Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-27
BAKERS CONFIDENCE
IN CROzIER AND IN
SHARPE NOT SHAKEN
Secretary Of War Says That
Many of Committees Sug-
gestiOnS Carried Out

today, Secretary of War Baker ex-
pressed the greatest confidence in
Sharpe and other department heads
under fire. He made it clear that the
newly formed war council is now do
ling much that the probers are demand
ing.
This council he plans to have do the
task of a ministry of munitions and
to that end he has swept aside much
red tape, granting the council tartling
bread powers.
General Crozier chief of ordnance,
bitterly attacked by gun manufactur-
ers and others for lack of foresight in
! supplying the American 'l1rmy with
guns and munitions; Quartermaster
General Sharpe assailed for failure to
provide adequate clothing for soldiers
in training and others now in the
council viii remain there until prov
ed Inefficient.
Baker made this clear, adding that
these men bring to their work expert
ence in their own branches.
The war council will be the direct
ling head of the war department.
viii Commander Plants
The probers drew from Sharpe that
the government is preparing to com
mandeer plants which are charging
too high prices.
On Recommendation of Charles Els
man, q defense council committeeman,
Sharpe said the government last Sep
temper began paying six cents
pound for sorting cloth scraps, which
are salvaged and later sold
admitted, that he made an investiga-
tion which disclosed the sorting could
be done for two cents a pound. Mem
bers of the senate committee tried un-
successfully to learn from Sharpe
whether defense council members
were interested in this sorting COM
pany. Sharpe admitted he never at
tempted to find out. A years business
from these government scrap sales
amounts to 100000. A private com
pany was formed especially to handle
it.
Sharpe Defends Council
The probers persisted in trying to
force Sharpe to admit that the coun-
ell had taken his authority away
without any legal right. Sharpe de-
Tended the big business men of the
council.
Sharpe uncovered a new delay in
war plans when he stated that the
general staff and the war college had
squabbled ov or establishment of a
quartermaste-s school. 1t is running
now, but if there hadn It been this de-
lay, Sharpe said, he would haYe been
better equipped to handle the situa-
tion.
Sharpe explained that 100000 men
in training camps are without ever
coats because cloth deliveries have
been slow.
Senator Frelinghuysen, New Jersey,
developed that the defense council
had changed specifications, delaying
The lightweight uniforms furnish
ed American troops in France bobbed
up again at this point. Sharpe was
scored by Senator Wadsworth when
the witness admitted he never heard !
of meeting of cloth makers who rec
twenty ounce instead of
the present sixteen ounce cloth.
Took PersAing's Advice
General Pershing was asked if he
wanted to change the specifications,
said Sharpe, and in reply the Ameri-
can commander suggested buying the |
same weight cloth as England.
The probers demanded Sharpe tell /
them when he began supplying cloth !
ing for the army. He could not re-
member the dates. He said he learned |
-n May 20 that 1,500, 900 would have /
to be provided for. He went ahead on
his own initiative, he said.
"When will ycu have clothes and .
equipment for all these menu asked .
Senator McKallar.
Hindered By Strikes
"Well, / hope early next year, re-
Piled Sharpe. "Strikes in arment fac
5ories were another cause of delay"
ne said
81 told the depot quartermaster at
Philadelphia to take the elcth away
from factories with strikes and give
It to others.
Senator hitchcock read figures sub
nitted by Sharpe showing that on
November 80 overcoat deliveries were
L6 per cent behind; cotton goods SO
Der cent; winter underwear 20 per
.ent; leggings 46 per cent.
When you learned that, what
iteps did you take?'" asked Hitch
.ock.
We wrote to the manufacturers,
sharpe answered.
Have you taken emphatic steps
o get strikes settledf' asked Sena-
or McKallar
81 We taken them up with Stanley
King of Boston, Secretary Baker 8 adj
User on labor matters" said Sharpe.
Repeated inquiry as to King aud
What his authority is failed to bring
more definite information
Wants information
Senator McKallar asked Sharpe to
Camps Dodge, Doniphan,
funston, Wadsworth, Fremont, Sheri-
an, Greene and Pike at once to learn
low many overeoats and woOlen
'louses are needed there.
This is the information the commit
ee yesterday asked Secretary Baker
0 get When the committee adjourn
d TODAY it had not received a reply
rom Baker.
Determination Of the committee TO
o thoroughly. into the woolen situa-
ion was evidenced by requests that
ubpoenas be sent William Woods Of
he American Woolen company; Col
mel Hirsch, who, made contracts for
-oolea cloth: and officials Of half a
ozen r~on1an manufacturing concerns /