Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-23
Guaranteeing Profits.

The Development Of graft in con-
comments for the army shows a pro-
cedure along lines OF such simplicity
that all Washington is amazed. In
their desire to display haste and to
show that they could do things" the
officials OF the War Department have
shown that they were superlatively
easy marks.
Proceeding on the assumption that
speed was necessary-and it was
contracts were let for the construction
81 the cantonments upon a basis of
cost. plus seven per cent Of profit.
There were no safeguards to the gov
eminent provided in any way; and con-
tractors. either weakly through excess
81 temptation or deliberately through
excess OF opportunity. proceeded to
make spurious contracts for material
and labor at double the prevailing
market rates and TO draw down their
little seven per cent Of profits upon the
padded totals. The total estimated ex-
penditure for the lG cantonments was
s77.ooo,0oo. upon which the allowed
profit would amount TO the tidy sum of
nearly FIVE millions-which, il must be
admitted. II doing very well. even for
deserving Democrats. and in consider
alton that we are yet in the initial
stages OF the war when the refinement
Of grating methods cannot be expect
ed 20 have reached It's zenith.
N IL significant that this fraud upon
the government was not brought to
light through any Of the agencies Of a
pitiless publicity" acting under admin
istration auspices. Nor was 1t dis
covered by any OF the numerous boards
ana commissions and councils which
now throng Washington and which
are usurping the statutory powers Of
regularly constituted departments.
Neither was It exposed by any of the
watchdogs Of the Treasury who bear a
Democratic label in Congress and who
are supposed to be on the job all the
time. II may be that the fact that the
location OF the first observable graft
was in the solidly Democratic state Of
Georgia had something to do with the
impenetrable silence with which the
Democrats in Congress regarded the
the matter. ~
But the folks back home" were more
alert. 1t is their money which is be-
ing poured into grating Democratic
ratholes. So. in private letters. con-
sressmen were tipped off. and from
them the word was passed to the War
Department. Secretary Baker, over mis-
own signature. has admitted a virtual
5ustifcation OF the accusations. 1t is
asserted that steps have been taken to
prevent n recurrence-but thus far
George creel's "Ohicial Bulletin" has
not said what these steps are.
When the farmers were being urged
by every department and every parrot
Tom, Dick, and Harry Of the coun-
from famine. no seven per cent. guar
antee OF profit was forthcoming from
any source. The government would
give amazing HELP" by loanine
farmers mints Of money df they could
be furnished doubled and twisted Sc
eurity AT l-2 PERCENT. THAT
was the FARMERS "guarantee of
profit"
Inc government would also AID"
the farmer by sending him city bows
ana sium slackers and buns. to take
the place Of the able-bodied Young mon
enlisted from the farms.
NOW we wonder If some scheme will
not guarantee profit" to the food
and fuel spectators. the marke, ma.
hipuiators and the stock and grain
market gamblers.
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