The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-12-27


security league spent 81 100000 dur
ing the war.
FOOD BILL IN NAVY
Admiral MACEDONIAN. navmas.o,
general of the navy, in his annual re-
port shows that the cost of the aver
age daily allowance of food in the
navy for the year was 1915 cents as
compared with 43.S cents last wear
lhls was partly due to the fact that
larger ratlons We're authorized for
certain vessels, notably those operat-
ing in foreign waters, and in the SUBJ
marine service.
While, however, the average cost
Of the ration increased about IL per
cent over the cost last year." he
points out, statistics from the official
bulletin issued by the department OF
labor indicate that there was rise in
the average wholesale prices of pro-
visions of Ii per cent; so that, had
the cost of the ration kept pace with
the increase in the cost of provisions.
the total cost to the government
would have been about 81 500 900
more than it actually was-this mean
ing saving of about $500 day."
During the war the navy spent ov-
er a million and hale dollars a day.
It's purchasing staff started with less
than 20 officers, clerks, stenographers
and civilian experts. 1t now numbers
about 400 persons. From the begin
ming, Admiral MacGowan cut out the
niddlemen, dealing directly with the
producers wherever possible. It is
probable that less profteering was
done in navy contracts than in any
other part of the war business.
WHY WAR WITH RUSSIA?
Senator Johnson of California has
opened up the whole subject of the
American and allied military action
against the Lenine government in
Russia. His speech in the senate on
DecembeI II, in support of his reso-
luton demanding from the state de-
partment the reason for the partici-
patton of this government in the Rus
sian venture, had been long in prepa-
ration. He waited until the president
had declared to congress that the war
was ended, and then brought forward
the questions which have been asked
by puzzled citizens in every corner of
the nation-the questions as to what
we are fighting for in Russia, when
we have never declared war nor out
lined a public grievance, and as to
what we expect to accomplish in Rus
STA in view Of the new political and
military situation throughout the rest
of Europe.
johnson, if he pursues this inquiry
and secures vote in the senate on his
resolution, will have the support Of
many of the Democrats as well as {
majority Of the Republicans. The
Russian policy actually carried out BY
, Secretary Lansing and Counselloi
Polk since the fall Of the Cadet minis
try in Petrograd has been one O
stubborn refusal to recognize the Rus
/ sian Socialists. The Russian "ambas
sador," still recognized and fur
nished with money by the adminlstra
ton, is Boris Bakhmeteff, who wa
sent here by the Cadet minister, Mlllu
koff. before the rise of Kerensky. Il
represents commercial magnates VIII
have been driven from Russia by tn
revolution, and is wholly hostile t
Kerensky's Socialist supporters as h
is to the bolsheviki.
The California senator has broke
the spell of secrecy regarding tn
American military expeditions in Rus
qia and Siberia, because his frlen'
: RAYMOND Robbins, who was officl'
: oo-between of Ambassador Franc
with the Lenine government up to I'll
time the allies decided to try to crus
Lenine by arms, has convinced hi
that Lenine and Trotzky were at a
: times anxious to cooperate WI
: America and the allies in defeatln
: German imperialism and estabilshlf
: democratic republic in Russia. Do
uments viii be published, if the Sc
: ata decides upon that course, whl'
: will support Robbins testimony
Progressive Democrats who q
= watching with the deepest anxle
ne result Of the presidents trip
= france. are hopeful that ne denaal
y II tbe men who led him into the fu
= sian business that they show him ne
" reason why American and alii
: +roons should not be withdrawn, IN {
- Az That his pledge Of noninterferen
q Z R,,ssia may be fulfilled. he