Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-02-14
UNCLESAM IS SAVING
PRACTICES ECONOMY IN THESE
DAYS OF HIGH COST OF LIVING.
Cuts Down on His Powder Bill and
Refuses 90 Pay New York Two
Dollars for Auto
License.

~ the high cost of living as the $l2-
I.week clerk who has five children TO
support. but he has to bo economical
ust like the rest of us.
Two things have happened in Wash
ngton recently that show how the
government is watching it's dollars.
In the manufacture at Picatinny ar
.enal of powder for the army the
United States spends 63.2 cents
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 fortication appropria- /
tion bill
OF this amount 45 cents was given 1
as factory cost, the balance being for I
overhead charges, depreciation OF ma .
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 decrease from 80 to 81 cents
pound 10 45 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 a re-
serve capacity due to working the
plant only eight hours a 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 rnl-
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 IL was matter of
principle, but any way Uncle Sam has
two dollars more IN his Golfers than
he would have had and this will buy
a few pounds of beefsteak even at the
present prices of meat.
The property in question is the auto
mobile of Mai Gen. Leonard Wood,
commanding the department of the
east Some time ago Secretary of
State Koenig OF New York assigned
! No. 75,54l 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 a fee
1 and not a tax exacted. The state was
not taxing government property, sim.
| ply asking pay for something the gov.
ernment asked for, license number
and badge for the use OF a machine
in use by Uncle Sam.
In his letter to Secretary KoeniP
Gen. Aleshire makes known some in
teresting facts concerning the govern
menJ and its use of automobiles
Among other things he says:
Great care will be taken TO OBJ
serve regulations as to speed and as
90 rules of the road. II. while in use
on official business. motor be stopped
by police officer, Of If otherwise
there be police interference by
state or local authorities because oi
failure TO make registration and pay
such special tax. the officer or employ'
shall give full information as to own
ership and use OF the vehicle and cour
teously request that there be no fur
ther interference.
In case measures are then resorteC
20 by state or local authorities to OBJ
struct or prevent the proper use ol
such agencies. full report will be made
at once to this once. with a view e
submitting the matter 10 the depart
ment OF justice for such legal actor
as 1t may deem necessary to vindicatc
and make clear the rights OF tn,
United States In that regard"
Secretary Koenig has assigned per
manently to Gen. Woods machiae tn,
number 1854. but the state will MOI
20 the usual two-dollar fee