The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-09-16
PATENTS HINDER
NAVAL OFFICERS
But in Case Of War, Daniels Says
Government Would Appropri-
ate New Design and Go
to Court Later
BY BOND p. eEDpEs.

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Washington, Sept 16.-Radica
changes in the type OF new submarines
TO be built for Uncle Sans navy are
being worked out by the chief naval
constructor. Navy officials admitted
today that some new wrinkles in sub
mersibles probably would be adopted
when congress authorizes the propos.
ed new fleet OF undersea craft which
will represent the latest thought in
such construction.
Especial attention is being given.
Secretary Daniels states. to the ques.
ton of submarine construction. A
corps of experts, at home and abroad.
are collecting information to be assiul-
Hated in the next new L. s. subma.
rine.
Electric propulsion is the latest In
submarines. according to the present
determination OF the naval construc-
tors, 1t is probable that electric mo-
tors may be used exclusively in the
future. Naval authorities also con
template divesting the present fleet Of
submarines OF gas engines and substi-
tuting electric power
One difficulty in the way OF u S.
naval progress in building submarines
is the patent monopoly" which con-
fines this government to one type Of
submersible. This IS the Lake type.
While other types with some most de-
sirable features are being built, Secre-
tary Daniels says the government
never has been able to reach satisfac-
tory terms with patentees Of other
submarines than the Lake variety. Ne
gotiations are in progress, however, by
which the government may be able to
adopt some OF the more desirable fea
lures of other patterns.
The government would not be barred
from using other submarine patents
in case the Y. S. became involved in
war. however. according to Secretary
Daniels. He admitted that the gov
ernment. would not hesitate to appro-
pirate the submarine patents and use
them in building It's own sbmarines in
time OF war Compensation would be
given the patentees, of course, or they
could resort to the courts-but after
the government had received the ben
eft OF submersible patents. The gov
ernment, according TO Secretary Dan
iels, would not hesitate to adopt such
a policy, as a matter Of defense in a
time of national peril, without regard
TO the contract and patent rights Of
patentees
Secretary Daniels hopes that con-
gress viii eventually authorize con
struction by the government itself Of
all of its submarines. II is now build
ing some on the Pacific coast, the only
government plant at present equipped
for submarine construction. These are
OF the oil burning type.
Speeding up private contractors
on government submarine contracts is
another innovation promised by the
secretary. He will insist that con
tracts given private concerns stipu'
late quicker delivery. The secretary
believes that In the past contractors
have been slow about completing the
government craft He cites the in
stance of the i'll fated FL, which sank
last March outside Honolulu harbor
This boat was only two years cid, hav
ing been commissioned in 1873 but
five years elapsed before congress au
thorized her construction and the date
In 1919, when she was delivered to tn:
navy.