The Washington times., 1917-04-11
MORGAN AGO. OFFER
SERVICES DONATION
Experience Gained as Purchas-
ing Agents for Allies at Com
mand Of Government.

NEW YORK, April Ill. p. Morgan
& Co. have informed Government Of
ficials that the experience gained as
purchasing agents for the entente
allies for more than two years Is at
the command Of the Government In
working out the problems incident to
equipping the army and enlarged
navy. 1t was learned yesterday, also,
that the arm had urged that the Cow
ernment throughout the remainder Of
the war buy along with its own sup
plies the goods needed by the entente
nations from this country. This CEN
tralization Of purchases on an enor-
nous scale, 1t was pointed out, would
permit OF large economies and at the
same time enable the European buy
ers to take advantage Of any special
prices that might be arrived at with
manufacturers.
In copper producing quarters doubt
was expressed yesterday that the
metal bought hereafter by the allied
nations would be sold at prices sub
stantially under current market QUO
tations. In fact, prominent copper
men said that such a proposal had
never been made by the Council OF
that the Government had no inten-
tion Of seeking the same reductions
for England, France, Italy, and Rus
sia as 1t has itself received volun-
tarily from the metal producers.
Highly Unfair To Consumers.
'It would be highly unfaiE to con-
sumers Of copper at home" said q
leading copper man, who has been In
close touch with developments at
Washington since the Defense Coun-
ell began its work, "if European buy
ers were allowed to take supplies
at lower prices than they were
charged II low prices were set for
copper and other materials for use
by the military forces why should
not food be included? It Is the
fact that food is the most important
OF all the material sent abroad, yet
1t Is perfectly clear that IL the Gov
ernment should establish prices for
flour, butter, eggs, and other neces-
sary articles which were lower than
quotations for the same goods here,
there would be so great q clamor
that the project would be quickly
dropped.
"The foreign buyers have always
received a fair price, and they will
get fair prices on the purchase OF
copper yet to be made. It must be
borne in mind that all OF the order
for 44S,0O0,0 900 pounds last autumn
was by no means required for war
purposes. The private manufactur-
ers' needs were covered in the huge
total as the British and French gov
ernments bought for the estimated
requirements OF all lines OF industry
In those countries. II special prices
were made for foreign manufaetur-
ers, discrimination would be dts
played against the copper user In the
United States"
No Further Details.
No further details regarding the
prices to be set for United States Gov
ernment purchases of steel and other
metals could be obtained yesterday.
although various steel makers con-
suited over the situation In order to
expedite manufacturing for the Gov
ernment, the Steel Corporation has
established a department at Philadel-
phia under the direction OF the rep
resentative there of the Carnegie Steel
Company. The Carnegie Company has
an armor plate mill and for many
years has turned out much material
for the navy. The department viii
make available for other steel COM
panies the experience of Its men on
Government work, to the end OF
Fastening manufacturing and delivery
Of the products needed by the mill
tary forces.