Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-17
NAVY YARD UNABLE
TO SCRAP VESSELS
Little Chance Seen for Work
in D. C. Because of Lack
of Equipment.

Only a small portion of the work
of scrapping the naval ships which
are to be abandoned under the arms
Limitation treaty could be aliocated
to the Washington navy yard should
the Navy Department decide to have
the dismantling done in the various
yards, it was agreed today by both
naval and labor authorities.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt is in conference today with
the navy yard commandments relative
to the scrapping of the ships at the
yards obtaining the work was thought
to be dependent largely on whether
it could be done as cheaply in that
way or selling the ships, as they are
The lack of drydock facilities
makes it impossible for the local
yard to handle the actual dismantling
work, 1T was pointed out by naval
authorities. On the other hand. many
of the ships to be scrapped are still
uncompleted on the ways and con-
siderable work would have to be done
on them to condition them for float
| ing. Consequently, it was said, they
will have to be cut up and junked
in the yards in which they are now
located.
A. e. Luther of the International
Association of Machinists, District
No. A, with which a number of the
local navy yard men are affiliated. ex-
pressed the belief that the scrapping
would have to be done at the strictly
shipbuilding yards, which have dock
ing facilities. The Washington yard.
however, he said, could repair and
recondition the guns on the old ships
which are to be held in reserve, but
this work would not increase the
activities at the yard to any con-
siderable extent
The yard commandants in confer
ence with Mr.. Roosevelt were unable
! to produce exact figures on the cost of
/ the various proposed scrapping scheme
| They were instructed to present later
| plan whereby bids can be asked on
alternative methods. so that the Navy
Department can determine how the
! work can be done at the lowest cost.
Unless the yards can bring their
cost to approximately the same as
private bidders, Mr.. Roosevelt indi-
Gated there is little Likelihood that
they will be awarded the work.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and
other opponents of the proposal were
said to be doubtful whether it could
to the government. Admiral Plunkett.
commandant of the New York yard
and one of the original proponents of
the plan, was quoted as having re-
vised his views after a preliminary
investigation of the ability of the
New York yard to do the work.
The present overhead cost of the
navy yards. officials said. is IS per
cent. When it was proposed to re-
condition the Shipping Board vessel
President Buchanan at the New York
yard. together with other outside
work elsewhere, one of the chief ad-
vantages put forward was that it
would cut the overhead Is per cent
making the difference available for
new work. There is said to be con-
siderable doubt that scrapping the
naval ships would thus reduce the
overhead, as scrapping does not re-
quire the sort of skilled labor now
employed at the yards.
1t is true, union officials said. that
some of the yards are carrying an
excessive overhead, due to the fact
that only small portions are being
utilized. Put all of the machines to
work, they say, and the overhead
will be reduced.
The union leaders point out, how
ever, that much progress has been
made recently by the Navy Depart
ment in reducing the overhead. and
that If given the opportunity the
yards can compete with private con-
Germs. The lack of opportunity, It
was emphasized, has been the prin-
cipal handicap.