The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-03
EXCESSIVE PRICE PAID

GBy Congressman Clyde H. Tavenner)
 Washington, Sept S-who would imagine that a government like the United States of America would pay $25 for an article that it could manu- facture itself for $12.52?
 But it has been doing this very thing for a great many years. The govern ment is paying $25 for AT inch shrap- nel, the character of ammunition used in heavy field guns, and at the same time 1t has been manufacturing at Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, portion of it's supply for $12.52, all ov- erhead charges included
 Field artillery ammunition is not an exception. The records of the War department show that the government has been paying private manufacturers from 25 to B per cent more for small arm cartridges and from B to 50 per cent more for field artillery ammuni- ton and equipment, than it can man ufacture them for in it's own arsenals The question that naturally arises is Why has the government been wasting the peoples money in this manner? confess that cannot answer. I have tried to find a reason, but have run across no one in Washington as yet who could give me one have finally concluded there isn't any reason; that the government has simply been doing 1t, and we will have to let 1t go at that.
 But will the government continue to pay the private manufac cturers exces- sive prices? That depends somewhat on whether the people are ;nterested. If the people have no objection, 1t is reasonable to presume the government will not get excited.
 have introduced in Congress a ser ies of six bills providing for a total appropriation of $1,03oso00 to enlarge the plant at the Rock Island arsenal, Rock Island, H., so that the govern nent may manufacture it's own field artillery equipment and ammunition and small arms cartridges.
 The program of the War department calls for $2o,O00,o00 wRrth of field artil- 1ery ammunition. I believe the gov order alone.
 Ball cartridges, ca1iber. 30, for the regulation service rifles, were made at the Frankford Arsenal in 1912 for $26.95 per- 1000, including all overhead charges. For the same cartridges pri- vate manufact cturers are receiving $3S.04.
 Why should the government pay pri- vate nanufa cturers $1, ,70S for a three inch caisson when 1t is manufa curing the identical article at Rock Island Arsenal Tor $l,US1, all OVernead cnarSeS included?
 Why should the government pay pri vate manufacturers 3,26S for a three inch gun carriage proper when it is manufacturing the thing at the Rock Island Arsenal for $2,341?
 Gen. Crozier, head of the United States War college, expresses the opin- ion that in the manufacture of field artillery gun carriages at Rock Island, he could save the government approxi- mately 25 per cent of the prices being paid private manufacturers.
 The authorized program of the War Department calls for the purchase of about $11, ,ooo, GOO worth of field artillery vehicles, gun carriages and equipment Twenty-Five per cent of $11,0o,oo is $2,- 75O,OOO or a saving of more than double the amount of the appropriation ask for.
 How much the United States govern ment has paid in excessive prices to private manufa cturers for army and navy materials in the last twenty years would hesitate to guess at. That the sum would equal the cost of an entire fleet of modern battleships, I have not the slightest doubt in the world.