fight Newport News and the
Navy Department have locked horns
Zach being highly JUSTIFIED In It's posi-
ion. Ncwpv.. News Is lighting for Its
very existence. with the Boston and
Philadelphia yards placed in rosit!on 10
build battleships, there Will be nat.
2ral tendency on the part OF naval
officials 10 maintain n high standard
Of equipment and workmanship there
and to bring this about 1t viii be ne
cesaary TO keep the yards IT work
continually. doing work which has
heretofore been done IN private Yards
On the other hand. the Newport
News sh!pynrds know full well tina,
The building Of the transport and sup
ply ship at Boston and philadelphia
&c