The Washington herald., 1917-01-14
WARSHIPS, 1861 Them,
BUT Who To Build 'EM?
VIII Government Require Private Yards
to Give Preference to U. S. Vessels?

The United States has gone forward by
leaps and bounds in naval preparedness
on paper, says the Nations Business.
For the first time in our history, we have
embarked on a continuing program of
new ship construction. In three years
we are to DO what Il was originally
planned TO do in five years We are 10
build 156 vessels. BY March l.. 1917, con-
| tracts will have been awarded to private
shipya~ds for the first sixty-si1 OF these
or work begun on them IN navy yards.
The other ninety must be commenced b.
fore July !, 1913 The amount appro-
pTiated for ;he navy for the present fiscal
year is by Ear the largest in our history.
At one sweep, Congress authorized the
construction Of more tons OF naval pre-
paredress than II had authorized IN all of
the ten preceding naval acts.
This done. the country heaved a sigh of
| relief and relaxed its taut nerves. VIC
had complacenly watched our navy drop
from an assured second place among the
navies OF the world 70 a doubtful third
but the sixty-third aud sixty-fourth Con-
crosses showed an appreciation OF the
need of enlarging the navy, and the FIRST
session of the siXty-fourth Congress
adopted three-year program which will
/ easily make the American navy the sec
ond strongest in the world.
But Congress and public opinion pro-
pose, while the private shipyards and in
dustrial conditions dispose. Hence the
question is pertinent, and It may become
aggravating, who is going TO build those
l56 ships? Congress thought II took
care OF the matter when it authorized
the construction Of any OF these vessels
in navy yards in the event that the pri-
vate yards bidding for the contracts
should combine for the purpose Of de-
priving the government OF fair, open and
unrestricted competition" But 1t failed
to say how the ships which the navy
yards cannot provide are to be got IL the
private builders find it more profitable to
construct merchant vessels.
The navy yards, not yet prepared to
add materially to the country's output.
and the private yards, overfiowing With
orders for merchant ships, their limited
facilities for building for the navy al
ready strained by the big naval progrsm
for the fiscal year 1916, will be hard put
even after new facilities and provided, to
build the ships recommended for the fiscal
year 1913 and complete those heretofore
authorized.
New shfpyards Opening.
New private shipyards are opening
every day and the navy yards are being
made fit for the construction Of capital
and other ships. but new yards can be
provided and old ones expanded easier
than the number of men skilled in ship
building can he increased. Then there is
the matter of materials Of all kinds. the
demand for which has caused a rise IN
price and delay in. delivery.
A heavy burden has been laid on the
shipyards, but the Navy Department
takes the hopeful view that they will
rise to the occasion and accomplish what
only short time ago was looked upon
as hardly possible. II has been suggest
ed that it may be necessary, however, to
confer extraordinary powers upon the de-
partment in connection with placing con-
tracts for the new vessels or in obtain
ing materials entering into their con-
struction in order to insure the early
completion Of our naval program; but
here Immediately arises the question,
shall Congress compel private shipysrds
and sellers Of materials in time Of peace
TO give preference to government con-
tracts at reasonable prices7