The Washington herald., 1917-09-30

Primarily the chamber of COM
merce was formed to crystalize the
thought and the Wishes of the busi-
ness men of the nation. to make them
known, and endeaver to carry them
out. In most OF the committees named
above this original purpose is still
retained, and their work consists
largely OF spreading Information or
the subject with which they are con-
cerned. The Council of National De-
fense Committee, for instance, con-
tents Itself with keeping business in
formed of the work done by the Unit
ed States Council of National De-
fense, in order to bring their mem.
bers in closer touch with that body
For this purpose it has been issuing
a series OF war bulletins.
Takes Patriotic Part.
Others Of the committees. however
take a more active and practical
part in the performances of the gov
ernment. The most conspicuous oi
these is the committee created to CO.
operate with the Quartermaster's De.
partment. Some of the problems
which it has solved have been of in
finite help toward a more efficient
conduct of the war.
The committee was formed at the
request Of the Council of National
Defense to the end that advice and
assistance could be furnished the 10.
cal quartermasters in the leading
cities in case 1t became necessary
upon short notice to make purchases
in unusually large quantities. To &C.
Nnvo0 q.
form sixteen local committees In the
and In a month after the request had
been received 1t had its machine in
smooth working order.
One of the first instances in which
1t proved of use was in the compila-
ton Of card index system Of which
the government was in want, givins
the complete data as to the numbers
Of manufacturers in each district
their location. the capacity of their
output, and so forth.
Look After Bids.
Shortly after it was informed by
the quartermasters department tina,
bids for a certain needed commodity
had not been received. The loca,
NON%NS AAAhAlSNAolSAy
selves, and in a short time the de-
rartment had In hand seventy-four
bids on the article at a reasonable
figure. Upon another occasion the
quartermaster in Philadelphia report.
ed that no manufacturers were will.
ing to submit bids for a supply OF
overcoats except at an exorbitani
figure. One of the members of the
committee thereupon volunteered tc
take over 10000 of the coats at a
price to be fixed by the quartermaster
department. The result was that a
saving to the government of $1,000
was effected. In Philadelphia agar
it was responsible for advertising q
strike which threatened to tie up the
output of a contractor engaged IL
manufacturing articles greatly desir,
ed by the depot.
At the time of the freight conges.
ton caused in the early days of the
submarine campaign of frightfulnes.
1t assisted in bringing condition:
back to normal. At one time there
were more than 10000 tons of freight
destined for the allies held up in the
New Jersey meadows because of the
lack of ships in which to place 1t
The committee perfected arrange,
ments whereby no cargo was shipped
to the orts until merchant vessel.
were ready to receive it.
Meets Peculiar Problem.
At the beginning of its career
the organization met with a pc.
culiar problem. Two vessels, on,
French and the other British haC
arrived in New York, the first will
a cargo of horses and the second
carrying grain. For the return
voyage the horse ship was prepar.
ing to take a load of grain and tn,
other horses This invnlvad the In,