The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-15
n|AYoR'S AIDES
LOSE U. s. FIGHT
FOR ARSENAL
tcessiaaeA from Pass One,

~ funds for the removals he
'wouId 90 to the president to have
The bill vetoed.
The secretary maintained that
4htss 10 no need for the government
70 maintain Z harness department |
dor the reason that there Is more !
harness on hand than will be used
Tor years. He was answered with !
. return question as to why, in this
case, the war department had al |
lowed . contract with private
for 5000 sets OF
harness only 10 days before. The
5eecretary said he had not known
The contract had been given.
Refuse Peace Time Work.
{ The delegation conducted its en-
Sire night on the basis Of the arsen-
ais OF the country manufacturing
peace time material, such as they
nave been doing for the last year.
and which work has, prevented
shutdown thus far. In the past
the arsenals have manufactured
only war materials. Peace time
goods needed by government de-
pertments, other than the war de-
partment, have been made by pri-
rate corporations. A year ago a
proposition was put through by in
Btigation of employees Of the five
different arsenals whereby An ar
eenal orders branch was organized.
This branch was given the auth
Drity to go out in the market and
bid for government peace time
work in competition with private
Corporations, and has obtained
more work in this competition than
the arsenals could handle. This is
shown by the need OF the govern
ment this year for approximately
$S17 100000 worth of peace time
material for the various depart
ments, end the relative output Of
all i've arsenals TO manufacture
only $lS3,0o0.000 worth Of this ma
terial.
Private Concerns Blamed.
Mayor Schriver said that in his
opinion private corporations are to
blame for the entire situation. He
declared that his delegation had
tied up war department officials
OUTSIDE and in the conference COM
nittee session as to the merits of
the case.
Secretary Baker was offered the
promise that the delegation would
leave Immediately if one item Of
proof could be shown that the re-
m0vals were to be benefit 10 the
government in an economic or any
other way, but failed to take ad-
vantage OF the offer, the mayor de
clared.
Want Plant Crippled.
The Rock Island arsenal is bJ
far the largest of the five grea
manufacturing arsenals. At pres
ent 1t employs approximately 500
Of the 1900 employees OF the five
arsenals. 1t was charged that b,
the removal of the harness, cloth
N carpentry and portions of the
equipment department the Rock Is
land arsenal would be crippled in {
way, where it could not enter intt
the bidding ring with private cor
porations, for the reason that mucl
of the goods would need SOM
leather pieces or other materia
made in the departments that ar
being moved.
1t was also set forth that state
ment had come from private har
ness manufacturing concern tina
the closing down of the arsena
harness shop would be wort
100000 to the firm. at the mo
ment Of the shutdown.
1t was also pointed out by tn
delegation that the man placed il
charge of the harness department
during the war was q colonel pro
NOTED from private life. who is
member Of the biggest has0es
manufacturing companies in tn
United States. and that another col
onel. a member of another larg
harness company. was at the arse
nal at the time of Secretary Baker
recent visit here. Both Of thes
men are said to have made tn
statements that the arsenal plan
Is the most perfect in the country
and one is said to have been one O
the greatest instigators in the figh
to close down tha department ;
year ago.
Learn About Machine Gun Plant.
The mayor said that the delega
ton learned that the machine gul
equipment that Is to be brough
here vas gathered from variou
parts of the country and placed II
building erected after the armi
sttce. The government had a leas
on some land at Rochester, n. Y
After the signing Of the armistic
the land was purchased for $500
and building put up that cos
$4,000. The government is nov
offered 1895. 200 for the building an
grounds. and the 400 pieces o
machinery are to be shipDed to tn
Rock Island arsenal. for storage
whether the building is sold or moi
The mayor said that Congress
men Graham Of Illinois and Hull o
Iowa have been working hard 70
4 the maintenance OF the arsenal OF
Its proper basis. Congressman
4 Hull was said to be giving his en-
tire time to the proposition an
& Congressman Graham giving ever,
(, minute he can spare from his du
ties az chairman OF the congress
ssional investigating committee
through which work he is said t,
have compiled reports OF war ex
3 travAgances that would I'LL room
Senators from Illinois and low
Il were also said to have fought hart
IN behalf Of the case.
However. II was claimed that un
der the Interpretations being plac
( ed by Secretary OF War Baker OF