St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-02-26
UNCLESAM IS SAVING
PRACTICES ECONOMY IN THESE
DAYS OF HIGH COST OF LIVING.
Cuts Down on His Powder Bill and
Refuses to Pay New York Two
Dollars for Auto
license

I -sS~hSSs
Uncle Sam is cutting down his
household expenses. OF course the
| old gentleman is not so badly affected
by the high cost of living as the s12
| a-week clerk who has five children to
support, but he has to be economical
just like the rest of us.
Two things have happened in Wash
ington recently that show how the
government is watching it's dollars.
In the manufacture at Picatinny ar.
senal of powder for the army the
United States spends 632 cents a
pound. This was the estimated cost
given by Gen. Crozier, chief of ordi-
nance of the army, at hearing before
a subcommittee of the house in
charge of the fortifcation appropria.
ton bill.
Of this amount As cents was given
as factory cost, the balance being for
overhead charges, depreciation of ma
chinery and buildings, allowances for
fire losses and additional cost, includ-
ing the pay of officers and interest on
the value of the plant.
Gen. Crozier testified that there had
been a decrease from SO to 81 cents a
pound to As cents in the factory cost
as compared with the estimate made a
year ago of the cost at that time
Asked whether there was any par
ticular benefit derived by the govern
ment from the manufacture of it's
powder other than that of having re-
serve capacity due to working the
plant only eight hours day, Gen.
Crozier declared that the government
was learning what powder really ought
to cost; that the experience was show
ing what degree of excellence in pow
der should be demanded and that the
officers were being thoroughly trained
to know how to purchase, which train
ing could come only through knowing
as much as possible about the process
of manufacture.
While Gen. Cozier was talking about
cheaper powder, Gen. Aleshire, quar-
termaster general was making rul-
ing that saves the government two
dollars, the tax on an automobile asked
by the state of New York True, it
was not so much the saving of the two
dollars at which the quartermaster
general aimed, as 1t was a matter of
principle, but any way Uncle Sam has
he would have had and this will buy
few pounds of beefsteak even at the
present prices of meat.
The property in question is the auto
mobile Of Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood,
commanding the department of the
east. Some time ago Secretary of
State Koenig of New York assigned
No. 1854 to Gen. Wood and stipu-
lated the usual fee of two dollars.
In his letter to the government some
time ago Secretary Koenig said the
two dollars asked by the state of New
York from the government for assign
ing an automobile number was fee
and not tax exacted. The state was
not taxing government property, sim
ply asking pay for something the gov
eminent asked for, a license number
and badge for the use of a machine
in use by Uncle Sam.
In his letter to Secretary Koenig
Gen. Aleshire makes known some in
teresting facts concerning the govern
ment and it's use of automobiles.
Among other things he says:
Great care will be taken to OBJ
serve regulations as to speed and as
to rules of the road. If, while in use
on official business, a motor be stopped
by police officer, of if otherwise
there be police interference by
state or local authorities because of
failure to make registration and pay
such special tax, the officer or employee
shall give full information as te own
ership and use of the vehicle and cour-
teously request that there be no fur
Their interference.
I'm case measures are then resorted
to by state or local authorities to OBJ
struct or prevent the proper use of
such agencies, full report will be made
at once to this office, with view to
the matter to the depart |
ment of justice for such legal action
as it may deem necessary to vindicate
and make clear the rights of the
United States in that regard"
Secretary Koenig has assigned per-
to Gen. Woods machine the |
number 1854, but the state will not |
&c the usual two-dollar fee.