Evening star., 1917-10-07
PREPARING REPORT
AS HEAD Of BOARD
Frank A. Scott May Give His
Side Of Controversy With
Admiral MCGOWAN.
WAR SUPPLIES PURCHASES

Frank A. Scott, chairman of the war
industries board. has prepared a re-
port for the Council Of National Defense
regarding the purchase of supplies for
the government in which. 1t Is UNDER
stood. he will set forth his side of the
controversy with Rrar Admiral Sam
MCGOWAN, paymaster general of the
Navy.
This report is being looked for with
much interest, not only by Council OF
National Defense and Navy officials, but
particularly by the officers Of the Quar-
termaster Corps of the Army and by
manufacturers and contractors for gov
ernment supplies generally.
Mr.. Scott last evening declined to dis
cuss in advance anything that this re-
port may contain, while admitting that
he had prepared report.
War Boards Position Stated.
However, it was learned from an au-
thoritative source that the War In
dustries Boards attitude and feeling
about its own place in war work Is
about as follows
The War Industries Board was not
created for the purpose nor has it the
authority to buy anything. 1t is made
up of men Of wide experience in the
business life OF the country and of
familiar with the needs OF those de-
partments, and 1t Is their function to
study the markets from the economic
standpoint and. II possible, to estab-
petition between the several depart
ments OF the government. the allies and
the public at prices that will be fair
to producer and to purchaser alike.
It has dealt with big business" and
shown by the results that it can handle
difficult situations.
Establishes Price for Copper.
It has made a price for copper to the
government, the allies and the public
at tremendous saving over the former
prices. In the early summer the price
Of copper was a shade over 50, but the
price was cut to supply the needs of
tho government at half that rate. After
that copper went to Is; and in Septem-
Der the price had reached 271s, but
September 21 the board, with the cop
per men themselves assisting, made
general price to all OF 23lz, and ar
ranged to keep all mines and smelters
running at full capacity to insure g.
full supply of the metal without which
the war cannot be carried on.
This transaction has made a saving
to the Army and the Navy together in
an amount sufficient to pay for the $50
new submarines that the Navy wants
to construct as soon as resources of the
country will permit.
Reduces Cost of Steel.
1t has cut the price of steel to what
is generally considered q fair basis. 1t
keeps tab on the output of all fac
tories in order that production may be
distributed and, II need be. stimulated.
Tho board Is striving to prevent dupli-
cation of orders and unfair competition
between the several departments of the
government and the allied nations in
the purchase of war material and sup
plies of clothing and subsistence.
The board holds no brief for or against
the broker, agent or middlefnan-, it asks
that goods of the proper quality at fair
prices in sufficient quantities be delivered
as they are, needed to carry on the war
that is threatening to destroy the United
States, and 1t is not blinking or stopping
to take up straw fights over unauthorized
gossip.
Right to Commander.
In many instances the purchasing off,
GERS of war material may not know what
under the present conditions is fair
price to pay for commodity that the gov
ernment must buy. In such cases the war
industries board, through its subcommit-
tees, has the question investigated by
some one thoroughly familiar with what