The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-12-14
COMPEL PLANTS TO
BO|tDBATT[ESH|PS
Daniels WantssLaW Giving Gov
eminent Power ToiReuuisi-
ton Private Shops

WASHINGTON Drastic measures
may be adopted by the administration
to compel the building Of the new
battleships Of the United States Navy
by american steel plants now given
over exclusively to the manufacture
Of munitions fur the tilies In the great
war. a-a
The exorbftant terms demanded by
private bidders on the contracts for
the two dreadnoughts authorized at
the last session Of congress and the
general apathy Of these contract.
g0rged manufacturers in regard to the
needs Of the United States Navy
has ELECTED from Secretary Daniels
the suggestion that the government
may requisition the ceHstruetion Of
these ships in private plants.
Mr.. Daniels will submit to President
Wilson a proposal that congress be
asked to authorize by law the requisi-
tioning Of material and labor for the
national defense whenever necessary.
Under this plan the government would
take possession of part or all of q
private plant and proceed to construct
o battleship.
Situation Serious
The secretary says the government
Is not prepared TO build all of the yes.
sels c0ntemplated in the naval pro.
gram; that even with extensions TO
the navy yards planned, it will not
I be preparedsto do alll0f the4work; and
that ii regards the situations as sdfii-
eientIy serious to call for stern meas.
hres IL private manufacturers sand
bidders do not respond TO its request
for bids in way in which he regards
a. proper.
Several Interpretations were placed
on the secretary's statement by
/ Washington. One is that Il was made
j for the purpose of bringing the private
firms to Zine. In the bids which were
opened last week for the, construction
4 Of the two dreadnoughts, the bidders
demanded so many exemptions that II
4 these were granted the cost Of tn,
ships would be increased far above tn,
eongressional limitation.
i Another is that il is in an answer b
the charges of former Secretary lo
State Bryan. Congressman tTaven
ner, and other peace at any price adj
vorates that the administration hai
Il fallen into the hands of the armo
4 plate, steel and munitions men.
A IT tam more convinced than eve
that the government should go aheai
\ and build an arnior plate plant, eve
If no metal Is evhr heated init, 2hMI
Daniels said. 81 am more conyince'
n than ever that the government shout,
increase its facilities for building al
parts of battleships and other vessel
n.,I oil af n ma r,Aa1 .NfIh
i,leal arrangement, believe, is 4
have the government and the priyat
parties bidding against each other.
sHBut il the private manufactures
are not willing TO do theegoyernmen
work or TO furnish the government sur
plics whirh are absolutely nrcessar
for it to do the work. congress- win ;
asked TO find way TO enable tn
pnve- nment 10 nhtaiu what it needs.
BIDS Etsangeiy Similar
SttAll Of the private manufactures
knew that the aim nistrrtion cohtrr
4 plated increasing itS naval propram A
of them knew months ago thbt bid
would be asked on the construction
the two sbiDs authorized by, the las
congress. If all Of these plants hay
contracted with foreign government
so that they are now unable to do tn
: work required by the United States i
reasonable time, we'll, hesitate I
= exnress my opinion of them.' '-15H
r Secretary Daniels was asked it, h
. thought there was any conspiracy be
; tween the private bidders. He sal
!, he would hesitate to draw that cor
eIHsion, even though the ybids wsr
similar and the, exemptions they asko
: were similar. He denied he ha
. turned the bids over to the departmer
of Justice for investigation, |,G.f 5s
At the navy department it Is sai
that even if congress makes thetya,
preparations Ffor the now napaltb pr,
gram immediately available IL viii b
; difficult ito get the work under wa
before July. q. y. .,iayl a.gs'f~& G4s
Just what rover to ask from col
) nress has not been desidad upon We
It has betr' e''crested that the sin
plest way would he to obtain som
J sort of a condemnation or reuusitiaI
ing act which, would enable, the gai
! eminent to obtain from any mannfa,
! turer any of his products, paying hii
therefor a fair valuation fixed by som
impartial board of exnorts. sor pass
bly, by a governmental board. g It I
admitted that such legislation nnaief
/ entail endless litigation, but navy on
cials assert that il may be necessar.
d . "a - IS H a. .H q