Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1913-09-11


KRsshinRton. September Who
could imagine that government
ike the united States Of Asderiea
would pay So fop IA article that IL
could Manufacture itself for sac .5s.
But i has been doing that very
thing for great many years. The
government is paying s25 for 4. 4
inch shrapnel, the character Of am
munition used ia heavy field guns,
and at the same time it has been
manufacturing at Frankfort Arse
nal, Philadelphia, portion Of its
supply for $l2.52, all overhead
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 S3 per
cent. more for small arms cartridges
and from 3s to 40 per cent more for
field artillery ammunition and equip
ment, than it can manufacture them
for in its own arsenals.
The question that naturally arises
is: Why has the government been
wasting the peoples money III this
manner? ! confess that / cannot.
answer. ]. haye tried to find rea-
son, but have run across no one in
Washington as yet who could give
me one. I have finally concluded
there isn't any reason: that the gov
eminent has simply been doing it
and we will have to let il go at that,
But will the government continue.
to pay the private manufacturers
excessive prices? That depends
somewhat on whether the people are
interested. If the people have no
objection, it il reasonable to pre-
sumethe government VIII no get
excited.
have introduced IN Congress al
series Of six bills providing for al
focal appropriation Of sl,0sQ, 600 to
enlarge the plant at the Rock Island
Arsenal, Rock Island, H., so that
the. government may manufacture
its own field artillery equipment
and ammunition and small arms
cartridges.
The program Of the War Depart
ment calls for $40, 0O0,0 900 worth Of
field artillery ammunition. be-
lleye the government could save
s., 100000 on this order alone
Ball cartridges, calibre 80, for
the regulation service rifle, were
made at the frankfort Arsenal IL
1912 for s26.95 per 900, including
all overhead charges, For the same1
cartridge private manufacturers are
receiving $3s.04.
Why should the government pay
private manufactures sl,T0s for
caisson when il il manu-
featuring the identical article AZ
Rock Island Arsenal for 81 ,osi, All
overhead charges included2
Why should the government pay
private manufactures So, 2gs for q
shrec-inch gun earrings proper when
! is manufacturing the same thing
1t the Rock Islan8 Arsenal for ~,
34Ig
Gen. Crozier, head Of the United /
States War College, expresses the
opinion that in the manufacture If
field artillery, gun carriages al Rock I
Island, he could save the govern
ment approximately % per cent. Oh
The prices being paid private manu-
facturers
The authorized program Of the
War Department calls for the pur-
shase Of about Sll, O00,0o worth
&c field artillery vehicles, gun earri-
ages and equipment, Twpnty-tiyel
per cent. Of sl1,000.000 is 81, $50, /
300, or a saving Of more than don-
Die the unt.of the appropriation
ask for.
How much the United States gov
arnment has paid in excessive prices
y private manufacturers for army 7
md nayyInaterials il the last tweu-
.y-fiye years, ] would hesitate 70
guess at. That the sum would
equal the cost Of an entire fleet Of
modern battleships, ! have not the
slightest doubt IN the world
G. ii. TAvgNNgR,
Member Of Congress.
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From the Calvert Gazette Of Sep
~ l - j u. L. 4 ~