Show I r I I I I GOVERNMENT O Government ownership may t bo be a n good roo bogy bog with wih which to scare care voracious vora vom- Ious cious grafters grafter's Into good behavior lor But when put to a 0 practical test lest It J does oes not rot seem mecca eem to be successful tu For years there thIe ha had imad been a strong strong- r ry against the time Cramps ship bul builders rs for or time the government government It 1 was said ald that hy ime had robbed robbe the tire government of millions million milons of dollars that time the they were slow low in In fining mUng their contracts that time tho tt ships the they delivered were not fast enough nor not strong enough nor mo modern mod mod- ern urn enough and arid that time they cost a great deal doal too loo much none money x That was one onre of oC the thc line fine things done one b by Grover Cleveland's Clev government government- the establishment of or yards ards at nt which tire the nation could build Its If own ships Ten ren or fifteen n years experience convinced convinced con con- vinced practical men that tho time government govern government govern govern- ment meat ownership o of yards at nt which naval cruisers were to be he constructed was wa not a success s Anti And a n contract was wa given hen to Scott at San an Francisco and he ime turned out time the Ol Oregon time the gon-the the best ship In iii its Is da tiny day Then Thon other contracts were we're were given to other men an and time the re record record record re- re cord of go government yards was ex exceeded ox- ox ceede ever every time Work ork was done more rapidly The ships pro produced were moro more modern in in equipment Time Tho strength and the speed were greater And Amid nd the tIme cost was vastly vasty less leR Perhaps time the most notable example of oC the time impracticability of ot government engagement In manufacture Is the time re record ro- ro cord on omm the time construction o of the battleships bat bat- Louisiana and Connecticut Work ork was begun on 01 tho time two simul simul- The Time keels were laid in mu 1903 Tire The The Louisiana was built bui b by a private ato 11 firm at Newport News s Va a. tint and time the Connecticut at the government yards at Brooklyn Time The Louisiana has been finished and amid delivered arid and the tho Connecticut Con Con- will not hut ready until July They are aru Identical In iii their material In their form In their equipment and yet the thre ono one built at a private yard costs the government less money ri-money than does at that built at B Brooklyn It Is a mistake to think that government govern govern- meet ment can do du It Is error lo to think that all private business cart can be advantageously managed by imy the nation Some things may be handled well tell by the community Bat experience ence shows that shipbuilding at least Is 14 not one ammo of el these And time the bail bad comparison corn com parison In time the case mentioned will doubtless do much to silence time tho clamor for government ownership anti and management of if private commercial affairs |