Evening star., 1937-03-03
AWDEPARTMENT
WILL OPEN STEEL
bids ON MARCH 10
Requires rs Million Pounds
in Building 3 Submarines
and 6 DeStroyerS.
EFFORT WILL BE MADE
TO PURCHASE COPPER
100000 Pounds Needed in Vari-
Gus Yards-Edison Gratified by
40-Hour.Week Decision.

The Bureau Of Supplies and Ac-
counts, Navy Department, on March
Is at 1G am will open BIDS for 25.-
900 900 pounds of steel for the con-
structiOn of three submarines and
six destroyers to be built at navy
yards.
This announcement came late yes
terday on the heels OF an interview
with Assistan. Secretary of the Navy
Charles Edison, who declared that
the steel situation will not be definitely
clarified until the results of the bid
ding become known.
Edison declared that the Navy has
not been able to secure. through bids,
machine tools, hydraulic gears for
ordnance equipment, DieSel-driven
electric generators, refrigerating and
r-conditioning machinery, electric
outlet and feeder boxes. tWine, ingot
copper and steel. Announcement that
leading steel companies were going on
the 40-hOur work week led naval OFF,
cialS to hope that break is in sight.
10 C4CSc GOillL dGLS Oll lIGCACI
materials in the Navy has been bland
on the Walsh-Healey act, which re-
quires Government contractors to pay
overtime on jobs over $4,000 to en-
ployes working longer than 40 hours.
Seeks to Purchase Copper.
The Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts will seek to purchase 100000
pounds of copper-of this, about
100000 pounds of lake copper for
use at the Washington Navy Yard
when it opens bids on March 10 at
II am. A threatened shortage of
copper at the local yard was met by
diverting copper secured for use at
New York to the Naval Gun Factory
here. The Navy purchased the cop
per in the open market. Copper
firms have allegedly been piling up
stocks of copper, which might be then
sold to the Government under the
-Healey act, which would apply
then only 10 those loading and haul
ing it. officials said.
Invitations to bid on the 25,000,000
pounds of steel went out last night
to the various steel firms. The Navy
tried without success recently to pur-
chase this steel, which is urgently
needed for the building of the three
submarines and six destroyers. 1t Sc
cured offers on about 100000 pounds,
but had to reject these, officials de-
clared, because the service cannot buy
its steel piecemeal. but must have the
entire lot in sight before beginning
the construction of its vessels in navy
yards.
Navy Yards Need Copper.
The 100000 pounds of copper are
needed at various navy yards. OF
this. some 100000 pounds are required
at the Portsmouth. N. H. Navy YARD;
100000 pounds for Brooklyn, N. Y,
Navy Yard; 100000 pounds for Phila-
delphia Navy Yard; 100000 pounds OF
this electrolytic copper for the Wash
ington Navy Yard. and 100000 pounds
for the Norfolk. Va. Navy Yard. In
addition to this 100000 pounds of
electrolytic copper. up to 100000
pounds of lake copper. which comes
from the Great Lakes region, will be
utilized here.
Edison, upon learning that some of
the steel firms are adopting the 40
hour week, expressed qualification. He
explained that this action should now
make it possible for the Navy De-
partment to receive acceptable bids
"on the Navys requirements for this
basic material" He expressed the
hope that other concerns doing busi-
ness with the Navy would follow the
course set by steel.
Conduct of an expeditions and eff
cient large-scale Shipbullding pro-
gram, Edison emphasized. demands
constant and uninterrupted flow of
all materials in accordance with
prearranged time schedule of de-
liveries Failing this. he said.
"stop-and-go' program would develop,
which would greatly increase the
construction cost. cause labor discon-
tent through interruptions of the con-
tinuity of employment, and also result
in additional cost"
1T is obvious, therefore, that what
has happened in steel does not solve
all the problems facing the Navy"
asserted Edison.
If the steel companies submit bids
favorable to the Navy. threatened lay
offs in navy yards will be forestailed.
officials said. The inability to secure
steel and other necessary materials
would have caused cessation of large
share of work at various navy yards.
officials pointed out.
While the Navy experienced some
difficulty in getting oil and alcohol at
first, this situation has now been
ironed out, officials declared.
Secretary of Labor Perkins said last
night she was very much gratified over
the adoption of the 40-hour week by
the steel companies. She aided she
had faith all the time that We would
get steel under the Walsh -Healey act"