Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-21
Saving Money on .lrnior

are also lacking in length.
Saving Money ON .lrmor
D Y what may or may no, be a rather
- curious coincidence. the discussion of the
proposed government ur-pate plant is to
be taken up in the Senate this week, Just as
the annual report OF the Bethlehem Steel
Company makes it's appearance. That report
rcctes an offer to the Navy Department To
manufacture side armor for $685. Il ton AS
compared with the price Of Si25 per ton now
obtaining.
This offer in itself affords sufficient justfi-
cation for the movement to establish the plant
The report OF the Bethlehem company teens
With descriptions of the higher prices now
obtaining in the steel business based not only
on the greatly enlarged demand. due to the
war. but on The higher costs Of material and
labor notwithstanding these circumstances,
the report calls attention TO the fact that
the foregoing figure az which we now offer
TO make armor for the United States is not
only lower price than has been paid by
the government for more than ten years. but
it is also substantially lower price than
is paid for armor by Japan. Austria, Germany,
France or England"
The price named Is described as "A basis Of
negotiations, and il prcdicated on an agree
meli by the government to give tho company
contract for one-third of the armor plate
required for the proposed fvc-ycar naval
program. The company. however goes fur
thcr, and agrees ITO permit any wcll-known
firm OF chartered public accountants to in
rentory it's plant and make careful estimates
of the cost OF manufactures: with that data
III hand, II will meet with the Secretary of
the Navy and agree To manufacture armor al
price which will be entirely satisfactory
10 the Secretary of the Navy as being quite
as low AS the price at which the government
could possibly manufacture armor on its own
account
rather different this from the threats
with which the makers OF urmor greeted the
Introduction Of the measure now pending i'm
tho Senate, Then they deict the govern
mcni 10 cncroach their preserves. and
SPOKE OF dlrcful things that would happen in
IN" event their warnings went UNDECIDED.
The wave OF resentment these outburss in
spircd has had happy effect on ono manu-
facturcr ut least
IN" Bethlehem companys present stand is
virtual admission al what everybody has
suspected Of what. indeed has been freely
ana frequently charged that the government
for years has been paving cXtravagant prices
Tor arn"r plate. notwithstanding steel
prices generally arc much higher than they
have been. III" company offers 10 reduce the
price $50 II ton. 1t is estimated for the naval
construction plan now in contemplation l2u-
600 tons Of armur will be required. and the
government of S3,600,b0U.
This prospective economy is a drrc, out
come OF the stand taken by Secretary Daniels
His adminisi ration of the department already
has resulted in large savings to the govern
mcnt, and there are others placed AT the de-
nartmeDt's door. No wonder he is so roundly
hated by the forces Of intrenchcd privilege
and their representatives in the Congress OF
the United States.
There is much force in the contention that
the government should not go into the bust
ness OF armor making unless forced TO do so
a steel company has many irons. literally in
use its plant and force for other purposes
factory conducted by the nation, for Il re-
stricled purpose, enjoys such freedom of
action. II must make armor or permit the
invested capital to become idle and unproduc-
1--WE, while its employees are thrown out OF
work. IT arrangements, along the general
lines OF The Bethlehem companys proposition
can he made with all tho steel companies
and the interests Of the government amply
ana fully protected, il might be wise 10
abandon the plan 10 construct "a government
plant
elephant so round. Address until June !
Chairman !lilles OF the Republican National
Committee
Appeal for Babies Political Move
| ORD ROBERT CECIL, English Minister
L. OF War Trade. of I;noIaul' *