Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-21
SUPPLY BOARD MEETS
Reports Show $188,O15
Saved to Government.
CLERICAL FORCE WANTED
Decided Also to Ask Congress for
Permanent Headquarters.
GROUP SCHEDULE ARRANGED
Plan to Simplify Work Of Making
Purchases-Governm Ice
Making Plants.

The board Of awards created by Presi-
dent Taft May IL last, for the purpose OF
effecting economies in the purchase of
supplies for the government departments,
met at the Treasury Department today.
The members are Assistant Secretary
HIles Of the Treasury, chairman; As
sistant Postmaster General De Graw and
Assistant: Secretary Wilson of the Interior
with w. W. Ludlow. chief clerk OF the
Treasury, as secretary.
The board had before 1t reports showing
the results of the operations of the work
so far done. These reports show that for
the present fiscal year. as compared with
the last, net saving has been effected
by the bra rd OF S1ss,Ol5.
Directions were given for the prepara-
ton of new supply schedules for all ex-
ecirive departments and independent es-
Establishments except the District of Co.
lunbia.
Clerks Asked For.
1t was decided by the board to ask Con-
gress to provide permanent headquarters
and to authorize a small permanent cler
1cal force which. when not engaged in as
sembling and classifying the acquisitions
OF the departments and conducting the
correspondence incident to the tabulation
will revise and perfect the general sched-
ule and seek to secure uniformity in the
grades of supplies used In the several
departments.
The amount already saved as a result
of consolidating thirteen ordering offices
and OF competitive bidding might easily
be doubled. 1t is thought, if the part
ments would cooperate with the board in
it's Effort to standardiZe articles in gen
eral uao.
To Simplify Schedule.
1t was decided to greatly simplify the
schedule and separate them into groups.
Fifteen thousand copies were required
this year, and the demand Is increasing
by reason of the fact that manufacturers
and wholesale dealers are now coming
directly in touch with the central pur-
chasing agency.
Arrangements have been made to have
samples Of supplies tested by the three
testing bureaus Of the government. viz,
the bureau OF standards, geological sur
vey and bureau OF. chemistry in the De-
partment of Agriculture
The board has been advised by lead
ing members of Congress to prepare to
Install ice-making machines In the i'm
portant departments the heads of which
departments have already applied for
appropriations - enable them to carry
into effect the recommendation Of the
board.
Ice Bill $4,000.
The quantity of Ice used annually in
the departments is 14OO0.OOO pounds; the
cost Is about $4,000.
This year only one bid was received
under the advertisements. The depart
ments are already equipped with power
plants and have adequate storage ROOM
Delivery charges and transmission losses
elements which ordinarily must be reck-
oned with. are omitted in the boards esti-
mate of the cost of operation. 1t is point
ed out that one years appropriation for
Ice win install the necessary machinery
in the several departments, and that
thereafter the annual saving should be
not less than $4,000.