[No. 2.] COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C., January 10, 1912. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Lemuel P. Padgett (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL N. C. TWINING, UNITED STATES NAVY, CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, we have with us this morning Admiral Twining, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. Admiral, we are glad to have you with us. We will turn to page 23 of the first print of the bill. Admiral, I notice that there is no change in the provisions there from the law of last year, nor is there any change of amount. I will ask you if it is possible, in your judgment, to reduce that appropriation for the coming year? Admiral TWINING. I don't think it is possible to reduce it under present conditions. The CHAIRMAN. Can you put into the hearings an itemized statement of the general items composing you can put it in the hearings when they come to you the items that compose this appropriation, also the estimates for the coming year, and also what unexpended balance, if any, you will have out of that? Admiral TWINING. Yes, sir. The statement is hereto appended. (See Appendix A.) The CHAIRMAN. I notice that in the proviso of the appropriation, the lump sum to the Secretary of the Navy for clerical force, there is an increase of $25,000. Will you please explain the necessity for that why that is recommended? Admiral TWINING. We found that during the past year the requirements for clerical force at the navy yards and the other stations which are more directly under the Bureau of Ordnance have increased, particularly in the matter of drafting force. We are unable to keep up with the demands of the work at the Washington Navy Yard, the torpedo station at Newport, and at the other main working navy yards. I have estimated that the additional positions that I need, although I could not bind myself to those exact positions, would total something over $26,000. I have only asked for an increase of $25,000, as, because of occasional vacancies and lapses, we never spend quite the full amount that is obligated, so that if the sum were increased to $450,000, an increase of $25,000 over the present amount, I would be able to fill all the positions that are now foreseen as being necessary. The CHAIRMAN. Will you put in the hearings an itemized statement of the number of additional employees contemplated, the places at which they are to be employed, and the salary which it is expected will be paid them? Admiral TWINING. I submit such a statement herewith, marked "B," but I would like to state that I would not like to be bound to these exact positions. Actual appointments would be made to meet demands existing at the time they were made. Do you The CHAIRMAN. I understand it is simply an estimate. regard that for the good of the service and for the accomplishment of the work it is absolutely necessary that you should have these additional clerks? Admiral TWINING. Yes, sir; I think the $25,000 represented in this estimate can be more advantageously expended in that way than in other ways. That is, we will gain in efficiency and economy by allowing this money to be spent in that way. The CHAIRMAN. As I understand you, the work for the past year, the current year, has been retarded and has not met the requirements of the service in the lines indicated in your former statement. Admiral TWINING. Yes, sir. A specific instance occurred very recently at the torpedo station at Newport, in which the development of two very promising improvements in torpedoes was necessarily suspended because we had not the drafting force to do the work. Other urgent work had to take precedence. The CHAIRMAN. Does this delay produce a waste of the energies of the department and a loss of efficiency, a lack of economy? Admiral TWINING. Yes; particularly from a military point of view, because it delays progress. The CHAIRMAN. And another thing is, as I understand you, that if you have this additional appropriation you would be able to so manage and expedite your work that it would ultimately produce better results in the administration of your bureau? Admiral TWINING. I believe so; yes, sir. Mr. BATHRICK. Is there any place in this report where the details are presented as to the services of these people who are to get this extra $25,000? The CHAIRMAN. I have asked him to incorporate in the hearings, which will be published and submitted to the committee, a detailed statement of the number of clerks to be employed, the work they are to do, the salary to be paid to each one, so that there will be a complete statement of everything. Mr. BATHRICK. This $25,000 is to be used for the succeeding fiscal year? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; 1913. Mr. ROBERTS. I notice a proviso in regard to the purchase of shells and projectiles that has been stricken out by the House. The CHAIRMAN. That is always reinstated by the committee. In the first draft of the bill it is always stricken out and always reinstated later by the committee. The CHAIRMAN. "Purchase and manufacture of smokeless powder, $1,150,000," which I notice is the same as last year. Is that to be used for the current purposes of the Navy, or is it also partly for reserve? Admiral TWINING. That money is very largely used for the manufacture of powder at the Government powder factory at Indianhead, and the bulk of it is probably expended at target practice. A small portion of it is put in reserve. The CHAIRMAN. In target practice do you use new powder, or do you use the older stores of powder, so as to keep a supply of the newer grades on hand? Admiral TWINING. We use the older powder whenever it is in such condition that it can be placed on board ship safely. The CHAIRMAN. What is the life of powder of the present day manufacture? Admiral TWINING. We estimate it at about 15 years. About four years ago we began to incorporate in the powder a chemical ingredient which acts as a stabilizer and as a brake on decomposition. It doesn't prevent it entirely, but makes it very slow. We think that powder will last for 15 years, although we haven't had it long enough to be certain. The CHAIRMAN. Before it would be necessary to rework it? The CHAIRMAN. What is the comparative cost, the relative cost, of reworking powder as to the cost of manufacture? Admiral TWINING. It costs at the Government powder factory at Indianhead about half as much to rework as it does to make new powder. The CHAIRMAN. How much loss is there in the quantity of the powder in the process of reworking, what percentage? Admiral TWINING. It is a small percentage, something between 6 and 10 per cent. That loss is taken account of in determining the cost of reworking. The CHAIRMAN. What is the quality of the powder after reworking as compared with powder of the same grade in original manufacture? Admiral TWINING. It is exactly the same quality. The CHAIRMAN. As good in all respects? Admiral TWINING. We think that its life may perhaps be a little shorter than that of absolutely new powder, but otherwise it is exactly the same. The CHAIRMAN. Admiral, how much powder was made last year at the powder factory? Admiral TWINING. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, 1,041,648 pounds of new powder was made at Indianhead. The CHAIRMAN. How much was reworked? Admiral TWINING. 760,486 pounds. The CHAIRMAN. I will ask you to put in the hearing a statement showing the output at Indianhead for the year, the amount manufactured, and the amount reworked, showing the work of the year at the powder factory. Admiral TWINING. For the year ending June 30, 1911? The CHAIRMAN. Yes, sir. Mr. BATHRICK. I would suggest that he also include in that statement the cost per pound. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. We will ask you to include also in your statement the cost of manufacturing the powder, and I would be glad to have you itemize that cost so as to show what elements of cost are included in your estimate of cost. Admiral TWINING. The statement requested is appended. (See Appendix C.) |