New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-09
POWDER
FACTORY IS NOT
PRACTICAL SUCCESS
GOVERNMENT MAKES CON-
TRACT TO PURCHASE EX-
PLOSIVES CHEAPER THAN
1T CAN MAKE AT THE
PRESENT
Government Ownership Discr-dited

government Ownership Dscredited
Washington. Feb. 28-The govern
ment ownership movement suffered
several JoltS during the past week.
Discussion OF several projects now
under way disclosed some of the
dangers and losses incident to gov
ernment management. and the ad-
vocates OF public ownership and
operation realize that their cause
has been seriously hampered.
For one thing, it was announced
that the military authorities find
that It is possible to purchase pow
der by contract as cheaply as it can
be made by the government, which
IS the reason for not spending $780,
COO appropriated at the last session
of Congress for a powder factory
In an effort to make it appear that
this is merely a temporary condi-
ton. the announcement contains the
explanation that the cost of manu-
facture of powder by the govern
ment has increased by reason of
higher cost of labor and materials
but the same thing is true OF manu-
facture by private institutions.
/ Another thing that was hard
Jolt for the government ownership
advocates was the admission that il
would be unwiSe to enlarge the pre-
sent powder factory at Picatinny
arsenal, New Jersey, because it is
now realized that it was a grave
mistake ever to have located a fac
tory in such exposed place. In case
OF war the source of supply could
be easily cut off. The acknowledge
ment that government officials made
the mistake will not strengthen con-
fidence in the wisdom of permitting
such officers more discretionary
power in the future.
1t was also annuonced during the
past week that the matter of estab'
lishlng government nitrate plant,
in pursuance OF the act of the last
session of Congress still remains
in its preliminary stages. not even
a site having been selected. Stimuli
taneously with that announcement
came the statement that the pro-
Ject for establishment of a govern,
ment artillery munition plant "has
not gotten beyond the planning
stage. though an appropriation Of
a million and quarter was made
at the last session for that purpose.
With war deemed to be imminent.
it causes no little concern to be
told that in six months the officers
charged with responsibility for
these two projects have accomplish.
ed nothing of a tangible nature,
Along with these Developments
came the report OF plan to permit
civil employees of the government to
purchase supplies from government
commssaries at the same prices
charged the men of the army and
navy. The government makes con-
tracts for supplies for the army and
navy. and the officers and men are
permitted to purchase from the
commissary at cost. The govern.
ment does not include in its cost
price large overhead expense
which the retail merchant must pay.
To put the government in competi-
tion in this manner would manifest
" be unjust to retail merchants.
The mere fact that a project OF
this kind is under consideration
shows the dangers of an extension
OF the government ownership move
ment. If government employees, who
are paid by the government. shall be
permitted to buy at an unfair ad-
vantage, it would be difficult to find
4 reason why all taxpayers, who
furnish funds for the government,
should not be extended the same
system of paternalism would be in
full swing.
On the whole. the government
ownership propaganda is suffering
some set-backs. notwithstanding the
\ igor with which paterna'ists urge
their Dle-