The Alaska daily empire., 1916-02-29
SEIZURE OF ARM0R FACTORIES, CASE 0F
 WAR ADVOCATED
,snoc,.l corrtsoondence.,

tSnociai Corrcopondence.l
 WASHINGTON, Feb. i5.- Senator Tinman chairman of tho Senate Na- val Committee, today introduced a cili which would authorize the government in time of war, or threatened war, to seize and ope;ate for such a period l1s might bo necrssary all privately own- ed plants manufacturing munitions ard armor plate.
 Owners Of such plants would be given recourse to tho court of claims for reimbursement Of losses incurred, and the government would be required to settle annually all claims allowed by tho court until possession of the factories was restored
 Urges Prompt Action
 Tho measure was introduced after Senator TIman had addressed the Senate urging prompt passage of his bnl to provide $11,Ooo000 for a gov. erDment armor plate factory. This bilI was reported fayorably by the naval committee In the face of notice from armor plate manufacturers that it's passage would be followed by an ir- crease of $20O ton on plate furnish ed the government for warshipU.
 "An additional reason for prompt ness and expedition" said Senator Tinman, lis this: With the utmost dispatch possible 1t will take from eighteen months to two years to build this plant and get 1t in running order; and the threat of those who are mak- ing armor that they would charge the government $2O0 per ton more for armor hereafter. 1 the government constructed its ow-. plant, which was voiced by the Senator from Pennsyl vania to the committee in executive session, shows the temper of these men at this time. and makes 1t more vital for Congress to teach them a lesson. The best answer to that threat is the passage Of this bill as promptly as possible.
 Delay Means Loss
 While the manufacture of armor Is highly technical and scientific have no doubt that the government can find skilled mechanics. now work ing for private concerns. who will be . glad to enter the government service. Neither have any doubt about the F governments ability to buy the nee. e essary machinery; and it-is impera- 1, lively necessary that legislation au- . thorizing the erection of this plant. Q or the purchase of one of the existing , plants and its enlargement be had im- 8 med.ately.
 "The longer we delay the more - moiey the government will lose and ? the longer we will be in getting the new ships already authorized and the ones to be authorized by this Con gress. l have no doubt that the naval programme when agreed on by the , two houses. win approximate tahe number of ships asked for by Presi dent Wilson; and the sooner the gov ernment is free from any possible danger of a 'hold-up' such as has been threatened, the better for the treasury and the country too.
 Calls Threat insolent 'If the Senator from Pennsylvania were here I would ask him to tell the Senate just what he told the commit tee last week; but bis Republican col leagues, who voted with him. will re- member what he said and perhaps one Of them will explain just what ne meant | confess l myself was shock ed at the insolence Of it-not from the Senator. because he had a right; but from the men who authorized him to speak as he d,d.
 q believe if the authority is given and the money provided we can either build or buy one of the existing plants and be equipped to manufacture armor in the amount needed inside of two years; but nothing whatever can be done by the navy department or any one olse until Congress acts. So the sooner Congress does pass this bill the sooner the country will begin to get ready to defend herself and if 1t should be necessary to maintain the Monroe doctrine after the European war Is over. there is both time and money to be saved by the prompt pas sage of this bin.
 Therefore. am urging It's passage through the Senate as speedily as pos sibIe. expecting some little delay in the House. This bill ought to become @ law early in March, and the navy de- pertinent be nobilized by furnishing 1t the money and the authority"
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 TEARING DOWN WHARF
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