THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240014 SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL TYPE: Editorial LENGTH: Short : 24 lines
The latest of those quirky government-spending embarrassments - like outrageously priced hammers and toilet seats - involves table lamps on one of the ships in the Navy's Military Sealift Command. This later case offers a clue to the government's procurement mentality.
The General Accounting Office was upset because the ship hired a subcontractor to repair 10 lamps at a rate of $260 each when new ones could have been purchased for $210 apiece.
Whoa. Isn't anybody upset about paying $210 for a table lamp in the first place? by CNB