The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1917-02-06

abandon It's plans Tor a Federal plant
to make armor for our Navy at any
price the Government itself might con-
slider fair.
Our ordnance plants are at the dis
pOSal OF the nation at fair operating
cost, plus a small margin, thus saving
the Government investment and de-
probation.
One Of the special needs Of the new
navy is sixteen-inch guns-guns sixty
feet long and capable Of hurting a
1000 pound shell with such power and
accuracy as to hit a 80 foot square tar
get fifteen miles away.
We have undertaken voluntarily to
construct. at a cost Of S4.5OOOOO, a
plant fitted to build sixteen-inch guns.
Under no conceivable circumstances
can orders which we may receive for
this plant pay even a fair return on
the investment
Considerable comment has been made
upon the fact that a British manufac-
turer recently bid less than American
manufacturers for sixteen and four
teen-inch shells for the navy.
l am unable to state the basis upon
which the English bid was made. 1t
should be remembered, however, that
this bid was for a specific shell. sam
pies Of which are being sent over for
tesla test not yet made.
Two years ago we took an order for
24OO fourteen-inch armor-piercing shells
at a contract price Of $76SOO0, to be
delivered within a certain time or we
had to pay a large penalty.
The only specifications for making
these shells are that they shall be
Of a certain size and must pierce
armor-plate at certain velocity on i'm
pact 1t is impossible to fOretell the
exact conditions of the tests.
We had made large quantities Of shells
in the past which had been accepted.
But in placing this particular order the
Department altered the angle at which
the tested shells must pierce armor-
plate. The result. however, has been
absolute inability on our part to pro-
duce in any quantity, shells which will
meet these novel tests. In fact, we
know Of no process of projectile-mak-
ing through which it is possible to pro-
duce in quantities shells which will
conform to the requirements.
The result is that up to now on that
contract of S76S 900. we have put into
actual operating expense S447.SSl.. and
have been penaliZed for nOn-delivery
S495. IA, a total Of S943,625. with no
receipts whatever
Such was the experience in the light
of which we were called upon recent
" to bid for sixteen-inch shells
We bid on these shells at approx
mately the same rate per pound as
that Of a fourteen-inch shell contract
of one year ago upon which the Gov
eminent awarded contracts.
We have not the slightest idea what
profit there will be in the making of
these shells. We do not know that
there will be any. There is no certain
ty that 1t would be possible for us to
deliver a shell to meet the test.
For officers IN the Navy to assume
that any bid made under such condi-
lions is "exorbitant" is utterly unfair
We bid on the new battle-cruisers
sums which Navy department experts,
after examination of our books, found
would yield a profit of less than ten
per cent. We agreed to assume risks
for increased costs of materials and Ia
Dor that made it possible that these
contracts might yield no profit what
ever.
The costs run beyond the amount ap-
propriated by Congress on the basis of
the cost estimates made a year ago.
And because shipbuilders could moi
alter the memorable cost facts and re
duce bids to early estimates Of the
Navy Department, the prices are called
"exOrbitant."
1t would be a real advantage to be-
relieved of this naval construction. The
profit from It cannot possibly amount
TO much. and the responsibility is enOr
NOUS
We have determined to make thii
offer to the American Government
"If you will build two Of the battle
cruisers In Government navy yards
we will build the other two at the as
certained cost OF building the ships II
the Government yards. without add
tional expense or commissions of an.
kind. We will also contract to hav,
our ships ready for service ahead o
, the Government ships"