Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-16
PROBE OF METHODS DUTY POINTED OUT
Investigation of Purchasing Business Men Urged to Help
Office of the District. in LaWmaking
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JOB OPPORTUNITY NOW GREAT
Move to Learn District System President LaLanne Addresses Ma
Properly Managed. tonal Board of Trade
NO REFLECTION OFFICIALS OVER 100 DELEGATES ATTEND
curing Information lem of %
to Base
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JOB
Move to Learn II District System Is
Properly Managed.
NO REFLECTION ON OFFICIALS
Representative Redfield Quietly Pro-
curing Information Upon Which
to Base Recommendations.

An investigation of the purchasing Of
nee of the District, instituted by Chair
man Johnson of the House District conf
mittee. has been quietly in progress for
more than month it was learned today.
The inquiry. which is said to be for the
purpose of asceftaining whether the de-
partments methods of purchasing sup
plies are what they should be, and Is i'm
no way reflection upon the officials in
charge. is being conducted by Representa-
tive Redfield of New York, member of
Mr.. Johnson's cPmmittee.
Reticence CONCERNING the investigation
has been OBSERVED by both Mr.. Redfield
and the District Commissioners. the lat
ter refusing tol comment upon it beyond
the statement ttlat they believed it would
show that the purchasing Office is being
conducted. upoA a satisfactory business
basis. II
Mr. Redf1eld Today declined to discuss
the probable fcome of the probe of the
departments affairs. He oicted that
1t would be lahe in the spring before he
will be ready H make report. There Is
no telling whaI he may
have determinfH to make at that time,
he said. II
General Inquiry Begun.
With RepresI5 5ntative Redfield actively
engaged in lodi king into District affairs,
the general Investigation planned by
Chairman Johilkon may be said to have
been fairly itAugurated. For severa,
months the DAtrict committee chairman
has had an e1pert accountant at work
In the TreasurIy building looking up data
relative to thelunterest and sinking fund
OF the District iebt.
The departments Of the local govern
ment which arlH said to be slated for the
next investigations are the offices of the
assessor, tax f4pllector and inspector of
buildings.
The CONSENSUS Of opinion among Dis
trfct officials that no attempt will
be made at bis session of Congress
to secure legilfation based on the re-
suits or the Investigations. except with
respect to thd outcome of the inquiry
as to the relation between the Dis
trict and fed4tal governments In the
matter of thdI extinguishment of the
Districts debtl
The RedfieldI Investigation may prov >
an exception, a view of the fact that
there is a poi4ibility OF 1t being con-
cluded In .-tim4l for Congress to act on
any Recommendations that NAV be
made. The r4}obe into other depart
ments of the local government. how
ever. it is believed. Will be commenced
too late for anil legislation to be recon-
mended at thi4I session.
Ask for Discretionary Power.
The Commis4 Ioners. it is understood.
will bring to tie attention Of Mr.. Red
field their deslfe for the passage of a
law which willIgive them discretionary
power in the halter OF entering into
formal bonded contracts for the pur-
chase of supplies This will be in ac-
cordance with ! recommendation made
by District Purchasing Officer Har-
grove in his list annual report to the
CommissionersjI
At present tEb law provides that the
District heads 3hall require bonded con-
tracts for the delivery of all supplies
which cost $JD or more The delay
caused by this procedure often results
in supplies betAg delivered before the
contracts are reRdy to be executed. In
cases where theIsuppl.es are delivered in
toto. and no payments are to be made
until the goods 4re in hand. the Cor1mis-
sioners, ii is urged. should not be re-
auired to call fdf the bonded contract, as
1t is q perfectlyI useless procedure.
Practical Man in Charge.
AS Represent tive Redfield has had
years Of experience in the manufacturing
business, and Isl said to be a practical
business man, tile Commissioners believe
that only good Will result from his study
of the methods bf the purchasing Office.
It is said that His investigation, SO far,
has been elaborate and that he has even
visited a number Of the supply houses