Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-12-25
RED TAPE HOLDS
UP WAR SUPPLIES
Maj. Gen. Crozier Again Before
Senate Body.
AGAINST NEW ORGANIZATION
Declares Orders for More Than ST 500.
100000 Of War Supplies Have Been
Placed-Have Better System
Now.

washington, Dec. 1S.-Inoriry into
delays in supplying the army with
guns and the curtailment of furds rec
commended by the ordnance bu, can for
that purpose was taken up in open
session by the senate militar. commit
tee after a two days examination of
Major General Crozier behind closed
DOORS
General Crozier has tod the COM
mlttee that while congress has been
generous with funds the appropria-
IONS recommended by the general staff
invariably were reduced by civilian
executives and the reduction of ord
nance was chargeable to executive ac-
ton.
slames Congress Tor Red Tape.
General Crozier declared there was
entirely too much red tame" about
getung money. While an emergency
appropriation request for a lump ap-
preparation of 50, 932, 537. 900 was made
Dy the war department April 5-a day
pe1ore war was declared 1t was June
oeIore congress made appropriations
under the estimates.
But you had millions of dollars left
OF appropriations made before" inter-
rupted Chairman Chamberlain. 81 have
not been entirely satisfied with any ex-
pianation made of this matter. For
instance, you had money appropriated
for machine guns and you haven't the
guns vet. We appropriated for small
arms, and you spent the money for
pistols instead Of rifles"
1--WE were far shorter of Distols than
rifles" General Crozier answered. "and
we are not going to be slowed I'D in
this war in the slightest degree on ac-
count of rifles"
Thinks Answer Unsatisfactory.
II don't think the country will be
satisfied with that explanation" Sena-
tor Chamberlain insisted. 1--WE need
rifles for target practice and training
purposes and in the field"
How prospective appropriations by
congress were anticipated was recited
by General Crozier. For instance, he
said orders were placed for 100000
rounds of ammunition early last spring
before any funds were available. He
detailed how many new factories that
had never before made gun fOrgings
were given large contracts, to increase
ordnance production.
1--WE have placed orders of more
than $1,500,0000O0 since the war be-
gan" General Crozier explained, citing
the magnitude of operations. "That is
more than so per cent over the en-
tire governments expenses for any
year since the Spanish war"
Opposes New Organization.
Senator Wadsworth asked whether
the government should have an officer
or department similar to England's
minister of munitions.
"My belief Is that the better way is
to enlarge and strengthen existing or
CARNATIONS, rather than create new
Ones" General Crozier replied. Quick
er results have been obtained here
than by the British organization"
Senator Hitchcock said that 1t
seemed there was an unusual length
of time between appropriations and
deliveries and asked whether the war
department had considered any speed
ing up" plans,
ave think, and think the country
thinks, that there has been too much
delay, too much red tape, too much cir
cumlocution in the department" said
Senator Hitchcock. HAS any effort
been made to shorten up the proc
essesT
Eyes, a great deal Of red tape has
been eliminated" said General Gro
zier.