Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-18
TOD MUCH RED TAPE
IN GETTING MONEY.
CEN. CROZ|ER SAYS
Ordnance Chief Continues les
timOny on Situation at Open
Session of Senate Military
Committee

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Inquiry into
alleged delays in supplying the army
with guns and the curtailment of funds
recommended by the ordnance bureau for
that purpose was taken up again today
in open session by the senate military
committee after a two days examination
OF Major General CrOzier behind closed
doors
General Crozier continued his detailed
statement of the ordnance situation as
Tar as il revealed nothing the war de-
psrtment considers a military secret.
At Saturdays hearing General Crozier
told the committee that while congress
had been generous with funds the APP
preparations recommended by the gener-
al staff invariably were reduced by civil
ian executives. and the reduction of
ordnance was chargeable to executive
action.
General Crozier declared there was
entirely too much red tape" in getting
money. While an emergency appropria-
tiOn request for lump appropriation of
S2.932,531 was made by the war depart
ment April 3, the day before the war
was declared, il was June before con-
Sress made appropriations nder the es-
Inmates.
But you had millions of dollars left
Of appropriations made a year before .
!
have not been entirely satisfied with any
explanation made of this matter. For
instance. you had money appropriated
for machine guns and you haven't the
guns yet We appropriated for small
arms and you spent the money for pis-
tolls instead OF rifles
we were far shorter of pistols than
rifles" General Crozier answered. I'VE
are not going TO be slowed up in this
war in the slightest degree on account
OF rifles"
Il don't think the country will be sat
ished with that explanation" Senator
Chamberlain insisted. We need rifles
for target practice. and training purposes
and in the field"
How prospective appropriations by
congress were anticipated was recite6
by General Crozier. For instance, he
said orders were placed for 100000
rounds of ammunition early last spring
before any funds were available. He de-
tailed how many new factories that had
never before made gun fOrgings were
given large contracts, TO increase ord
nance production
we have placed orders Of more than
81. 500. 000, 900 since the war began"
General Croker explained, citing the
magnitude OF operations That is more
than 50 per cent over the entire govern
ment's expenses for any years since the
spanish war"
Senator Wadsvorth asked whether
the government should have an officer
or department similar TO Englands min
lister of munitions.
MY own belief Is that the better
way is TO enlarge and strength existing
organiLat iOns rather than create new
ones General CrOzier replied quick
or results have been obtained here than
by the British organization"
Senator Hitchcock said that il seemed
there was an unusual length OF time
between appropriations and deliveries
and asked whether the war department
had considered any speeding up plan
We think and. I think. the country
thinks that there has been too much
delay. too much red tape, too much
decentralization in the department said
Senator Hitchcock Has any enort
been made to shorten up the processes?
YES a great deal of red tape has
boeu eliminated" said General Crozier.