Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-14
TO PLACE. WAR PLANS
ON AMlCABLE BASIS
Efforts Mnturipe to Reconcile Differ
erenccs Between Congress and
Defense Council.

WASHINGTON. July 13.-Plnns arc
maturing to iron out the seeming diff
ticulties which havo arisen between
Congress ollay the irritation In tho
legislative body and prevent what
Threatened to be a rapidly approaching
crisis In the governments war prepare
lions.
That the situation was fast becom-
Ing serious. threatening to hamper the
government In purchasing supplies In
the future. is admitted. Crili:isn in
Congress Of the system under which
the council is now operating caused re-
sentiment In the advisory comr1ittccs Of
the council. and ,hs.e have been re-
ports OF contemplated retirement of
men from those boards. There Will be
no rcsienation however. IL tho plaus
work out
When the drafted advisory boards
found Congress did not charge that
any wrongdoing had been committed
but was only intent upon seeing that
opportunity, under the system, should
not be afforded for scandal, the boards
took up at once and with Willingness
the question OF amending procedure for
the future to meet all possible objec-
lions.
The new plans contemplate creating
neutral boards. which will stand be-
tween the governmental purchasing
agents and the advisory committees
! that recommend the sources of sup
plies. The advisory committees of ne
cesSity are composed of men affiliated
with the industries from which the
supplies are to be procured.
Congress. 1t is said, only demands
4 h NHah t.a-
visory committees shall not be in
strumental in securing contracts for
! the corporations with which they are
in any way connected. The Council Of
National Defense fully concurs in this
insistence. and members of the ad-
Vtsory committees are equally DESTROYS
of meeting the obvious requirement.
NEW SYSTEM PROPOSED
TO END DIFFERENCES
The proposition now is to create one
or more groups of men. dealing with
inherent classifcations OF supplies, who
have no direct or indirect pecuniary
interest in the manufacture or source
OF those supplies. They will act as the
medium of communication between the
men who have technical knowledge OF
the conditions Of the trade and the con-
tracing officers of the army and navy
They will avail themselves of the
| nished by the men who know. and sug-
gest to the purchasers where contracts
can be placed to the best advantage
of the government.
Congress probably will insert a pro-
vision In the food control bill ne
nalizing the direct participation of gov
ernmental advisers. paid or voluntary,
or OF any officer OF the government In
the placing Of contracts in which thew
int
that there will be no objection by any
one in the Council of National Defense
or the advisory committees, 1t Is said
with authority.
The only thing to be guarded against,
IT is said. la that the amendment shall
be so worded as not to deprive the
council OF the services and technical
knowledge of the men who have been
drafted from the business and indus
try OF the country to help get the gov
eminent in touch with sources of sun
plies speedily. efrectually and econom-
ically.
Some Of the proposed amendments. IL
Is said. would completely destroy the
advisory committees working with the
council and the several boards II is
stated In high official quarters that
President Wilson would veto a bill
which should do that
But no such outcome is expected. The
whole difficulty has been largely
through misundersta nding OF the opera
lions OF the committees and of appre-
hension of scandals growing out Of op-
portunities. With better understand
Ing Of details OF operation, complete
and absolute dissertation OF the recon-
mending and the purchasing braches.
through the interpretation OF neutral
boards. opportunity for abuses will be
destroyed. and It is expected Congress
Will recognize and approve work being
done by the advisory committees.