Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-21

T-rder the caption. Saving Millloh'
a.. ,he People the January numbeI
:, the National Monthly contains al
.-,sele By Congressman Clyde H. Tav
- IN which the Illinois member
80 an interesting description OF the
80, he Is making in Washington to
.-IarSe the Rock Island arsenal Tav
80 saws: Any member OF congress
s.ssriuE 20 save 20 the people his sal
- for the next IS years 20 come
--t,rout in the least jeopardiZing the
--hIgc interest. will soon have the op-
,o-.uuitv. The task IS not difficult II
I. EASY: Il is as easy as the turning
aver Of the hand.
an that IS necessary TO effect a saw
,-ro Of millions TO the people is to pro-
1fse IN appropriation bills that here
,s,a- all munitions OF war be manu-
s.etured by the government in its
v.rious arsenals and navy yards.
Millions Of dollars worth Of this
uork Is now going 20 a ring OF private
manufacturers which &. outrageously
overcharging the government. while -
TIE same time violating the antitrust
.rs and paying low wages and impos-
inS unfair conditions upon It's en-
pioyes-
10 less than one hundred million
soIlars OF the peoples money has been
speut By the war and navy depart
s.eutS with the ammunition ring and
tie amor ring Practically the same
interests are back OF both these
groups. u is a conservative statement
. say that in all probability One-fourth
az this 500. 600. 600. or S25. .Oc0.
enid have been saved to the people
lad ali this work been done by the
government. And the men actually do
ing the work would have received con-
siserably higher wages for eight-hour
work days that the employees of the
Steel companies received for nine and
tsr.hour work days. and in some IN
stances Il hours day and seven days
a week
But the days OF the armor ring and
the ammunition ring are numbered.
Their friends are no longer in the sad
de
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels has !
told the gentlemen behind the armor /
trust they can no longer reach into the I
public treasury and appropriate what !
ever sums they please, as has been !
their custom.
Chairman James Hay, OF the house l
military affairs committee. Is bringing 4
out testimony showing that the war
department. is paying the private man
ufscturers 80 per cent more for am
nunition and other supplies than It
can, and is, manufacturing the identi-
cal articles for in the government ar
senals.
The dawn OF the new order CT things I
Is revealed in the annual report of the
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels. recent
y issued.
The time has come" states Score
tsry Daniels. when the department
should be freed from excessive prices (
charged b. private manufacturers OF
amor plate. guns and gun forgings.
powder. torpedoes, and other supplies {
and other munitions" II
The real meaning Of the secretary's I
recommendation that hereafter the (
goTerrment manufacture practically
sTerything II uses in large quantities. !
"a that for the first time in years the {
Uaited States government, and not the {
amor ring. is in control OF the navy I
department.
Those who urge that the policy OF {
giving the fat government contracts 10 {
ne ring OF private manufacturers in I
'iead OF the government arsenals be {
continued, advance the argument that I
these concerns are kept going in time I
y peace. they may be relied upon for 5
assistance in the emergency OF war. {
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels an
'Fers this argument with the state S
asnt that the government, instead OF 4
eng able % depend upon the arnor o
'zy and the ammunition ring for a q
q1are deal in time of war. would be s
'noily al the mercy OF these private :
ontTaetors. close study OF whose q
'asiness dealings with the government q
the past reveals very little patriot d
IN and unlimited greed.
u l. evident" says Secretary Dan n
- m his annual report. that with b
" al amor plant OF its own the gov q
fnment In time OF war or impending Il
ar would be entirely at the mercy Of s.
Nes manufacturers. and Obliged 10 a
~ Practically whatever price theyI =