Gilpin observer., 1917-08-16
WASHINGTON NEWS
Congressman Keating)

uiactuTerS, IN particular, and big bus
mess men, generally, have failed to
respond to the fine appeal which
President Wilson made to their patri-
otism. The allies are being robbed.
our own people are paying ouJ.rageo
prices and the National government
Itself is being held up at every
turn.
1t would be difficult to-exaggerate
the seriousness Of the situation. Con-
gress has granted the president un-
paraaleled powers but he hesitates to
use it. He would prefer neral sua-
sion, but judging by experience moth
Ing but the mailed fist" will sober
certain gentlemen who are drunk on
war profits.
1t has been charged ON the floor
OF the senate that the government
was paying $S5 thousand for lum-
ber with which to build environments
while private individuals could pur-
chase the same lumber for $22.50 a
Thousand, and that the government
was paying $40 for rifles which for
merly cost SIT each. These were
cited merely as samples, and the sem
ators responsible for the charges
said they had plenty mere in re-
serve.
Demand for Action.
| "Ryley Grarhon," one Of the abiest
OF Washington correspondents, prints
the following cn the first page of
WRshington's leading newspaper:
"A dangerous uncertainty hangs
over the country on account of the
failure of the government thus far
to adjust prices of war materials or
food. From every part of the coun-
try demands are coming in for ac-
ticn. Business men are unable to
go forward for fear of ruin. Labor is
becoming restless despite it's patriot
ic desire to support the war. The
price of food is criminally high. The
prices of war materials are so ex-
| travagantly hish that the manufac-
turers laugh and blush when the sub
ject is mentioned.
The charge is made that there
are too many middlemeh, too many
'rake-cffs,' too many landings by
different railroads, all putting up a
poor mouth and all charging all that
the Nraffic will bear.
The dreadful danger concealed in
this state Of affairs is not overlook
ed by such mem as President Will
| son."
Getting Rich Over Night.
The cher day it was announced
that w. A. Morgan would have a
large part in building airships for the
government and people began to ask
Who is w. A. Mcrgan?" Then a
story developed which reveals the ex
tent of scme of the war profits.
When the war began w. A. Nor
gam was working for a Chicago pack
er. He quit his job and organized a
company to handle war orders. When
he took charge of the Buffalo Copper
and Brass Rolling Mill company it's
stock was a drug on the market at
fer $1,000 a share.
And that Is only sample. There
are amy number Of Morgans. No one
seems satisfied with a reasonable
profit nowadays.
The ccal operators announce with
a blare of trumrets that they will
cut the price of coal to SO ton, hut
inquiry reveals that fact that that
figure will give them from 100 to 200
per cent profit. "If the government
will take all the coal l can produce
at 50 a ton, ! will make SIX million
dollars next year." boasted an Hi
nois coal operator in a Washington
hotel u few days ago.
Paper Trust Gets its Share.
An envelope manufacturer told me
his tale OF woe. II have q govern
ment contract made before the war.
said he. my paper has gene uI
frcm 100 to 200 per cent and even
then l cannot secure the quality pro
vided In the specifications. II ex
ecute my contract I will probably be
ruined financially"
The paper trust was squeezing him
and as he had made the contract be
fore the war he could not shift the
loss to the government.
What's the remedy? Two-fold In
my judgment.
The executive department should
use all Its power to curb greedy con-
tractors and II 1t lacks power then
congress should make such addition.
al grants as may seem necessary.
Then congress, through a tax on
incomes and excess profits, should
take what the president may be un.
able to reach through his price-fxing