Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-20
MAYNARD FORCE
...|SN0T. TO Be. CUT
Apprehension Caused by Can
7 collation. Of Big Order Dis
PEELED by Officials.

Some apprehension was felt today by
the large force Of mechanics and other
employees at the Washington navy yard
over a report that the Navy Department
had countermanded an order for the
manufacture of 10000 shrapnels. 1t
vas feared that such action necessarily
would entail a reduction of the working
force, If not Immediately, during the
summer or early fall, when it would be
extremely difficult to obtain outside EN-
ploymcnt
Inquiry at the Navy Department and
at headquarters in the navy yard
showed that previous order for the
manufacture of. 20. GOO shrapnel had
been withdrawn for economic reasons.
but the statement was made that no
reduction in the force at the Washing
ton navy yard would be necessary or
was in contemplation. 1t was explained
at the local yard was in the nature of
an experiment and that while the
capabilities of the plant had been
demonstrated to the entire satisfac-
ton of the officials there still was
some question as to whether the work
could not be done more cheaply by
outside factories. For many years past
the Navy Department had obtained its
shrapnel from the army arsenal near
Philadelphia.
Experiment Was Satisfactory.
Last April Rear Admiral Strauss. chief
of the bureau of naval ordnance. arranged
with Capt. H. P. Jones, commandant of
the Washington navy yard. to make ten
experimental shells Of the caliber desired,
and aa. the work was entirely satisfactory
an order was given for the manufacture
Of 10000 shrapnels. That order had been
nd for a
larger quantity when representations were
made to the Navy Department by. certain
private manufacturers that they could
do the work much more cheaply than the
government.
In consequence of their representa-
tons, Secretary Daniels. on the. recon-
mediation of Rear Admiral Strauss. re-
called the order to the Washington
navy yard and directed that the manu-
facture Of the 10000 shrapnels desired
by the department be opened to gen
eral competition. II 1t is shown that
the ordnance can be obtained more
cheaply in that way 1t is probable the
depa rtment will contract with some of
the private firms, for current supplies.
If it is found, however, that the local
navy yard can do the work as cheaply
as outside factories there will be no
change in the existing system.
Rear Admiral Strauss and Capt. Jones
each made 1t! perfectly clear that there
will be no reductions in the working
force at the Washington navy yard, re-
gardless of whether this particular kind
Of work is done there or elsewhere. That
Is due to the fact that the plans of
the Navy Department for some time to
come call for the continued employ
ment of the existing force at the yard.
The appropriations for the next fiscal
year become available July L next.
That fact In itself is stated as "a guar
antee that sufficient work will be re-
quired to keep the entire regular force
employed. =.
=. Admiral Strauss Statement.
Rear. Admiral strauss after con-
sulting with Secretary Daniels. today
authorized the following statement on
tho subject:
THE, quest.onsof manufacturing 10000
three-inch shrapne! will be held in
allegiance until. bids have been received
from all manufacturers equipped for
doing the work, including the Washing
ton navy yard, ~.-.--'.> $1,000
TN case the. contract is awarded to a
private concern as result Of. their
underbidding the Washington navy
yard the. work will Of course; be done
under the eight-hour law.
THE number OF: employees at the navy
yard would not be affected, in either
IN oebs . -e---s< -