Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-03
OPPOSES CHANGE
IN SENATE BILL
Secretary Daniels Believes the
House Should Adopt Armor
Plate Measure.
STATEMENT MADE TODAY
TO NAVAL COMMITTEE
Gives Reasons for Directing to
Amendments to Pending Measure.
Questioned by Members.

Secretary Daniels opposed any
amendment to the Senate govern
ment armor-plate plant bill today
before the House naval commit
tee. Representative Butler an
nounced he would seek to amend
the measure so as to provide that
the federal trade commission
should determine the cost of
armor manufacture. With that
figure as a basis. he added, the
Secretary of the Navy would be
empowered to fix the price OF
arnor for ten years to come. If
the private manufacturers failed
to enter into a contract within
thirty days after the price was
fixed, he added, the government
plant would be built
81 am opposed to any amendment to
the Senate BILL said Secretary Daniels.
81 am afraid of the Greeks bearing gifts.
do not believe Congress should put this
matter of dealing with monopoly in the
hands of any secretary. 1 believe this
plant should be built now
Inquiry by Mr.. Britten.
Representative Britten asked if the
Secretary would be satisfied if the law
provided that armor should cost s243 a
ton. the price agreed upon by navy ex
perts. as probably correct.
For how long," asked Secretary
Daniel. For five years, ten years, or in
perpetuity:"
For five or ten years" said Repre-
sentative Britten.
Il would not be satisfied" Secretary
Daniels said. cit would only mean in
time We would have to go back and pay
for the delay"
Representative Butler asked if it were
not important that navy secrets be kept
confidential.
"Of course said Mr.. Daniels.
Don't you know that the design of our
guns has been turned over to the Russian
government during your administration?
Representative Butler asked
Il never heard of it, said the Secre-
tary.
Il think I can give you the history of
that said Representative Butler, but
SS~s~~s
Asks for Copy of Letter.
Later Representative Butler asked
the Secretary to ask Admiral Strauss,
chief of the bureau of ordnance, for
letter written by the admiral two
years ago to the krupp factory in Ger
many with regard to the navy 14-inch
guns. Mr.. Daniels agreed 70 do so.
Taking up the question of the pro-
posed navy increase, Representative
Butler asked if Secretary Daniels did
not believe the navy should be in sec
ond place
figure on any particular nations
strength in laying out our policy" Sec
rotary Daniels said. Il do not believe
this Congress should tax the people
this year to make up all the deficiencies
of twenty years We ought to lay out
a strong program and build to that. [
think this Congress ought to authorize
the biggest program ever authorized.
More than that. it ought TO At out our
navy yards for building ships. / do not
think conditions are so emergent that
We should tell private builders you
must lay aside other work"
The Secretary declared the shipbuild-
ing industry was so congested with
new work now that it was with great
difficulty that present building could be
continued rapidly.
Estimates Amount Required.
Representative Butler asked if il
would not be better to appropriate the
S106.000.000 necessary to complete
ships now building and rush them
through. Secretary Daniels said the
sum necessary to complete the ships
was s4s.5o0, 900.
Representative Britten interrupted
to say that unless President Wilson
were reelected and Secretary Daniels
Seappointed he would not put into COM
mission single ship authorized dur
Eng his administration.
Il am not talking about rowboats
and gasoline launches" he said, but
about battleships and submarines"
Secretary Daniels said he would put
the facts into the record later