Evening journal., 1919-09-22

The construction fies in the face of all
experience
This, Ike all similar contracts. Is
unfair TO the government. in that II
contemplates paying the agent a large
fee for service that he himself cannot
perform. There was nothing I'm the
past OF the Marlin-Rockweh Corpora
lion TO justify the belief that It was
lifted 10 construct plant such as the
proposed bomb-loading plant.
In this case the company lor the
Msrlin-Rockwell Loading Company e.
self did not attempt to do the con-
struction; wisely, II subcontracted the
work TO the Fred T. Ley Company, a
concern able in its line So far so good
But the sub-cOntract is on the basis OF
the uniform agreement OF the army,
which. based on the now contemplated
expenditure for plant Of. say $500 900,
will give the Ley Company fee Of 3A
per cent. That leaves the loading COM
pany ca per cent. or s3is. $50. for doing
absolutely nothing. Bear in mind that
the government is paying all salaries
and expenses OF the loading company
Company Failed 10 Earn Fee.
Concluding his report, Major Foster
stated:
Regarding the Marlln-Rockwell Com
pany. TO any way Of thinking the out
standing fact disclosed by this inspec-
ton Is that that company failed to
comprehend The fundamental difference
between a contract for the perform
ance Of which IL would be entitled 10
ms 10 xx.ho fovnr r,,onor. % oot,fd I,,- t.fs1s-
Ing its own resources and a trust ac-
cepted by IL purely as an employe OF
the government. Il failed 10 see that,
risking nothing Of its own that any
other empIoye is not risking. It was
engaged like any other employe Of the
government TO forget all about payday
and 10 work shoulder to shoulder with
its fellow employees for the common
good. u failed 10 perceive that the
confidence placed in It was far greater
than that placed in most employees, and,
therefore. the more scrupulOusly 10 be
satisfied. And failing In this, It has
failed 10 earn the fee a generous en-
plOyer proposed 10 give IL for a full
performance Of efficient service"
Chairman Graham announced today
that the FIRST formal report Of the in
Vestigating committee would be made
TO the House this week. and he prom
listed further startling disclosures" "
in the matter OF the contract
settlements by the War Department.
They have been putting over the
Practical Men Were Needed
THE belief that the Martin Rock
we'll Corporation would be able TO de-
sign a bomb-loading plant and operate
it was more or less justified While
they had no experience along this line
nofAin the loading Of aerial munitions
(the premise Of The contract 10 the con-
trary Notwithstanding their ability as
would lead 20 the sur
mise that the government was taking
no larger chances in employing them to
earn the business than Il took in the
eases Of employing the Bethlehem Steel
Company. T. A. Gillespie and others
10 undergo similar tuition.
once the government was convinced
that it wanted the Barlow patented
bomb. and that 10 wanted the Martin
Rockwell Corporation TO undertake the
Task Of producing the bombs and load
Ing them, the practical work Of design
Ing a loading plant. selecting a site for
Il. constructing and operating it. should
have been placed entirely under the
direction Of practical men.
a little Investigation by the propos-
ed parties 20 the contract would have
developed the fact that the fee for de-
signing and constructing the plant was
out OF all proportion 10 the rates then
by The government for such
services and acknowledged 20 he equi-
table by the construction industry.
"The first duty Of the loading COM
pany, as going concern, was the Sc
lection Of a plant site In this they
'ell down badly. They engaged a real
state broker 10 find one. who, / be-
ieye. is the man who sold Hog Island
10 the government for $1,000 an acre.
Wy recollection is that the Investigation
II that project developed that the own
rs Of Hog Island had only a short I
Nhile before given some one an option |
m Hog Island at $500 an acre.
site Is Big Puzzle.
II am aware OF the bad inference the /
oregoipg remarks convey. The |
houghts are Just what came TO my
mind when ] first saw the site Of the /
'omb-loading plant and commenced TO |
inquire how 70 came 10 he selected. /
When ! saw this site for the FIRST time /
had never heard one word against il. 1
Us soon as 7 did see it tie first thought 1
hat came into my mind was. How in |
he world did any one ever select such /