The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-11
TAVENNER'S LETTER.

washington, d. c., Sept. S.-WhO
would imagine that a government
like the United States of America
would pay $25 for an article that it
could manufacture itself for $12.52?
But it has been doing this very
thing for great many years. The
government is paying $25 for Al
inch shrapnel, the character of am
munition used in heavy field guns,
and at the same time it has been
manufacturing at frankfort Arsen-
al, Philadelphia, portion of it's sup
ply for $l2.52, all overhead charges
included.
Field artillery ammunition is not
an exception. The records of the
War department show that the gov
eminent has been paying private
manufacturers from rs to SO per
cent more for small arms cartridges,
and from 33 to so per cent more for
field artillery ammunition and equip
ment, than it can manufacture 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. / have tried to find a rea-
son, but have run across no one in
Washington as yet who could give
me one. l have finally concluded
there isn't any reason; that the gov
eminent has simply been doing it
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 in
terested. If the people have no OBJ
lection, it is reasonable to presume
the government will not get excited.
l have introduced in congress a
series of six bills providing for to-
tai appropriation of 81 100000 to
enlarge the plant at the Rock Island
Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois, so
that the government may manufac-
ture it's own field artillery equip
ment and ammunition and small
arms cartridges.
The program of the War depart
ment calls for S20,O00,0O0 worth of
field ammunition. l believe the gov
eminent could save 100000 on
this order alone.
Ball cartridges, caliber 80, for
the regulation service rifles were
made at the Frankfort Arsenal in
1912 for $26.95 per 1000 including
all overhead charges. For the same
cartridge private manufacturers are
receiving $3S.04.
Why should the government pay
private manufacturers 81, 70S for a
three inch caisson when it is manu-
featuring the identical article at
Rock Island Arsenal for S1,OS1, all
overhead charges included?
Why should the government pay
private manufacturers $3,26S for a
three inch gun carriage proper when
it is manufacturing the same thing
at the Rock Island Arsenal for
$2,341?
Gen. Crozier, head of the United
States War College, expresses the
opinion that in the manufacture OF
field artillery gun carriages at Rock
Island, he could save the government
| approximately rs per cent of the
| prices being paid private manufac
turers. r.-a9..,.- . -- r..-.,..,
The authorized program of the
war department calls for the pur.
chase Of about $11 100000 worth OF
held artillery vehicles, gun carriages
and equipment. twenty-five per cent
of S11, 100000 is $2,750,00O or a
saving of more than double the
amount of the appropriation l ask
for.
How much the United States gov
eminent has paid in excessive prices
to private manufacturers for army
and navy materials in the last TWEEN
ty years, l would hesitate to guess
at. That the sum would equal the
cost of an entire fleet of modern bat
tleships, l have not the slightest
doubt in the world.