The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-23
WHY THROW AWAY
C0UNTRY's CASH?
It's Foolish for Government TO
Pay Prices Charged BY the
Ammunition Ring.
(By c. n
AVENNER

1AN I'm EAR
Washington, Dec. qO.-Whv Is r..
Wal Department paying private
manufacturers $3.50 for d as inch
shrapnel when it can. and is. m.ra-
featuring the identical .%rticle i'm ID,
own arsenals for $7.94?
Linger for a over ib.S.
figures, Mr.. Reader. it is your money
that is being spent here. Seventeen
dollars ana fifty cents is more than
twice 1894. The government can
manufacture two shrapnels for the
price it is paying the ammunition
ring for one, and nave s1.o2 ren3al
ing on each transaction.
General VIM. Crozier. chief of ORD
nance, testified before House commit
tees. that the government can save IS
per cent by manufacturing its own
artillery ammunition, and % per cent
on artillery equipment. The program
OF the War Department calls for
$40. GOO, 600 worth of ammunitio
IS, 1000 90 worth this year and va
100000 in succeeding years, and $1l.-
100000 worth of artillery equipment.
Were a business man in Uncle
Sans place would he give a large
portion Of this $31 ,OOO, 600 order to
private manufacturers. or would he
enlarge his own plant and save from
20 to SO per cent on that portion Of
the order he would thus be able 10
take care of himself?
The solution of the problem is for
to provide in all bills ap-
propriating money for munitions q
war that the WOrk must be done in
the government a%rSenalS and navy
Yards. Such a provision would saw
millions Of dollars annually 10 the
taxpayers.
And Incidentally. it might have a
tendency to diminish the systematic
agitation carried on in his country
for an ever and ever increased amount
OF armament, which agitation is es-
pecially systematic and
about the time the army and ~avy
bills are before Congress.
Ihose who urge that the policy Of
giving the contracts for munitions OF
war to the private manufacturers be
not lnterfered with, argue that il
these concerns be subsidized in time
OF peace, they may be relied upon
for assistance and cooperation in
time Of war.
1T is evident answers Josephus
Daniels, one Of the greatest secretaries
or the navy this country has ever had
that Without an arJnor plant OF its
own n government in time Of war.
or impending war, would be entirely
- 49, i1CINN u IlS glAnuidtJITeIN
ana Obliged to pay practically what
ever prlce they ask. During the time
that war with Spain was m
tneSe companies refused TO accept
the price fixed by Congress after IN
V~estlgation as a just rate and declined
to manufacture any armor until they
got their own price Of 500 q ton
more than that which Congress had
determined on. The love f country
possessed by these companies did no.
prevent them. however, from furnish
ing armor to Russia. as reported t.
in 1894 at 1924 a ton. while
they were charging the United States
$616 a ton.
Il do not see now it is possible for
congress to justify to the people a re
1uSal to erect a government plant. nor
no" IL can answer the charge thu the
same mysterious Providence which
saved this profitable business to the
steel companies three times in The
past, even after money for a govern
ment plant had actually been >.ppro-
priated, is still at work exercis
ing ITS benefcent protection owe,
.hese rusty. specimens OF infant indus
u!es' VINO are even now under inyesti.
{ ation as %violators q the aufi-tr.s
: law"
Ihe "armor ring Ices not com.
under the head OF invisible govern.
ment, as it is possible to dennirel,
locate 1t. and place our finger upon il
~ ID composed of the Bethlehem
oteei company, Carnegie Steel Com
pany, and the Midvale Steel com
pany. So far, these three concern.
: nave Drawn down seventy-seven mil
a lions Of dollars worth OF contra. :
1rom h Navy Department alone
conspiring by their own admission I,
prevent competitive bidding betwee,
o tnem, n dividing the orders as fol
n lows: Bethlehem, 334,~215,112.5S: Car
u neeie, $3o.s44,15s.ss; Midvale, sI2
tTss'1I'.41. Is 1t any wonder tina
ithe armor ring believes in a big navy