Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-20
NAVY INQUIRY RESTS
Until liter RECESS
Admiral MCGOWAN Testifies
There Is No Red Tape in
Making Purchases.

Further inquiry into the Nays par
ticipation in the war has been deferred
until after the Christmas recess of
Congress. The subcommittee Of the
House committee on naval affairs adj
jourried last night without hiking any
time to resume hearings.
Following the testimony Of secre-
tary Daniels, Rear Admiral MCGOWAN
took the stand yesterday afternoon.
Admiral MCGOWAN submitted an order
issued by him some months ago d.
recting that Admiral Sims requests
for supplies be acted upon on the same
day they were received.
The paymaster general was asked
why the 100000 appropriated at q
previous session Of Congress for ac-
curing the basic patents for aircraft
remains unexpended, but the answer
WAS left to be made by Capt. Irwin
Of the aircraft board. who Will DO called
later.
Admiral MCGOWAN explained the
method OF expediting naval transport
tation by voucher" system to inform
United States Navy. discontinued three
weeks ago by the railroad car service
committee.
Cla1m OF ha1lrOaQS.
viii you get as expeditions ship
ments now?s' he was asked.
I'VE do not believe SO. The rail-
roads claim we will. They claim others
abused the plan"
Admiral MCGOWAN explained to the
committee that all purchases for the
entire naval establishment, except ar
NOR plate. guns and ammunition, had
been centralized in the bureau OF sup
plies and accounts under his direction
50 that advantage could be taken of
favorable market conditions. Now
however. the markets are abnormal, he
said. this having reflected in Increased
daily ration allowance.
AS an Illustration Of how the bureau
operates to secure needed supplies
when none are available on the open
ing 1000 tons Of tin.
Did Not Want to Give Tin.
I'VE needed the tin and tried to get
it," the witness said, but the tin-plate
people did not want to give 1t up be-
cause 1t would interfere with their
stocks. The war Industries board had
no power to commander the tin. We
found out whore there were tin stocks
and sent naval officers to the places
with orders to hold the tin subject to
Navy orders. It wasn't commander
ui6 VIC Jdot 6CAZSQ II. w e wanted TO
force into the market for spot sales
any amount of tin out of the hands of
speculation. The market price was 81 \
the Navy price. 81.
What we have is in a common pool
and II the Army should need tin we
will be glad to cooperate with them"
A letter from the war industries
board to Gen. MCGOWAN thanking him
for the action with respect to tin was
read and the witness said he had re-
ceived very great assistance from that
board. adding that there was cordial
cooperation and harmony between the
bureau and all other governmental
agencies.
The witness said the bureau has en-
listed practically every manufacturer
in the United States in It's field Of bid
ding and that 1t had 1900 firms on it's
mailing list.
Questioned by Representative Wilson,
Texas, he said many expert civilians
were devoting their time at small sa1a.
ries In his bureau.
I'm general" he added, '.thsrs II not
a job-seeker among the whole lot
They're hand-picked. I 'shanghaied'
some OF these civilians. and have re-
fused to accept designations"
Would Have Been Avoided.