Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-24
|DYESTUFF PLANTS
AS AIDS TO ARMY
Could Be Turned Into Munition
Factories in Six
Days.
ESTABLISHMENT URGED
IN LETTER BY GEN. SCOTT
Acting Secretary of War Regards
Them as Important Move in Pre-
paredness Program.

| That the War Department considers
the establishment in this country Of
dyestuffs plants-manufactur inter-
mediates which could in six days be
equipped to produce munitions of war
as a very important move in the
program of preparedness is shown in
a letter sent by Gen. H. T. Scott. sec
rotary of war ad interim, to Repre-
This letter was sent in answer to an
inquiry from Representative Hill in
connection with his bill increasing
duties on dyes and dyestuffs as a pro-
lection to United States factories es-
| tablished during the war. Mr.. Hill
| sought information as to the relation
OF such dye plants to the War Depart
ment in eventuality of war. The re-
ply just received shows that the War
Department thinks such scheme
would be very advantageous
Conferences Being Held Now.
| An administration measure which
will include provisions for the estab-
lishment of dyestuff plants on some
such arrangement and for an anti
dumping clause and for tariff COM
mission is expected to result from con-
ferences now being held between Pres
| ident Wilson, House Leader kitchin
and Secretary Redfeld. 1t is known
that administration leaders are deeply
concerned in all of these proposed eff
forts to safeguard American manufac-
| turers and provide for prompt manu-
facture of war munitions in time of
need.
Representative Hills bill was given
a two-day hearing January IA and 10
before the ways and means committee,
at which representatives OF the dye
manufa cturers. of the American Chem
ical Society and of the users of dye
stuffs testified unanimously that the
establishment of such plants would be
advantageous to the dye industry and
should be of great potential value to
the government as a measure OF pre-
paredness.
Gen. SCOTS Letter.
I The War Department Endorsement
follows:
a. In reply to your letter of February
9, 1916, addressed to the Hon. Lindley
NJ Garrison. Secretary of War. and re-
questing the opinion of the War Depart
ment of the value to the United States
government OF plants producing dye
stuffs in time Of peace and capable OF
producing explosives in time or war,
may state that such plants would be
of unquestionable value to any govern
ment, and that their maintenance in
time of peace, with the complete equip
ment which would enable their output
to be changed from dyestuffs to eX-
plosiyes in weeks time, as claimed
by DR.. Schoellkopf. would remove to
great extent the necessity for the erec-
ton and maintenance of special large
plants for explosives for war purposes.
"2 The War Department is not sum-
GENTLY familiar with the dyestuH in
dustry to form an opinion as to the
terms under which a private manufac-
turer of dyestufs would be willing to
equip and maintain a plant as outlined
above.
Could Manufacture Explosives.
ut is understood, however, that many
| of these plants have all the apparatus
necessary for the manufacture of ex-
plosives. In addition, their existence
| in time of peace would create a demand
for practically all the raw materials
required for the manufacture of the
standard explosives. thereby insuring
greater supplies Of such raw materials
| in time Of war.
ciated the value of private plants pro-
ducing or capable of producing war
munitions, or the essential materials
( therefor and is of the opinion that the
lco-ordination of these plants with the
government in such manner as to in
sure their use for its purposes in case
of necessity. upon reasonable terms
without waiting for special legislation
after the development Of the necessity
| would he ADVANTAGEOUS.