Evening star., 1909-03-12
'FLAREBAcK IN LAW
Blow at Commissions Hits
Board of Awards.
'SUNDRY CIVIL BILL DID IT
Purchase of Government Supplies
May All Be Held Up.
MAY BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS
Legislation Likely to Knock Out
Other Work-Attorney General
Must Decide Point.
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL DID IT
MAY BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS

1t is possible that the wording OF the
sundry civil bill. intended as final stop
per on President Roosevelt's habit of ap-
pointing commissions on everything from
the habitat of the stork to the best way
to raise moss Tor feeding reindeer. will
break up the work of the federal depart
ments past all mending.
In fact the Department Of Justice will
be asked at once to rule on the case
which involves the existence of the board
of awards of the government depart
ments. The board of awards is one Of
the results of the Keep commissions in
vestigations. That commission recom-
mended that a board be appointed to go
over the purchase OF government supplies
and bring some sort of order out of the
then existing chaos.
Many Sorts Of Supplies.
The general public probably thinks that
the chief thing in the way of supplies
purchased to run the government is sta
tionery, this including, Of course, a lib
eral supply Of red tape. But as matter
OF fact these supplies cover sixteen big
classes and include everything from lead
pencils and mucilage to plumbing and
electric light supplies The aggregate of
the purchases amounts to millions.
Each one of the departments has been
in the habit Of buying its own supplies
by contract. There was a wide diverg-
ence in prices paid for the Same things
by different Offices, except in the cases
where contractors were wary enough to
join forces and hold the government up
for stiff prices, from which there was no
recession.
The first move after the report Of the
Keep commission was the appointment
of three assistant secretaries from the
Treasury. the Post Office and the Inte-
lined a plan whereby a representative
should be detailed from each of the gov.
ernment departments. as we'll as one
from the District government. to formu-
ment and get things in quantities and at
fair and uniform prices.
Waste Discovered by Board.
The way this board operated was
shown in a couple Of instances. 1t was
found that the feed dealers had COM
bined and were charging famine prices
for forage. One member Of the board
happened to know more than a little
from personal experience about keeping
horses.
He was scandalized at the prices
named in the bids. Estimates were then
readvertised for and about $1,000 was
saved on the item o forage alone.
The same thing was true Of ice. The
estimates on the price of ice for the
summer were scaled down accordingly.
Then the committee representing all the
departments got to work and compiled
the big schedule under sixteen headings,
including stationary Of all sorts, ink and
type and typewriters, hardware and
plumbing. steam fitting and electric light
supplies. dry goods and all the other
thousand things that the government
needs Bids were invited ON the supply
of the whole amount OF an article used
by all the departments or for particu-
lar article for a single department.
The contractors came into camp with
as good grace as possible. The Prospect
was that this year, the first time the
Of the board would go
into effect. would see a considerable saw
ing in purchase price. besides the elinli-
nation of an immense amount Of clerical
work and manual labor
Just at this point came along the sum
dry civil bill. which states positively in
one of its rearmost paragraphs that no
salary shall be paid to any clerk detailed
ment to another.
The members of the board Of awards
say this was not blow at this special
Joint committee, but that it probably Will
the committee unless the members are
patriotic enough to serve the government
altogether without pay, which is not just
what any of them contemplate.
Only Ask Regular Pay.
1t is true that they do not draw any
special salary for their work on the joint
committee. They would like their regu-
lar departmental pay to 60 on. This is
just what some of the cabinet members
think cannot be under the particular
wording Of the clause in the sundry civil
bill.
The matter is to be put UP to the At
tOrney General for a ruling at once. The
departments will be running out OF sup
plies There il hardly time to change
back to the old method and advertise all
the bids afresh.
Thus the board of awards is flying sig
mails Of distress and wigwagging for help
to the Department OF Justice. But what
view the new Attorney General will take
when lie gets the matter before him is
still mystery.