The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-21
May Not Build Plant
If Private Concerns
Are Good"
PRICE ALREADY
FORCED DOWN
Munition Men Offer to
Make Plate at Fair
Price.

WASHINGTON. July ?l.-AL
though congress authorized an ST.
coo 600 government armor plate fac
tory and appropriated the money FOR
its construction. Wednesday. many
OF the senator's and congress Snen
who voted for II 60 not believe
Uncle Sam viii go into the Armor
making business. Instead. they De
lieve the bill authorizing a federal
plant will be held over the heads OF
the private manufacturers 70 make
them BE good
Charges have been made repeated
ly that during the % years tie gov
eminent has been purchasing amor
OF private manufacturers eXtortion-
ate prices have been paid that have
resulted In millions Of profts 20 the
producers. During hearings before
congressional committees Il was ad-
mit;ed BY representatives OF the pr
vate plants that they have sold
arrnor cheaper In como Instances
10 foreign governments than TO the
United States.
Because the three manufacturers
OF armor In the United States sub
mitted identical bids 10 the United
States government. Secretary Of The
Navy Josephus Daniels advocated
the passage Of law. authorizing
government manufacture. His long
eght for the enactment OF such .
measure eliminated when the sen
ate accepted the house provision OF
the naval appropriation bill. which
authorizes the secretary Of the navy
to build or purchase sn amor plate
plant OF sufficient size 20 meet the
needs OF the government.
By q vote OF II 10 81 the senate
rejected an amendment offered by
Senator Oliver, OF Pennsylvania,
having for sta purpose the elinina-
ton Of that section OF the bill. which
authorizes q government plant. The
Pennsylvanis read the offer Of the
Bethlehem Steel Co. 10 make arTnor
for the United States a. a price 20
be fixed by the federal trade COM
mission. and advocated the accept.
ance OF that In lieu OF the provision
OF the bill. Eleven Republicans
Joined with the Democratic senator's
In rejecting the Oliver amendment
Only one Democrat. Senator Tag
CART. OF Indiana. voted w-rh The Re
publicans. who opposed the appro-
pria;ion for the federal plant. Those
who joined the Democrats were Sc
stors Borah, Idaho; Clapp. MINI
sofa; Cummins. Iowa; Cram
North Dakota; Jones, Washington
Kenyon, Iowa; LsFoilet,s. wiscor
sin: Norris. Nebraska; Poindcxtcr
Washington; Sterling. South Ia
kota; Works. California
Even though the federal a--nn-
plate factory should never BE- b-at
those who have been r,ost active
III AAE pNHTeAHE Va A4At Eaal dLAttfiI-
izing II, believe the fight has been
justified. because tho private manu-
facturers have submitted a price this
year $50 ton lower than tina; ever
made before. This has been done
despite the fact that the producers
claim the price OF all the com
modities going into the Tnanufac
ture Of armor are the highest in his
tory. Since IL has been apparent
that there were enough votes IN con
gress TO pass the bill for a fedora
srmor plate factory, the private
manufacturers have offered 20 sup
ply the United States at It's OWE
price. " this offer Is made good
il Is considered highly probable that
the government viii not build OF
purchage a plant, but will hold f.
seIf in readiness &c do 70 a. any
tive The prices are knjus,ly high.
-