Evening journal., 1919-10-13
EVERYBODY SPENT
At SHELL PLANT
2 5fforts to Stop Expenditures
on Marlin Project Caused
Recall, OfEcer Says.
SAYS POLICEMEN
HELDUP EACH OTHER

WASHINGTON. oct d2s-Further evi-
dsnce Of the way in which the govern
menfs money was expanded by the
Marlin Rockwell Loading Company In
the erection Of shell-losding estab-
llshment near Delaware City. with a
cost Of s3500.00o. with virtually Moth
ng 20 show for II, was given the
House sub committee investigating eX-
pendiiure-in the ordnance Department
by Major William B. Gray, who served
in the construction division Of the
War Department throughout the war.
After describing IN detail the con-
slant and bitter struggle he had with
the company in his Efforts TO check
gross extravaganza and protect the
Governments interests, Major Gray tes-
lined members OF the company came
10 Washington and procured his recall
about November 4, 1918.
-Nhen / came % Washington, after
being recalled, I was fun OF fght. ]
saw Major Wallace and Colonel frask
and told them ] would demand an in
Vestigaiion and a cOurt-martial and !
guess maybe they felt they had to sus-
tain me. They sent me right back tue
next day"
Major Gray was placed IN charge OF
the project for the Government early IN
September. 1918. Tie Immediately en-
counlered opposition from a Mr.. RUS
sell. who had been general manager OF
the company. Mr.. Russell is a brother
OF the secretary 10 Benedict Crowell,
assistant secretary Of war. lie just had
been commissioned In the army.
The nrst thing Major Gray did was
10 procure a force OF police and hremen
consisting OF Government employees.
Major Gray said the men the company
had often got drunk and some Of them
held up other employees after they were
paid or
N sent for a New York police in
spector." continued the major, "and he
Identified several gunner from New
York and Philadelphia and arrested
some Of thefn9taking some back TO
New York and turning others over 10
tfhr Philadelphia police.
"The company officials were hostlle
TO every Improvement ] made ana every
economy I insisted on. The feeling was
so strong ] could not have remained
there without a military force
The ordnance Department had given
10 the company a "cost-plus 10 per
cent? contract to buy and build and
operate shell-loadlng plant. The
company expended about s3,5OOOOO IN
cluding It's commission, but never got
beyond a few frame buildings OF tenn
porary construction, the building OF
an elght-mlle railway spur and partial
repair OF a dixie The company has an
unsettled claim against the Government
for almost s600000.
The eight-mile railroad spur, said
Major Gray, who is a railway con-
siriictor, cost the Government Si0o.OOO,
whereas it could have been built easily
for 100000 less.
Major Gray told OF reckless extrava-
rance In using motor trucks at $50
day. where freight transport would
have served equally we'll He told Of
their sending one truck from Delaware
City TO Hartford Conn, for S25 worth
OF supplies. which easily could have
come by freight: and OF another in
stance where he had 10 employ force to
prevent their sending a truck 10 Roches-
Ter. n. y. for supplies that he pro-
cured by telegraph and freight within
twenty-four hours.
They had plans for cafeteria 20
feed the men. The building was to
cost si960N I cut that down to about
si30O00 They had ,plans for admins
tration and executive buildings to cost
$4,000 each ! cut out one building
entirely and built one. which served
every purpose at q cost Of SCI ,i35. The
made plans for a big garage, to cost
$4,000. made them put up one that
was good enough and 10 cost only Si5Ss.