The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-22
Authorized to Enlist Number to
War Basis, 1850.
February Record for Recruits
-1,947-Largest on Record.
TO UTILIZE RAW MATERIAL
EXtraneOus Profits Culled From
L. S. War Contracts.
But Labor and Capital Both
Protected Against Loss.

Washington, March 22.-The navy
is short 1854 men of it's present au-
thorized enlisted strength OF 74,50O
and efforts to speed up recruiting are
being redoublec. The present month
has seen the largest recruitment on
record with a net increase of 1,947.
Since congress authorized the IA
500 total in September, 5.454 men
have been added to the navy's per-
sonnet 1t was stated at the depart
ment that the authorized strength is
sufficient to put all ships Immediately
available in commission and no effort
will be spared in bringing the force
to that figure.
Will Ask for 100000 Men.
one of the first requests on con-
eress when the April session be-
gins will be that 100000 men-the
navy maxfmum-be authorized as an
increase to the navy.
To induce recruiting, congress pro-
vided that one hundred enlisted men
a year should be selected by eXami-
nation for appointment to the navy
academy. Navy officials say that
very high type of officer material is
being secured in this fashion. Com
missions in the marine corps and to
responsible and we'll paid positions az
warrant or petty officers is also being
opened as fully as possible to boys
who enlist.
Opportunity to Enter Annapolis.
A recruit need serve only one year
in the navy to be eligible for exami-
nation for appointment to Annapolis
and every possible opportunity for
study and instruction to enable him
TO pass the examination as furnished
aboard the ships or at the training
stations
Government supervision of the
terials used in the production of mu-
nitions and other war supplies is con-
templated by the national council of
defense if the United States goes to
war with Germany
Tentative plans for putting such SUI
pervision into operation almost imme-
diately, already have been completed.
Expect Dealers to Cooperate.
The council is hopeful that the big
producers of raw material will agree
to such plan voluntarily. But in
case they do not, the council is pre-
pared to go before the coming extra
session of congress and ask for such
power
Already the copper producers have
offered to sell the government copper
at a figure almost half the present
price in the event of war.
Similar cooperation is expected
from the steel men and other big
producers who will be called upon to
furnish the army and navy with sup
plies in case of an outbreak of hos
tilities.
Abnormal financial profit on the
manufacture of munitions and neces-
sary supplies will be made impossible
by war measures already planned, to
be put into effect by the council
To Determine Reasonable Profit.
The council will determine what is
reasonable profit. fixing a rate be-
tween 2 and Is per cent
Howard L. Coffin, a member of the
advisory committee of the council of
national defense. in speaking of the
absolute necessity of government st1-
perVision of industries in time of war
said to the United Press today:
We must and will provide for TAX
ing all abnormal financial profit out
of war, but We dare not take away all
protit, as such a course would wreck
the nation as a business concern.
In England and France, for in
stance, 1t is the plan to make all war
transactions reasonably profitable be-
cause ii is realized that it is only thru
such a procedure that the whole
economic machine may be kept run
ming smoothly.
Producer Also to Share.
Labor must have its fair return for
its work. the producer of raw material
must have a reasonable return upon
his investment and the maker of the
finished product must have a fair
profit.
IF labor We're working for half
what it ought and the manufacturer
selling at 25 per cent loss there would
he a catastrophe and bankruptcy
would become the order of the day"
Coffin laid stress upon the i'm
portance of the industrial machine in
time of war.