The Washington times., 1915-11-22
Mr.. Tayenner's Statement.


upon which to base lawsuit.
Mr.. Tavenner's Statement.
Congressman Tavcrner in his state
ment today said in part:
AS soon rs Congress convcnes I shall
Introduce bills providing for Govern
ment manufacture OF munitions. armor
battleships. submarines, torpcdoes. air.
ships. and war paraphernalia OF every
large sums OF money for the army and
navy I want to be assured that we will
get a dollars worth Of preparedness for
every dollar of tho taxpayers money
appropriated. and Government manu-
facture Is the only policy that will give
use this assurance. I shall also intro.
duce resolution providing for an In
Vestigation as to what has become OF
the money we have already. appropria.
ted for preparedness.
II do not desire to infer, however
that all the directors Of the Navy
League are stockholders of war-traf-
Ticking firms. There are. for instance,
such men as Col. John Temple Graves.
John Callan OLaughlin. and others on
the board of directors OF the Navy
League. whose dis!n,erested patriotism
Is beyond question, and 1t Is certainly
not NV idea to have such men required
- testify.
"dStC 10 fAhSkSus
at least a hint as to what has be-
come of the staggering sums appropria-
ted for prepa arcdness Il to be found In
the fact that four firms which have
enjoyed practically monopoly OF the
large army and navy contracts have re-
Ceived since 1887 orders aggregating
sl76 900. 900. and have been paid for their
wares from 20 to so per cent more than
the same could have been manufactured
for In Government arsenals and navy
wards
After citing figures in support Of his
argument In behalf OF the economy OF
Government manufacture" Congress-
man Tavenner continues:
'I-nder the present system the Gov
ernment is at the mercy of a few con-
Germs having a monopoly OF the manu-
facture of the materials OF war. VINO
appear to have q gentlemens agree
ment To divide the Government CON
tree ts between themselves d between
whn>a there Is no competition worthy
OF the name.
"It Is argued by some who oppose
Government manufacture as a policy
that the Government should give to
private manufacturers contracts In time
OF peace i'm order that they may be re-
lied upon for patriotic cooperation In
time Of war. When war with Spain was
imminent, however. the armor manu-
facturers showed their patriotism by
practically issuing an ultimatum that
they would not manufacture single
piece of armor unless the Government
should agree to pay them Slop ton
more than the price fixed by Congress
after an investigation as a fair price.
Their patriotism. however. did not pre-
vent them from selling armor to Russia
for s249 ton. while the were asking
their own Government sSl6 a ton.
'War and preparation for war Is
profitable to only a very small group OF
our citizens. but very powerful and
reso,irceful group. War and prepara-
tion for war is in fact so sturcndously
profitable to the Wall Street inancicrs
back of the war trading nrms az to be
a menace to all the rest of mankind.
illustration: At the outbreak OF the
European war this concerns stock snl7
at 800 a share: today it Is $3.50. The
profit on a $40 investment was sI2o. Ry
this we may obtain an inkling Of the
profit to the War trust ma2nates who
owned millions and millions OF dollars
worth of the stock of the war trafitck.
ing firms. II Is not to the interest ol
these men that the European war shal
be brought to speedy close. but thai
It shall not be brought to a speedy
Cloee. It is not to their interest tha
the United States of America shall no
become involved In the European war
but that It shall become involved.
War Is Improbable to all save thu
war trading mongcrers. Why not make
war improbable even to them hv tax
ing all profit out of war and prepara
tion for war? Congress can do 1t easil,
by manufacturing all of Its own mum
tons and ships.