Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-09
Some Of tho Profiteerino
BROOKLYN Standard I-nionl

0ldHudI0 NOM
1t is said not one wooden ship has
been put into commission by the
United States Shipping Board.
About the only successful accom-
plishment" that may be truthfully at
tributed to that eminent body so far in
the direction Of building wooden ships
has been the spending Of millions of
the peoples money for a fleet still on
the ways which had as much to do
with the winning Of the war as the
lizards in the low grounds where some
Of the ship yards" are located.
One of these amazing ship yards
is to be found in Virginia.
And it contains four uncompleted
vessels which will never leave there
until they rot and fall apart. More
over. that would be true whether the
war went on or not.
They could not be launched.
That discovery" was not made un-
til the ships were nearly finished.
Then it was announced the river
upon which the ship yard" was sit
uated would be dredged and the ships
launched sideways. The Government
was to undertake this river dredging
at great expense. But presently it
was learned even that plan would not
work. Engineers found the river
could not be dredged so as to admit
OF the launching. The four derelicts
will stay on land to help win the war.
1t would be humorous if it were not
so tragic.
-Four million Of dollars taken from
the pockets Of the people and put into
the pockets Of ruthless profiteers
without any benefit to the nation.
which was straining every nerve and
calling on all its resources in men and
money to win the great war for hu-
mainly and twentieth century civil
ization waging in Europe.
Plenty Of nearby sites were easi,v
ootainable where the ships could
have been built and launched natural
~. but the man or men who owned
the useless marsh land which was
turned into a ship yard" had the
osual good fortune which has attend
ca the Efforts Of such people at Wash
'nston since we entered the war.
The ships were 2SS feet long and
the cost 100000 each.
1t is hard to believe there was not
deliberate attempt in this case to
waste the peoples money for the ben
emf OF the greedy profiteers. many of
whom have become millionaires with
in a year or so.
The grating contractors motto.
Addition, division and silence" was
theirs.
REASONABLE.
Yes. Of course. it's reasonable, but
what is the remedy?
And how do We know grating of n
similar sort has not been going on all
over the country? Perhaps the new
Congress may take the matter in
hand and make an Investigation that
will investigate. Investigation Of the
withdrawing kind is not wanted and
should be particularly guarded
against in the case under discussion
for the reason that, according to some
reports. the ship yard" where the
four-million- dollar derelicts are at
rest Is said to have been financed by
enc Of the heaviest subscribers to the
slush fund Of over $4,000. 900 put up
to corrupt the Republican primaries
and buy the general election two
years ago in this city.
We have had enough and to spare
Of the laws delays in prosecuting the
few slush funders caught with the
goods" none Of whom are yet in Jail,
although under indictment now for
many months. But mere investiRa-
ton IL not sufficient. The people
want their money hack il 1t is posst-
BILE to get 1t and the criminal prof.
teers sent to Jail.