Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-18
TOO MUCH "RED TAPE"
IN GETTING MONEY
SAYS GEN. CR0z|ER

washington, Dec. lon reSump-
ton today of the Senate military COM
mittee's inquiry into delays in equip
ping the army, Major General Crozier.
chief OF ordnance, declared there was
entirely too much red tape" getting
money. While an emergency appro-
priation request for a lump appropria-
ton of $685., 537 900 was made by the
War Department April ), a day before
war was declared. it was June before
Congress made appropriations under
the estimates.
But you had millions of dollars left
OF appropriations made year before o"
interrupted Chairman Chamberlain. II
have not been entirely satisfied with
any explanation made of this matter.
For instance, YOU had money appro-
priated for machine guns and YOU
haven't the guns Yet. We appropri-
ated for small arms. and YOU spent
the money for pistols instead of rifles =
we We're far shorter OF pistols than
rifles" General Crozier answered. 'and
we are not going to he slowed up in
this war the slightest degree on ac-
count of rifles"
satisfied with that explanation" Sen
ator Chamberlain insisted I'VE need
rlhes Tor target practice and training
purposes and in the field"
General Crozier said orders were
placed for 100000 rounds Of amn,.
milton early last spring before any
funds We're available. He detailed how
many new factories that had never
before made gun forgings were given
large contracts. to increase ordnance
production
We have placed orders of more than
81 100000 010 since the war began. That is
more than 80 per cent over me entire
governments expenses for any year since
the Spanish war.
senator Wadsworth asked whether the
government should have an office or de-
partment similar to England's minister az
munitions.
General Crozier replied thar quicker re-
suits had been obtained here than bv the
British organization.
senator Hitchcock asked whether the
war department had considered anv
speeding up plans
Yes great deal of red tana baa
been eliminated" said Gen. Greer
Regarding American coast dafa,,so.,
senator Frelnghuysen asked:
The country wants to know pbe,bar
our coast artillery and defenses are or +ba
proper type to cope with any attacking
force, submarine or, otherwise II i IL
eHective as those Of European natlons,"
Yes, replied General Crozier with a.,
phasls. For the last 10 or Is years a,a
now on our coast defenses have been ~
peFlor 70 those of any nation OF Enror~,
Our guns are more than adeoua+a
ouf requirements for high eyplos-
ives IN France will be met: our sunnI,,
IS satisfactory. and vigorous stems az
oelhS taken to increase productions. q
explosives" 80 "
behefal Crozier disclosed that stens
had been taken to eouin Amer;oa, :,
FORCES with tanks similar to the new
hfltlsh machines. Have we taken
steps Tor equipping with bombs hand
Sfenades and other new tangled
thlngs' asked Senator ChamherIair
! ne ordnance chief answered affirma
uNeIy' saying much of the United
states supply would come from o,,t-
side where they had already been nm
der manufacture
General Crozier's examination was
finished today and the committee unar-
imously agreed to recommend con
firmation of his reappointment as chiar
Of ordnance.