The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-07
An Inquiry By Congress in Order.

The happy Idea Of creating a Naval
Consulting Board Of inventors and
scientists was original with Secretary
DANIELS. his own inspiration, II one
may Judge from what he had to say
on the subject in his last annual re-
port, published on December 10, 1915.
"One Of the imperative needs Of the
navy" he wrote, "is facilities for uti.
LIKING the natural inventive genius Of
the country to meet the new condi-
tions Of warfare as illustrated by the
lessons Of the war In Europe"
The Secretary's greatest find" for
the auxiliary board was THOMAS A.
EDISON. Mr.. EDISON having said In
an interview read by Mr.. DANIELS
in II of the newspapers that he
thought "he could add to the terrors
OF war;" but that nothing would in
duce him I've are quoting from the
Secretary's report to turn his ener-
gies to inventions to make war more
terrible unless his own country
needed his services" Mr.. DANIELS
Immediately" wrote 10 Mr.. EDISON
appealing to his patriotism to head
a board Of inventors and engineers
to study and help solve naval prob
lens" Mr.. Epson was frankly told
there was nothing that could be Of
fered for this priceless service ex-
gratitude Of the country at large.
together with the satisfaction that
comes to one who renders an unself-
ish service" Mr.. Epson promptly
and enthusiastically accepted and
was made chairman Of the board.
Reading the Secretary's account Of
the enlisting Of so valuable n volun-
teer any one might, and naturally
would. have formed the impression
that Mr.. Epson had had no relations
with the Navy Department before he
earned the gratitude Of the country
by accepting the proposal Of Score
tary DANIELS made in a letter writ
ten on the spur Of the moment. The
fact was. however. that the Depart
ment had entered into n contract
with Mr.. EDIsOS seven months before
the letter was written tn have his
storage battery installed in subma-
rine Ed. the vessel on which occurred
in dry dock not long ago, with loss
of life, an explosion due to genera.
ton of gas by the new battery. Ac-
cording To Mr.. PARK BENJAMIN, com
| petent as q naval and scientific au'
! thority. it was perfectly well known
to electricians familiar with such ap'
paratus that this lthe EdisOn) bat
terry" would ''evolve hydrogen under
certain conditions
Now the commander of e. has tes'
! tilted since the explosion that he re-
ported the danger tn the bureau OF
steam engineering last September
! and asked that something he done
| about IT.. Mr.. PARK BENJAMIN tells
us that the problem was actually
solved months before the Department,
put the Edison battery in E.c. An in
vention makes the confined quarters
in which the batteries are installed
. . as brcnthable and as safe
as the air in the street" 1t Is nov
in operation ION n large scale In two
prominent plants" When permits
sion was sought last spring to visit
n submarine to learn what the con
ditions in the interior were with /
view t. Overcoming the dangers O
battery fumes 1t vas refused. icI
Mr.. Edison a short time before hat
been invited to make an inspection
Mr.. EDIsoN's interest In the nav!
therefore began nearly a year before
Secretary DANIELS announced hi
consent to serve on the Naval Con
sulting Board for the thanks OF til,
navy and the gratitude of the coun
try at large" and late In the sprin!
n contract was made with Mr.. EDIso'
for the installation of his nickel bat
terry In E-2, with its hydrogen gener
ating defect unremedled when an
other inventor stood ready TO maxi
the interior Of submarines safe 70
their crews.
Secretary DANIELS in his repor
hailed Mr.. EDISON las II who cOul'
turn dreams into realities" 1t is Il
be regretted, then, that Mr.. EDIso:
did not begin his priceless service
MS IA consulting inventor and scientiS
by improving the E-2 battery n few
months before the inspiration cam
To Secretary DANIELS to write To MI
EDIsoN and enlist his genius for tn
good Of the navy and the security %
the nation. Is not an inquiry by Con
gress in order?