The New York herald., 1922-06-13

FIGHTS MARE ISLAND
NAVY YARD PLOT
Senator King Declares Realty
Ring Would Transfer Plant
to Alameda.
SAYS NEWBERRY AIDED
Repeats Charge Social Snobs'
Want Station Near San
Francisco.
SAYS NEWBERRY AIDED

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.l
Washington. ID. c., June IL.
Senator King (Utah) started a fight
to-day on what he declares is social
and political plot to wreck the Mare
Island navy yard. near San Francisco.
He assailed Senator Newberry (Mich)
and by implication Senator Poindexter
(WashD for their action in depriving
Mare Island of necessary funds in the
navy appropriation bill. so that the
money could be used to develop navy
facilities at Puget Sound.
The fight. which rings with politics.
is an echo of one that developed last
year when the naval appropriation bill
was under consideration. Congress then
blocked a proposal to abandon Mare
Island as a naval station. the activities
70 be transferred to Alameda. in San
francisco Bay.
Representative Curry (Cal) declared
the scheme was one to bring the social
snobs of the navy in closer touch with
the social snobs of San Francisco" in
sisting the whole affair was intended
to make it unnecessary for navy Off
GERS to travel two hours from Mare
Island to San Francisco.
Senator King to-day repeated this
charge. but added that the efforts to
transfer the yard from Mare Island to
Alameda was sponsored by real es-
tate ring, which sought to enhance the
value sf its property. He asserted that
II the Senate permits Mare Island to
be wrecked the taxpayers would be out
more than $35, 100000. already invested
IN the yard, which is held to be highly
efficient.
The trouble started in the House when
1t was explained that within a few wears
s2,S00,000 would have to be spent at
Mare Island for repair of docks, piers
and other woodwork. which had been
damaged by an insect. the teredo. Navy
engineers said this woodwork could -.
saved II cemeted over, and they wanted
S750.000 to begin the work this year.
The House provided this sum. while re-
fusng to grant the money .equested for
development In Puget Sound.
When the bill reached the Senate
Senator Poindexter made a fight In the
Appropriations Cornnittee for restora-
ton of the item giving funds for Puget
Sound, in his hSme State With the aid
Of Senator Nrwberry the sum for Mare
Island was reduced to S250000, the re-
ma.nder, s500,000, being given to Puget
Sound. -rhe action was received with
cheers in the State Of Washington. and
it is believed, will be Of help to Senator
Poindexter in his fight for reelection this
year.
When the bill is taken up In the Sen
ate tomorrow Mr.. King will try to have
the $750.000 item for Mare Island re-
stored. insisting that without 1t the
plant would be destroyed and that those
who desire this would be victorious At
the same time he will condemn the
transfer of funds to Puget Sound be-
1T would SEEM" said Mr.. King to-
night. that the scheme devised some
time ago in the Navy Department. aided
and abetted by some eminent persons
in and out of Congress, to wreck and
destroy Mare Island. which is un-
doubtedly the most efficient of the naval
establishments. Is still being prosecuted.
More than s35Oo0.o00 of the taxpayers
money has been expended in the build
ing of the Mare Island plant and 1t has
been and still is perhaps the most
valuable naval plant the Government
possesses.
"A determined effort has been made
by a cotere of the navy to scrap this
great naval base and to spend more
than 100.000.000, which will be used in
the execution of what l conceive to be
an unwise and indefensible policy. I
am advised that the distinguished Sena-
tor from Michigan, Mr.. Newberry. gave
the weight of his great influence to this
plan to destroy Mare Island.
Having only the interest of public
servant, / espoused the cause of Mare
Island and opposed the scheme to destroy
it and to spend tens of millions of dol
lars in the establishment of another
naval base. to which some real estate
boomers and others of higher positions
seem devoted The item carried in the