Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-16
BUYING AND DISTRIBUTION OF
SUPPLIES CALLS FOR CHANGE
AT CAPITAL.
FORMATION OF DEFENSE
COMMITTEES PROPOSED
to Lack Of Organization, According
to Waddil Catehinss-War Conduct
With Government Machinery Of
Peace Times.

!
OF a board of national defense with
powers 10 make important decisions
and TO act on its own authority, is ad-
vised by Waddil Catchings, chairman
| Of a committee Of the United States
| Chamber of Commerce, as a solution
! Of the problems which confront the
| present advisory organization.
He points out that there is now no
board or department connected with
| the concentration OF all Efforts toward
procuring materials and supplies for
war, and says this is the cause for
the criticism and misunderstanding
concerning the part business men have
SO far taken in war preparations.
We have the machinery of the SOW
eminent departments as Developed in
time of peace, says Nj. CatchinSs.
In addition there is the council OF
national defense, the shipping board,
the food control organization develop
ing around Mr.. Hoover, and the eX-
port council. All act independently OF
each other,
Prepares General Plan.
The council of national defense has
rendered service of the highest value
during the time when the nature Of
our problems was becoming clear
With a full realization OF what they
have done, plans can now be formed
for more direct attack Upon the proc
lens which have arisen"
When il Is understood that there
has been no general scheme AMI 20
f. r., f-,c-s g.g.yy
tinues. what the advisory committee
Of the council Of national defense mas
been able to accomplish is remark
able The wonder IS, not that no more
has been done, but thar so much has
been done.
In such a situation the.a IS much
that can be criticised. The senate To-
day is particularly Critic!sing the fact
that members Of the advisory commit
tees have been interested N companies
VINO have received contracts from the
government.
Honesty in Contracts.
Such contracts have always, how
ever, been placed by government of1!-
Gals in no way connected with ths
committees or companies. Altho the
facts are matters Of record, no instance
has been forthcoming of a single case
where the interests Of the government.
| were not fully protected and the con-
tract let at the lowest price or upon
| the most satisfactory basis.
Among the clearly defined problems
| confronting Washington today, none is
so important as the need for some
board Of national defense or war board
| HcciSinrs r1any
problems other than military problems,
settle differences Of judgment, stop
debate, and take decisive action.
There Is the question of the price
| the government is 10 pay for materials
and supplies where the demand is so
much greater than the supply that re-
| lance can no longer be had upon the
equilibrium Of supply and demand to
| determine fair price.
Supplies Are Delayed.
An important phase OF the price
| situation. Mr.. Catchings further de-
tails. is that when the government
| fails TO arrive at a satisfactory price
the furnishing Of supplies is delayed
| Steel needed for ships has not been
| purchased for this reason.
No mechanism yet exists for deciding
who shall receive materials when the
| supply is insufficient for all. Today
when so much depends upon additlona'
| cars and locomotives for the raiiroa ds
| there are great Interruptions in opera
tons Of car and locomotive plants be-
| cause producers Of steel are shipping
| on such orders as they may have en-
| tered.
| Tho ,rea+ cuestion of determining
| which Industries must suffer and whicF
| must secure materials where there Is
! g shorteg Of material remains to oe
| attacked. Distribution !s still MADE
largely on the basis Of the highes'
| price offered.
| OF pressing moment. also. is the neec
of developing new sources OF suppl!
| Of raw materials. In sulphuric acle
an acute situation exists. Likewlsf
with regard to toluol.
Check on Deliveries.
| Another problem, Mr. Catchings says
La the close following Of progress mao
in the fulflment Of government or
| ders. Some departments follow up or
| ders. but this often consists merely o
making injuries about the time de-
| liveries are due.
purchasing in this country for GU
allies presents another pending prop
lem" Mr. Catchings continued. Dur
ing the past two years supplies wer'
secured thru we'll developed purchas
ing agencies or commissions. No long
or can this be continued. but no SUP
stitute ARRANGEMENTS has been, devel
oped"