OCR Text |
Show NO ROBBERY, The action of the government in making mak-ing use of the drastic powers conferred by the, last naval bill and refusing to be held up for war supplies will be generally gen-erally approved and doubtless the "hint'' will be taken by other manufacturers manu-facturers who submit bids for such supplies. In all former wars the gov-eminent gov-eminent has been robbed right and left, but this time no exorbitant profit; will be allowed, for the government has power to take over the plants and operate op-erate them. That this will be done if it becomes neees.-ary goes without saving. sav-ing. There is little chance, however, that it will become necessarv. Most of the manufactories of the I United States nre built upon the broad- I gasgc plan and the government has been tendered the use of many plants G'.hers have agreed to accept minimum profits and only the other day the brass n.ahing industry of the country ot-fcred ot-fcred to fill the government's orders at cost. The copper producers have volunteered volun-teered to supply Uncle Sam with all ti.e red metal dc-ired at less than half its present market value, and the wool Bupply of the country is to be turned over at the prevailing prices on the 2nd and 3rd of the present month. So far as patriotism is concerned, a fine showing has been made in the industries. indus-tries. We do not anticipate the hard conditions condi-tions that now prevail in Europe. Yet if we are going to feed, clothe anil maintain an army of two or three million mil-lion men and put a first-class fleet upon the high sees we shall be compelled to keep down the cost of production and aosoluteiy refuse to pay exorbitant profits. We do not think it will become be-come necessary to throw everything into the melting pot, but the government govern-ment should exercise its full authority tinder tho naval bill and apply the anti-trust laws with unsparing vigor. There is a chance that the cost of living will become higher than need be unless there is some regulation at the outset. Of course, we all understand that this country must supply England and France with food or thej are lost. At tho same time, we are satisfied the consumers of the United States should not be compelled to bid agsinst the Europeans for foodstuffs produced in this country. We do not know what plan the government has in view, but it is certain that some action will have to be taken to conserve tho food supply and keep prices within reason. |