The Washington times., 1922-05-28

MAY YFATTEN ON
NAVY SCRAPP|NC
Senate Committee Finds They
Seek Recompense for
Unused Material.

Scrapping of American battleships
war contractors rich, 1t developed
here yesterday
The special Senate Committee
named 10 work out the details for
scrapping the vessels under the five.
power naval treaty learned this
when they took up the question in
formally, and il is causing them
considerable anxiety for the SUCCESS
OF their recommendation when II
finally is submitted 10 the Senate.
The United States will be asked
TO pay shipbuilders and contractors
sum in excess or $50, ,O0O, 900 for
material that has never been OF
service. and cannot he used under
the plan for the reduced navy.
Material on Hand.
1t is to compensate the ship con-
tractors for materials. such as boil
ers, engines. equipment and certain
fabrication which they claimed 10
have ordered on the request Of navy
officials before adoption of the dis
armament pact. This material is on
hand at various Yards. or in some
instances has not actually been pro-
duCed. but the manufacturers will
demand payment on the ground that
they have already been put to great
expense.
In the faCeFOf numerous Govern.
ment lnVeStiga atoms into cXpcndI.
lures Of this kind the Commttc" is
viewing the task ahead with any
l,tIt all. "a
one member. although il has not
been definitely decided TO urge the
payment of claims for material not
actually contracted ror and deiiv,r-
ed. IL was said, however, that the
committee would pass the rcSpoE 81
bilitN for action to the Senate a.
whole.
We have just gone far enough
into this matter to learn that The
work ahead is going to be a difficult
and unpleasant task, said a com
mittee member
In the first place. ii happens that
the special subcommittee named to
work out the details for s"rapprnS
the excess navy tonnage has also
been burdened with the job OF work
ing out the appropriation bill for
operation OF the navy under the new.
SiI dIlStIIltIlN. w = llI'l IL tNli
difficult to consider them both al
the same time. hut we have to do it
in order TO finish up before the close
of this session. Very probably We
will finish the appropriation plan
first.
Details Discussed.
"NOnc of US vet knows just what
il will hc necessary for us 10 provid".
Tho daf a iIC h1N.,l haGn rntr1nIat t.nl,
worked out by the experts.
For instance we believe that no
additional appropriation will bo
necessary to provide for the actual
sCrapping of the units agreed upon
to go into the discard 1t is the
opinion Of some OF the experts
that the revenue 10 be derived
from salvaGing will compensate for
the labor to b" employed But this
is hy no means certain.
Then We have an item that Is
only vaguely estimated yet II IS
for the compensation q shiphuild
Iers and contractors for material
which they cla lined to have pur-
chased TO fill contracts for the
navy. or promised contracts This
figure is fixed at S5O.OOO,OOO as a
minimum, hut we have heard II
estimated as high as SlOO. 900 600. An
appropriation for an expenditure
of this kind is not popular just
now. but We will undoubtedly in.
Clude recommendation and let
the Senate fight il out
The members of the Senate Com.
mittee are POindeXtt- Gerry and
! Newberry. The members of the
House Naval Affairs Committee.
which will deal with the same
situation. have not been named.