Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-21
WOMEN GET THE WORK
QUESTION AS TO MAKING CLOTH
ING FOR ARMY SETTLED.

Secretary Taft today issued an order d.
recting the quartermaster general to award
the making of some % 900 pairs of trousers
at the Schuylwil arsenal, Philadelphia, for
the enlisted men of the army, to seam
stresses in that city, thus settling the ques-
tlon raised some time ago, so far as the
present lot is involved. 1t is ordered, how
ever, that in the future the matter OF
manufacture of this clothing be left wholly
to the discretion of the quartermaster gen.
eral to secure the making of the trousers
by contract or otherwise, so that they snail
be of the best quality and at the lowest
prices
For years this work has been in the hands
of women, mainly widows and orphans or
soldiers. and when recently bids were IN
vited for the making of these trousers an
appeal was made on behalf of the womeh'
and the matter has since received serious
consideration of the President and the Sec
rotary of War. today's order resulting
The position of the President and Secre-
tary Taft is indicated in draft OF an or
der to the quartermaster general winch Is
as follows
1.-The immediate question within presented
Is whether $1,000 pairs of trousers for the
enlisted men of the army shall be distribut-
ed from the Schuylkill arsenal to seam
stresses in the city of Philadelphia to be
made.
1T appears that the quartermaster gen.
eral had advertised Inc making OF THESE
trousers and had received bids for The same
at a price about 30 per cent less than that
at which they can be made by the seam
stresses. The petition of the seamstresses
in answer to the statement of the quarter
master general showing this to be the fact
AYERS that by the terms of the contract
the government would not receive quite as
much material from the contractor as from
the seamstresses but certainly there is
nothing in this to show that the cost would
not be reduced at least 80 1-3 per cent and
probably more by putting the trousers out
at contract
President in conversation with the repre-
sentatives Of the seamstresses, expressed
strong desire and issued an order that they
should have the making of this lot of trous
ers, and in view of the fact that the judge
advocate general has given opinion
showing that il is within the discretion of
the President or the quartermaster general
to award the making of the trousers to the
seamstresses the order in the present case
will be that the seamstresses make this lot
of trousers, but in future the matter must
be left wholly to the discretion of the quar-
termastcr general to secure the making of
the trousers by contract or otherwise so
that they shall he of the best quality of
make and material and at the lowest prices.
The fact is that the trousers thus made are
furnished to the enlisted men of the army
and that they are charged against the en-
listed men in such a way that the men are
directly affected by the price at which the
trousers are made for the government in
other words the government is diScharging
trust with respect to the enlisted men,
and it cannot and ought not to establish
and maintain charity at the expense of
the enlisted men 1t may be that in future
the quartermaster general will find work
which can be dCre as cheap by the seam
stresses as by offering the work for adver-
tised bids by contractors, and in such case
he will doubtless he glad to enable the wo-
men involved to make a livelihood. but it
must be understood hereafter that the mat
ter is within the discretion of the quarter
master general for the purpose of securing
the best and cheapest work and that petit
tions of this character cannot hereafter be
entertained"