Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-22
Secretary Josephus Daniels Will
Try Brandeis Plan in Work
Of Naval Construction.
SAVE s3,OoO,oOo ON WARSHlP
Bids To Be Asked for Armor on
"The Pennsylvania" Officer
Will Give Views.
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Scientifie
management of the railways of the
United States. their shops, their phys
ical control, made an issue by Louis
.. Brandeis, and practically forced
into operation on all the big railroads,
has had its influence in the national
Government.
While the principle of scientific
management has been extended to all
phases of the cost of construction and
operation, evei. to the laying of bri cks
for the New York skyscraper and to
the cementing of walks for the sub
urban house, Uncle Sam, through his
agent, the Secretary of the Navy, Jo-
sephus Daniels, has given the propo-
sition his closest attention. In the
various navy yards of the country the
theory, or the experiment, viii be car
ried out it is thought. if the wage
board that is now meeting in the
Navy Department here finds that it
will be for the best interests Of the
service-that is, for the employees as
well as for the Government.
and operation basis, for work actually
turned out, it is thought by navy
heads that the Government will be
able not only to compete with pri-
waite wards, but will be able to hold
the cost down to the minimum.
Cutlery Again Theory.
In the previous administration
there was a great cutlery against the
Brsndeis theory of scientific man
agement. particularly by the en-
ployees in Uncle Sans gun factories
and armament shops. Congressman
and Senators were able to dissuade
President Taft from ordering Sec
rotary of the Navy Meyer to put into
effect these principles. The Demo-
cratic administration, however, in
order to run the country economically
has determined that "slicing of ap-
propriations must be made in every
direction"
During the Taft and Roosevelt ad-
ministrations Congress went so far,
principally at the instigation of labor
unions and the American Federation
Of Labor as to enact legislation that
the Government should not buy sup
plies for the Panama Canal in for
eign countries and specified that all
purchases should be made from man
ufacturers in the United States.
1t is a known fact that Government
employees on the canal strip can pur-
chase the necessities of life and even
luxuries at a figure greatly reduced
from the prices at which these COM
modities are offered to the public in
the United States. The purchases,
however, are obtained through bids.
Hopes to Save $3,0oo,oo0
Working upon this principle, Sec
rotary Daniels has attempted to put
the same plan into operation in the
navy. Bids for armor and guns, and
for everything else that goes into the
construction of dreadnought, have
been asked by the navy in the build
ing of battleship No. 80, which will in
all probability be named the Pennsyl-
vania. 1t is estimated fully $4,000, 900
will be saved from the original ap-
preparations when the vessel is turned
over to the Government, after the
final inspection and speed tests have
been completed.
Now, however, Secretary Daniels
will take a step further along the
lines Of economy and see what is do
ing" in saving money In the navy
yards through the principles of
scientific management.