Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-23

which the Administration seems deter
mined to build, should be located at lenEue
the other armor plants ont Of business, but
to strengthen the equipment Of the nation
for keeping Its navy in lighting trim'
rTHE equipment of navy yard for the
i manufacture of armor plate can be justi-
fed by the same arguments which have been
used In support of the policy Of building battle-
ships in Government -owned shipyards. When
the Government engineers in Government
plants have built warship they have become
familiar with the details of its construction
and cost and are able to check UP the esti-
mates of private contractors The possibility
of Government competition theoretically In.
duccs the private shipbuilders to scale down
their bids to a reasonable figure. Further, the
equipment of the navy yards for shipbuilding
is a measure of preparedness for unforeseen
emergencies. In time of war there cannot be
too many shpyards equipped to keep the ships
Of the navy In fighting condition 1t would
be a grievous mistake, however, for the Gov.
ernment to engage in the business OF ship
building on such a large scale as to compel
the private plants to scrap their machinery
used in making war vessels.
A Government armor plate plant built for
the purpose Of driving the private plants
out of business would weaken the defenses
of the nation. At best the proposed Govern.
ment plant, the bill providing for which has
already passed the Senate, should be intended
merely to supplement the plants already in
operation. Unfortunately the most enthusi-
astic advocates of the plan hope that tn new
plant can make all the armor plate that
will be needed by the navy. The naval pro.
gram for the next five years calls for about
10000 tons of plate The Government plant
is to make 10000 tons a year, leaving only
about 5000 tons to be bought. The three
private plants can make $4,000 tons. 1t re-
quires no argument to convince any expert.
enced business man that If the demand Is to
be cut down to such an extent, one or more of
the private plants will be dsmantled.
1t will take at least three years after the
passage of the bill to get the proposed armor
foundry in operation In the interval the
Government must buy armor from the Beth
lehem, the Midvale or the Carnegie steel com.
panies. But as the sum of 11,0000 900 called
for In the bill Is not enough to build mill
big enough to make 10000 tons year, even
if it is run "a hours n day for 3G5 days
year, we are likely to be dependent for some
years to come on the existing plants. This
is fortunate for the development of the navy.
Greater wisdom is likely to prevail in the
management of the Navy Department in
last three years. Therefore. it is not at all
likely that when it is completed the armor
plate plant will be intended to do more than
supplement the existing plants in providing
armor for the new ships that must be built
before the navy has been raised to the first
rank among the navies of the world. The
Republican party which may soon be in
power, has never set out on policy intended
to destroy any legitimate business, and 1t Is
not likely TO do anything which will make 1t
impossible for American shipyards to build
warshps for the South American countries
any more than 1t will cripple the national
defenses by curtailing the facilities of the
home manufacturers for keeping the home
navy in proper condition.
Assuming that the armor plate factory is to
be built, there is evidently only place for
it to be. Every consideration of economy,
convenience and expediency points to the
League Island Navy Yard There is room
for It. The raw materials be easily OBJ
tained there. The other armor plate factories
are in this State because the facilities for the
manufacture of steel here are better than
in any other part OF the Union. The reasons
which have led private business men to locate
here run with equal force when the Govern
ment plans going into the same kind of busi-
ness
The Chamber OF Commerce, which numbers
in Is membership the leading business men
Of the CITY, is doubtless alert the possibilities
In the situation. They understand the advan-
tages which will accrue to the city from the
development of the Navy Yard through the
increase in the number of men employed, the
demand for houses, clothing and food 10 sup.
port their families and in the added tonnage
of freight on the railroads over which the
supplies for the yard must be hauled. There
can be but one opinion in the Chamber on the
subject. It's leaders are expected to prepare
to present TO the proper authorities the over !
wheIming arguments in favor of League Island
as soon as the bill becomes a law, If they
have not already begun to formulate those
arguments. Even If they are opposed in
theory to Government manufacture. they can
still insist that If there is 10 be a Government
plant it should be here In the interests of
economy and efficiency, where men skilled n
steel working can be secured with ease. The
Chamber is the proper body TO speak for the
city and the city expects that it will let its
voice be heard in no uncertain tones.