The times., 1899-08-29
THE KHAKI CONTROVERSY.
Mr. Root Di.poses of Complaints
Against Hasfy Advertising


Secretary Root has made an investigation
of the complaints recently made to the War
Department regarding the advertising for
bids for SOC COO yards OF khaki. An article
in a New York paper claimed that the
specifications were not sufficiently specific
and that too short notice was given OF the
proposed opening OF bids. Proposals were
opened in New York yesterday for Ine ma
terial needed. II is stated at the War De-
partment that the Secretary is satisfied that
no ground whatever existed for the COM
plant The determination to recruit ten
additional regiments necessitatsd advertis-
ing Tor more khaki. and this had 70 be done
without delay. A statement prepared at the
War Department yesterday says:
The purpose OF the advertisement ia
question is TO secure. IL possible. goods OF
domestic production which will meet the
necessary requirements OF the department.
viz. strength and fastness Of dye To this
end the specifications were purposeiy left
broad TO allow of the acceptance Of goods
offered provided these essential features
were complied with. To have specified ex-
actly the weight humber OF threads. etc.
would have the effect OF narrowing the COM
petition down to the particular weave spsci-
ned. and rule out oil who might have goods
equally good. but OF a slightly different
weave Khaki cloth is simply a cotton drill
OF especially good quality. fast dyed in the
piece khaki color There are undoubtedly
hundreds Of thousands OF yards OF cotton
goods in the grey on hand in this country
today which. if properly dyed. would meet
the requirements OF the department The
department has at this time a contract with
William Lyail. Brighton Mills. for 100000
yards. and with Meyer & Goetze. through
Broesneek, Breesel & Co.. of New York for
100000 yards. and both firms are deliver
ing domestic khaki which meets all the re-
quirements OF the present advertisement.
The production OF suitable khaki cloth
has been for year past a matter OF edu-
! cation. both for the department and the
American manufacturer. and the matter
has been repeatedly advertised from time
to time. It IS reasonable to suppose that
! those caring TO enter the field are well in
| formed as TO what is required. However
/ that may be. the department stands in need
OF goods. and cannot now afford to adver-
| tise with view OF allowing time for people
not making such goods 10 experiment
Their opportunity IS in going TO work now
| and being ready by the time the next cali
, Is made We are receiving under contract
(, goods OF American manufacture which are
absolutely fast in color and which seem TO
! be equal in other respects to the best Eng
| lish khaki The department is and has been
/ accepting every yard of American goods Of
| fered that viii pass such inspection as win
| ensure the essential requirements. We are
now in need Of goods and the present ad-
yertisement Is to give American Esanufae-
| turers an opportunity to compete on the
most liberal conditions consistent with Sc
curing what We must have. This in the
| hope of avoiding the necessity Of going
abroad for more material To recall the
advertisement now and readvertfse under
notice of thirty days or more would be to
force the purchase at Manila Of thousands
of uniforms made in Hongkong Of English
khaki