Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-04
RECKLESS WASTE IN BUILDING NITRATE
 PLANT IS CHARGED
Astounding Conditions Re. vealed in Connection With
 S7O.OO0,000 Proiecct

Washington, Feb. 3.-Recklese ov traVagance in the construction of fbo government nitrate plant at Muscle onoals' Aiabama, was charged in n rep1rt ny Col, Fred H. Wagner, for merry director of operations at the pian'' ' llled today with the house war expenditures committee
 of all evidence presented since the investigation was begun months ago 'the Wagner charges go deepest lnto details, filling more than 100 paees ana touching on every possible pnase of the building and operation ol ol the 70 million dollar war project u was too much for Chairman Ora nam to read in a. day. but he de- revealed. "eie
 Packed away in the bulky docu ,ment, examined only casually today oy the committee, Colonel Wagner related what he alleged to be the story of Muscle Shoals, built on the cost-plus plan with war time speed as the only consideration Big items were put down with little items. running all the way from the charge that the accounting system was so pad no business, however, efficient
 could tolerate it and exist" to the tale of the head barber in com pany shop who raked down five dol lars day extra for charging five times that much money flowing into the cash register.
 With the bold accusation that even Tn national emergency patriotism at Muscle Shoals was forgotten. Colonel Wagner told how he had pro- tested against paying S55O for a DOT trait of Frank S. Washburn of New York, president of the American Cya- namld company, the subsidiary of which, the air nitrate corporation, had the government contract for the actual building.
 The biggest chapter was written under the caption of "extravagrance" with waste, ineffieiency and irregu- larlties placed next in that order in the wholesale indictment that in cluded hundreds of names.
 Publicity Costly.
 Touching on the broad question of extravaganza, Colonel Wagner de clared the air nitrate corporation maintained a publicity bureau at the plant that cost $3,OOO month.
 The only conceivable reason for a private enterprise advertising a gov ernment owned project" the report declared, "is the expectation of com ing into possssion of the property, and having already thoroughly de- veloped it, being in position to mar ket the securities.
 "In this connection the strategic position held by the governments agents (the air nitrate corporation) should be considered, as their ad- vantageous contract and ownership of patents automatically eliminates any competitors for purchase of the plant"
 After raking the buildings and their system, fore and aft Colonel Wagner sat down a series of con- cfusions for guidance Of the com mittee. whose big task is in trying to find out what to do with the Muscle Shoals properties. Among the conclusions were:
 "The attitude of government agents toward the ordnance department in- dicates clearly that even in na- tional emergency patriotism was forgotten, and despite the contracts promises, efforts were made to prevent the government securing in- formation needed.
 "Extravagance not only was per mitted, but encouraged, despite specific provisions of the contract.
 Irregularities were common and when they were uncovered it was accomplished by the government, not by the agents.
 "There was unnecessary construc- tion, waste and inefficiency."
 In looking over the results, the report said, it was of interest to "parallel them with the personnel of those responsible" and then gave the list of officers of the air nitrate corporation, all of New York, and their duties, salary and former em ployment.
 The list included:
 J w. Young, resident manager, salary $1O,OOOO, formerly deputy en- eineer, department water, gas and electric supply, New York City.
 J. T. Fetherston, vice president, salary $1O.OOO; formerly street clean inc commissioner, New York.
 R. w. Parlin, engineer of training operations, salary $6,0O0; formerly deputy street cleaning commissioner, New York.
 J, o. Hammitt. head of community department, salary S7,500; formerly commissioner of fire prevention, New York.
 E. V. O'Daniels, treasurer, salary s1O,0 ,000; formerly fourth denuty po- lice commissioner, New York.
 A. Aunders, assistant treasurer. salary $6,O0O: formerly examiner of accounts. office of comptroller, New York City.
 "Just what could have been ex- pected other than the results secur-- ed." said the report in closing, "and what relation is there between the cleaning of New York's streets, the preventio nof New York's fires: the running of New York's police force. and the operation and construction n fone of the larpest commercial nlants in the world"