The daily sentinel., 1913-09-12
i. s. CAN MAKE
OWN WEAPONS
CHEAPER
TaYGnner Says rs Per Cent Is
Wasted on Contracting for
Manufacture of Guns
| By Congressman Clyde H. Taven.

Washington, Sept. 12--ho
would imagine that n government
like the United States Of America
would pay s25 for an article that il
could manufacture itself for S12.52?
But is has been doing this very
thing for great many years. The
government is paying S25 for Al
inch shrapnel, the character of am
munition used in heavy field guns.
and at the same time II has been
manufacturing at FranlSfOrd Arsenal.
Philadelphia. portion of its supply
Tor sl2.j2, all overhead charges in
cluded.
Field artillery ammunition is not
an exception. The records OF the
War Department show that the gov.
ernment has been paving private
manufacturers from 25 to 33 per
cent more for small arm cartridges,
and from 80 TO so per cent more for
field artillery ammunition and equip
ment, than 1t can manufacture them
for in its own arsenals.
The question that naturally arises
is. Why has the government been
wasting the peoples money in this
manner? / confess that | cannot
answer. ! have tried to find "A rea-
son, but have run across no one in
Washington as yet who could give
me one. | have finally concluded
there isn't any reason; that 4-he gov
ernment has simply been doing 1t,
and we Will have to let it go at that.
But will the government continue
to pay the private manufacturers ex-
cessive prices? That depends some
what on whether the people are inter-
ested. II the people have no obiec-
tion, 1t is reasonable to presume the
government will not get excited.
have introduced in Congress II
series OF six bills providing fora total
appropriation OF s1,030,000 to en-
large the plant at the Rock Island Ar
senal, Rock Island, H., SO that the
government may manufacture its own
held artillery equipment and ammu-
milton and small arms cartridges.
The program of the war department
calls for S20,000,000 worth of field
artillery ammunition. | believe the
government could save S5,000.0O0 on
this order alone.
BAH cartridges, caliber 80, for the
regulation service rifles were made at
the FrankfOrd Arsenal in 1912 for
s26.95 per 1000, including all over
head charges. For the same car
fridge private manufacturers are re-
ceiying $3S.04.
Why should the government pay
private manufacturers $1,T0S for
three inch caisson when il is manu-
featuring the identical article at
Rock Island Arsenal for S1,OSi, all
overhead charges included?
Why should the government pay
private manufacturers s3.26S for a
three inch gun carriage proper when
II is manufacturing the same thing at
the Rock Island Arsenal for $2,34l?
Gen Crozier, head of the United
States War college. expresses. the
opinion that in the manufacture of
field artillery gun carriages at Rock
approximately 20 per cent OF the
prices being paid private manutac-
turers.
The authorized program of the
War Department calls for the pur-
chase OF about Sl1 100000 worth of
field artillery vehicles, gun carriages
and equipment. Twenty-Five per cent
of Sl1. 100000 is $2,75O,0O0, or a
saving OF mog than double the
amount of the appropriatics ask
for
How much the United States gov
ernment has paid in excessive prices
tC private manufacturers for army
and navy materials in the last twen-
" years, ] would hesitate to guess at.
That the sum would equal the cost
of an entire fleet of modern battle
ships, have not the slightest doubt
in the world.