The Washington herald., 1910-05-23
An Official Ice Nan.

VIII the advocates OF government own
ership identify as peculiarly their own
the proposition which has been submitted
20 Congress for the installation OF an
ice plant in one OF the courtyards OF
the State, War. and Navy Building?
The circumstances which have contrib
uted TO this estimate for an appropri-
alton. and which have justified the
recommendation made Jointly by the Sec
retary OF State. Secretary OF War. and
Secretary OF the Navy. arec interesting.
They touch with directness and force
upon the increased cost or living. OF
which mention has been made before.
II IS shown that the government four
years ago. was paying Il cents per 100
pounds for the ice It purchased under con-
tract The most favorable average bid re-
ceived for the delivery OF this material IN
1910 amounted TO 27 cents. or nearly 100 Per
cent increase within four years, and It
is remarked that during this period there
have been no changes IN the quantities
ef Ice consumed. or IN the places OF de-
livery, which would warrant the increase
in price. The quantity OF ice required
for the building occupied by the state.
War. and Navy departments for this hs-
cal year VIII amount 20 rs tons and VIII
cost $3.50. an increase OF 30 cents per
ton over the cost for the last fiscal year.
A government plant for the manufac-
ture OF Zee would produce that article at
a cost not IN excess OF 81 per ton after
the installation OF the plant, a saving
Of $40 per ton. or nearly $500 per an
nun on tho estimated quantity required.
It will be observed that the cost OF the
installation OF such a plant viii he saved
in less than three years and stu leave
the plant intact. Incidentally, the
White House would be supplied witr
fee from the same source.
This situation has been produced as q
result Of what the government COM
mittee engaged I'm obtaining bids Tor
department supplies DESCRIBES as a com
bination and collusion to compel the gov
ernment 20 pay an exorbitant price fol
ice the ensuing fiscal year" 1t has evil
IDENTIFY become a question whether this
attempt 10 increase the contract price
for ice shall be resisted. Tho only alter.
native seems TO be IN the direction OF
government ice plants. The Post-ofnct
Department has already taken the initi,
ative and installed an ice-making plant
with a capacity OF three tons n day. a
q conditional cost OF about 5000. If &C
cepted by that department The plan
proposed for the State. War, and Navy
Building is estimated 70 cost 5000. ant
can be built within six months, during
which period the government can pur
chase IN the open market without mucr
sacrifice. This state OF affairs is inter
esting as showing how the unnecessary
increase Of prices exactod Of tho govern
ment. when contracts are TO be made, MAJ
easily defeat not only that object, but lea,
20 further disaster. and deprive con
tractors Of a profitable market. II vii
evidently be only n short time befor,
each department building VIII be clamor
ing for its own fee plant. which. Fl
itself. IS a defect in economical admins
traton; since. n there IS merit I'm III
project. there ought 20 be n governmen
ico plant OF sufficient capacity an,
productivity to supply all branches 0
the government In Washington with thl
material