The Washington herald., 1916-07-26
The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published
in Washington.

A recent investigation instituted by the
Navy Department is said to have dis
closed the fact that. despite the state
ments OF the Secretary and various Sen
ators. the cost of building war vessels
in navy yards is much greater than the
cost OF building by, contract
The investigation came as the result
Of a discussion in the House and Senate.
regarding the relative merit and econ
'omy Of building vessels under private
contract and at navy yards.
The latest comparison for bsttleship
construction affords Justification for the
statement, according to the chief con-
structor OF the navy, that navy costs
are greater than contract costs"
This has been demonstrated in a tabu-
lar statement which has been carefully
prepared and which has been furnished
Congressman. who have been unusually
active in having the public believe that
navy-yard construction is cheaper
One OF the most insIstent of the Con-
gessmen who have continually urged
navy-yard construction is Senator Phelan,
Of California II was at his instance
during the past few weeks that the rec
ords on the subject. hitherto compiled to
February, 1918, have been brought up to
date
With the exception of the notable in
stances OF two shallow draft gunboats-
the Monocacy and the Palos-built at the
Mare Island Navy Yard. where the costs
were not only below the original esti-
mates but very much below the only pri-
vate bid received, every ship constructed
for the Navy, according TO the statement
has cost more in navy-yard construction
than in prlvate-yard construction.
Though much depends on the deterni-
nation OF the question, the War Depart
ment, as yet, has not determined what
is the actual strength Of the army under
the first increment authorized by the ma
tional defense act of June 3. In rough
numbers the strength s estimated at
10000, but this Is by no means definite or
conclusive
The President. under the law, fixed the
enlisted strength OF the ordnance depart
rnent signal corps and quartermaster q
corps. This has been tentatively done in
these branches, with the exception of the
signal corps, where it is represented there
is need OF larger force than in con-
templated in the first Increment.
When these questions have been settled
the enlisted strength Of the army can be
used as the basis of determining the num-
her of unassigned recruits and the en-
listed force OF the medical department,
which has been fixed by the percenta ge
OF the entire enlisted force. Under this
rule the commissioned officers Of the med
ical corps are to he seven for every 1000
men Of the line.
1t is estimated that with the accom-
pllshment of the five increments author
iTed by the law OF June 5. the strength
Of the army, at minimum, will be 1850.
based on the assumption that the signal
corps will have its full allowance of 200,
the uartermaster's corps, 14,foo and the
ordance department. 1855.
The Senate has refused to adopt the
recommendation OF the Secretary of the
Navy that no officer of the navy. who is
a graduate of the Naval Academy at An
napols, shall be retired for age until he
has completed forty-one years of service
from the date of graduation from An
napolis.
The recommendation was defeated by
Senator Swanson, of Virginia, on a point
of order, which was sustained. Senator
Swanson was supported by Senators
Smoot and Smith, OF Georgia. 1t is con-
sidered that legislation OF this kind is
dangerous.