The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-10
BOARD TO BUY
ALL MUNITIONS
Council of National Defence
Puts Frank A. Scott
at Its Head.
PLAN TO SAVE MILLIONS
Commission Will Speedily Arm
and Equip U. S. Land and
Sea Forces.
PLAN TO SAVE MILLIONS

WASHINGTON April e.--A step de-
signed to revolutionize the purchasing
methods of the War and Navy Depart
ments and thereby save the Government
millions of dollars as we'll as invalu-
able time at an extremely critical mo-
ment in the nations history was taken
to-day in the appointment by the Coun-
Gil of National Defence OF general
munitions board, with Frank A. Scott, a
Cleveland manufacturer and munitions
expert, as its head.
The task of the new board will be
the armng and equipping of the vast
forces the United States calls into SER
vice in the speedlest time possible. Mr..
Scott. who will have associated with
him other prominent business men, will
have virtually the power and functions
Of secretary OF munitions except that
the actual signing of contracts will re-
ments
Officials of the Administration said
to-day that there was now no intention
of creating the portfolios OF Secretary of
Munitions and Secretary Of Transporta-
ton. the belief being that the duties
which would appertain 10 such new De-
partments can be handled more salts
factorily by the boards working under
the supervision OF the Council OF Ma
tional Defence.
Personnel Of New Board,
Mr.. Scott will have with him on the
board representatives from the fol-
lowing committees OF the advisory COM
mission Of the Council of National De-
fence:
Raw materials. Bernard NJ. Baruch :;
industrial. Howard L. Coffin, Detroit /:
supplies, Julius Rosenwald, Chicago ;
medicine, DR.. Franklin II. Martin, Chi
cago.
representing the army on the board
Will be Gen. Thomas Cruise. Col. F. G.
Hodgson. Col. II. Fisher, Lieut.. Col. j.
+. Hoffer, Major +. T.. Pierce, Major
CHARLES Wallace and Capt. 4. B. Barker
Naval officers on the board will be
Admiral II. II. Rousseau. Admiral w.
g. Capps. Commander X. II. Leigh, Com
nander T. A. Kearney, DR.. :. {. Hol-
comb. Paymaster ]. VI. Hancock and
Lieut.-Col. W. Il. Lemly. l.. McH Howe.
secretary TO Assistant Secretary Roose-
velt also will be a member,
In the War Department. according 10
persons who have made an investigs tion.
purchases are made through divers
channels instead of through central
bureau and great waste has resulted
from this fact Also It is said the large
amount OF red tape necessary in every
purchase results not only in delay but, in
the case OF large amounts OF supplies, IN
running the price up and disrupting the
market in considerable degree.
Methods Are Autiauated.
NO business house could conduct its
affairs In the way the Government does
and survive" was the comment Of one
Of the men who has been called in TO as
sist In the present emergency. There
has been no criticism Of army and navy
officers. but only of the methods which
custom and antiquated regulations have
compelled them TO follow.
The immediate efforts Of the new
board will be to coordinate the purchas-
ing agencies within each department and
also to coordinate the purchases OF the
two departments. The board will assist
in the requirement OF raw materials and
Of manufacturing facilities and will es-
tablish the precedence of orders between
the Departments OF War and Navy and
between the military and industrial needs
Of the country. Present contracts will
not be DISTURBED, nor will the order OF
delivery where that has been arranged,
unless II Is necessary to make changes
to cover any requirements which may
develop.
Officials Of the Council OF National De-
fence said that II would be the aim of
the board TO disturb the normal indus
trial process of the country as little as
possible In equpping and arming the
forces called into service