New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-18
War Department
Is Assailed on
Rifle Contracts
Subject of Violent Out
burst by Several Mem
bers of the House
Especial Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Sept. l7.-Violent
criticism of the War Departments
methods of making contracts for rifles,
shoes, clothing and cantonment camps
broke out in the House again to-day
while the urgent deficiency bill was
being discussed.
No specific charge Of graft was made.
but Representative Dallinger of Mas
sachusetts, Sisson OF Mississippi, Bull OF
Iowa, and London Of New York, Joined
in the general charge that contractors
are mulcting the government, while the
War Department is doing nothing to
stop such practices.
Foundation for all the criticism di-
rected at the War Department was de-
clared by Chairman Fitzgerald of the
Appropriation Committee. to rest on
idle rumors that have been floating
around Washington ever since the war
started. Despite the efforts of the
War Department and the Appropri-
atoms Committee, Representative Fitz-
gerald said none Of these rumors has
even been found TO have foundation
in fact
Representative Dallinger declared
that the Appropriations Committee
ought TO take steps TO limit the profits
being made by contractors out OF war
work.
81 heard of a case in my district,
he said. where a man was being paid
$50 a week for labor, and another man
who had been a clerk, was receiving
$3.50 A dag on weekdays and SID on
Sundays Tor doing carpentering. The
$50 week man IS said to have told
mis- friends that he had a soft job,
spending his time keeping out Of the
rain and lodging government inspect
ors.
1T IL not fair TO the other manutact-
urers OF the country TO allow govern
ment work 70 be done on cost plus IL
per cent basis" Mr.. Dalllnger declared
81 have no criticism to make Of Gen
eral Crozier, but | believe the Appro
priations Committee ought to do some
thing about this rife contract on the
no risk. The government furnishes th'
tools and pays them every month, So
they do not have to borrow money.
they turn over their capital twice
year there Is 26 per cent profit TO
them under the existing contract, with
out any risk At all"
Chairman Fitzgerald declared his con
fdence both in the rife contractors an'
the cantonment construction contrac
tors. He pointed out the difficulty o
csntonment camp construction and de
clared that speed was the essentla
thing.
"If IL was necessary for the contrac
tors to outbid competitors to get TN
labor TO build these camps" he said, :"
am glad they did it"
Representative Hull, CT Iowa, de
clared that the trouble was that tn
Democratic party had failed in forme
wears TO vote sufficient money TO kee'
M the government arsenals. This. NJ
said. was at the bottom Of most Of thu
| trouble now.
"The Rock Island (Ill.) arsenal is no
making rifles even yet at full capacity,
ne said. Despite this the Senate las
wear struck an item appropriating s.,
0OO, 900 for the arsenal from the APP
preparation bill" -,
Representative London, OF New York
declared that "idle rumors" whicf
Chairman Fitzgerald has spoken abou
would come back again and again (
annoy the Administration
"The difficulty with the situation
seems to be-" he said, chat the bust
ness world has interpreted the slogan
of the President that profits and pa
triotism should not be mentioned to
gether In it's own wav. The business
world says that wherever patriotisn
and profits come m conflict PATRIOTISM
must give way. Commerclalism IS al
WAYS the same. II never changes. 1t Is
sordid. whether In time Of peace or II
time of national stress