Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-18
Secretary Tracy Conducting His Office on
Business PripcfpIes

Business PrincfpIes
WASHINGTON, May 17th.-Secretary Tracy
has turned his attention to the matter of
purchasing supplies for the navy and has
already made an order inaugurating con-
slders bic OF an economic reform 1t ap-
pears the practice of the Department is 10
purchase supplies for the navy by advertise
ments at the beginning of each fiscal year,
by making list of purchases extensive
enough to cover the probable needs of the
dlfferent bureaus during the entire year
Upon inquiry the Secretary learned that in
making the purchases regard was not had
for the amount of stores on hand This
led to the accumulation of stores, which in
many cases rapidly deteriorated and caused
a heavy loss to the Government. To satisfy
himself on this point Secretary Tracy has
Just procured a statement of the amount of
stores now on hand, as the advertisements
for the supplies for the next fiscal wear will
soon be issued.
This statement shows there are now on
hand stores valued at 81 600, 500. and the
Secretary intends they shall be deducted
from the value of stock to be purchased
next month. Therefore he has issued the
following circular
The appended table gives the total val
uation of stores on hand at the shore sta
the respective classes, comprising the sup
plies of an ordinary commercial nature. as
reported by the Paymaster- General to the
General Store-keeper, with the gross
amounts OF the purchases and of issues for
use under the same classes during the first
quarter. In view of the large amount of
accumulation shown, and to prevent the
unnecessary expenditure of money, il is
hereby ordered that no purchase be made
of supplies pertaining to these classes.
If the stores required can be obtained
by transfer from other bureaus at the sta
ton where they are needed or by ship
ment FROM other stations to this, and all
requisitions for such supplies shall be ex-
amined IN the light of returns to the Pay
master-General, by whom they shall not be
approved fer purchase, if public interests
will be subserved by transfer or ship
ment. In cases where the stores are accu-
muiated in undue quantities at certain
points, and the current wants may be met
by distribution thereof, it is ordered that
such shipments be made to other stations
as the needs of the service NAV suggest
and the Paymaster- General is charged with
the execution Of this duty, after consuIta-
ton with the Chiefs of the bureaus con-
cerned. Wherever it shall be possible to
utilize supplies different in unimportant
icopSCto llOll luOSe CalleU IOT, SuCD SuDSll-
tuition shall be made. 1t is further ordered
that the supplies required under classes
other than those given in the appointed
table shall. if practicable, be obtained in
like manner, by transfer or shipment. The
freight charges shall be borne by the bu-
reau receiving the supplies in case of ship
ments from one station to another.
" Some of the largest items in the list of
stores on hand are: Lumber and timber,
27,712; metal, brass, copper, tin, etc.,
S595, 429; iron bars, $30S, 100 spikes, S1O4, :
COS; pipes and fittings, $l29, Sl9; tools,
S101,S
Notwithstanding this accumulation of
stores OF several kinds in excess, there were
purchased during the last quarter to the
amount of S51, ,544 Moreover, at the rate
of expenditure INDUCED in during the last
quarter, enough supplies to last five years
would have been accumulated if main
tained during the next fiscal year"