Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-14
WAR SECRETARY
BACKS TAVENNER
Stand for Government Manu-
facture of War Munitions
Supported by Daniels.
OPPONENT OF "KRUPPISM"
Consressmsn's Position That Profit
Should Be Taken Out Of Prepa-
rstions for War.

aEenner or Illinois for government
manufacture Of munitions of war has
found a champion in Secretary of the
Navy Josephus Daniels.
Secretary Daniels sustains Taven.
ner's position that the profit should be
taken out of war and preparation for
war. Tavenner has contended from
the first that government manufacture
could save millions of dollars 10 the
taxpayers. Adequate facilities for
government manufacture of anything
needed for armament or equipment is
the central Recommendation of Secretary
Of the Navy Josephus Daniels in his
annual report submitted to the presi-
dent Saturday.
The elimination Of "Kruppism," or
the incentive of personal aggrandize-
ment by preparations for war" should
be brought about, says Secretary Dan
iels, by government ownership and
! operation of its military plant.
The department should be able to
| demand competitive bids by having po-
| tential facilities to manufacture any
! thing needed for armament or equip
ment which may at any time be con-
trolled by those who demand exces-
|
ether reason why the navy department
should be able to manufacture NUM-
tions of war-that policy would pre-
vent effective agitation or organiza-
ton for big preparations for war con-
Quoted by those who make profit by
the manufacture CT war supplies" he
continues. 1T has been suspected in
some countries that makers OF armor
and powder. guns and fighting craft
have promoted steadily increasing
equipment for giant navies and large
armies for their personal enrichment
as others have practiced philanthropy
and per cent The incentive of per
solal ACKNOWLEDGMENT by preparations
for war should not be permitted to ex-
list in the United States The efec-
tive way TO prevent so baneful an in
fiuence is for congress to give the de
partment authority to manufa cture
implements Of war. an authority which
could be employed when necessary"
Big Government Saving.
Secretary Daniels also demonstrated
that government manufacture OF war
materials and equipment is saving
large sums annually for the govern
NcAAA W AAit peFAiaA ANNds
he says, the navy department in what
it manufactures does so from super
dread1ought to a gallon of paint or a
pound of powder, cheaper than the
same can be purchased. This is equal
~ true of gasoline engines. electrical
supplies. engines for dreadnoushts,
shrapnel. clothing for marines and
sailors. accOutrements. and a multi
tude OF other articles required for the
fleet and shore stations
That private manufacturers have
been numerically gouginE the govern
ment is also asserted by the secre-
tary. Before the government began
TO manufacture smokeless powder il
paid so cents a pound for it," he says.
Government competition, coupled
with better methods. has brought
down the price at which the depart
ment purchases this powder to SO
cents. The department is now manu-
featuring il at Indian Head at a cost
of Sc cents a pound, and when the en-
larged plant is completed may be able
10 still further reduce the cost of pro-
duction. If the department had
bought what it manufactured last year
the powder bill would have been 1897
5S6.1G more than il was.
I'm the two years that the present !
torpedo works have been in fall OPP |
Grafton continues this part of the re-
port, the cost of manufacture of each /.
torpedo has been reduced from S4- |
200 TO 5000. These torpedoes. if 1
bought at the only torpedo plant in !
the country. would cost $1,000"
Secretary Daniels is also of the
opinion that the private monopoliza-
ton of public lands containing fuel oil /
may result in enormously increasing !
the cost of our navy. if these resources
shall remain in private hands
In my annual report of last year"
says the secretary. Il recommended
the passage of legislation that will
enable the navy department to pro-
duce and refine its own oil drawn from
its own oil lands in order TO relieve
itself of the necessity of purchasing
what seems fair to become the princi-
pal fuel of the navy in the future at
exorbitant prices from private COM
panies that may completely control
the supply
To Retain Petroleum Reserves.
81 feel that ! would fail TO do my
duty If I did not urge the necessity of
retaining the naval petroleum reserves
as such and augme1ting them by 9th
er areas in other fields in order to OBJ
viate the necessity of increased apprO-
priations in the future to purchase
what now belongs to the government.
! am still of the opinion that the navy
should own its own oil lands and ulti-
produce. transport. refine. and
store its own oil in order that the
may at all times be as
sured of an adequate and dependable
supply Of fuel oil without fear of the
privately controlled price and supply
Of oil forcing the government to enor-
nous Increase in cost OF operation OF
the feet"