The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-11
NO POLITICS IN THE GOVERNMENTS HANDLING OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE
 LAKE O., BUT MUCH GENEROSITY

N with the Board ofs Trade for the method which has been used by the represen- tatives of the board, in handling the affairs of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company
 Those methods might have seriously in- iured the prospects of this industry, and would have done so, had not MT. Donovan and Secretary Daniels been men in whom nobler motives dominate the feelings of indignation which naturally arise in the presence of >in- justice.
 government has been lenient to the point of benevolence in it's dealings with the Lake Company.
 The c I was 9 years, five months and 15 days overdue when actually delivered.
 The 2, when taken over by the govern ment, was 2 years, 3 months and 16 days over- due, and was not then completed
 The was turned over to the govern ment to complete, and when turned over was year, month and IS days over due
 On March 15, 1913, the Lake Company re- csived contracts for three more submarines, the L 5 La6 and L. r.
 On Feb. !, 1914, no work had been done on two of these boats and the other was but 2. 5 completed, though eleven months of the con- tract time had expired and the work on two boats was contracted for completion within 24 months, and on the other. boat, within 9 months.
 The above was substantially the situation on Jan. 29, 19dA when Secretary Daniels ap-l peared before the committee on naval affairs of the Housesof Representatives with respect to the subj ject of submarines
 verbatim report of the proceedings Of the committee shows that Secretary Daniels, despite the difficulties the government had had with the Lake Company, was determined to maintain competition, by giving every aid to the Lake Company; to enable 1t to stay in the competition providing the company should make a showing of financial alilit ity to keep it's agreements
 This showing having been made, Score tary Daniels has agreed that the New Lake Company shall be considered in future com petitions, and admitted to the bidding.
 Under these circumstances it was certain | ly bad judgment, and worse truth, for the Board of Trade, through it's officers to charge the government, or anybody else WITH PO- LTTICAL DIsGRIaIENATfON AGAINST THE | LAKE COMPANY. This amounted to a criticism of Secretary Daniels and the committee on Naval Affairs, and might have seriously damaged Bridge ports ability to hold such an industry as re- organized Lake Company promis to become. The source of this criticism might have been due to an sover-zealousness to obtain re- suits, or it might have come from somebody's personal and partisan belief that mo good could come from Democratic administration.
 At anyrate, the frank and clear statement of the situation made by Congressman Dono- Nd1l AS suEG JO is not in position where 1t must face politi- cal intrigue. It has survived its financial diff l faculties, and has been reorganized. l It faces friendly government that has gone far and will go further to maintain com petition in submarine building. It is faced by single task. ItSmust get 1 to work on the contracts 1t now has, it must finish them within a reasonable time, and the boats when finished must do good work.
 These conditions are very clearly ex- pressed by Congressman Donovan and Secre- l tary Daniels. There can be little doubt but the managers of the reorganfzed Lake Com 1 pany understand what the conditions are and l are prepared to meet them.