Orlando firm at Leghorn; as indemnification and additional payment beyond the contract scale, for the construction of torpedo-boat destroyers, and remitted the penalties for delay in delivery. The concessions were obtained on the score of strikes, lock-outs, and demonstrations-under the old regime. (b) The Royal decree, No. 62, January 24, 1923, which instituted the office of Commissioner for aeronautics, exempted the Commissioner from the legislative provisions in force in regard to administration and accounts (Art. 3). The official announcement added that the supply of material would be entrusted exclusively to certain firms known to the Fascist Commissioner for their "proved patriotism." We do not know whether these are the same firms which at that date were assembled at Genoa to constitute the Associazione Industriale di Aeronautica, were received by Mussolini, and obtained from him, as was announced in the papers, "assurances" (January 15-18, 1923). Or whether the reference is to firms who are lavishly supporting certain of 'the great Fascist journals. (c) The High Commissioner for the railways has boasted of an economy effected in the uniforms of the railway servants. In point of fact the supply was entrusted to a firm by private arrangement, without taking other offers into consideration. This firm was supplied with the whole stock of clothing material in the possession of the State railways ; and in respect of its distribution to the railwaymen the firm was granted a commission of 22 per cent. on its value, which, naturally, will be paid-by the railwaymen ! (d) A Rome paper has stated that the High Commissioner for railways rescinded a contract for the disposal of war stocks, under decree of September 20, 1923; but that on the 27th of the same month he concluded a fresh contract with the same firm, with a reduction of price from 1,672,000 to 1,200,000 lire, Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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