The Washington herald., 1917-11-11

| gained from a statement by one who
knows that these men were at their
desks eighteen out Of the twenty
four hours Of every day. System has
been reduced to q science here. Every
contract. proposition. bid. voucher
proceeds along a definite course until
the complete document Is filed as q
permanent record. There Is no clog
ging. no delays and absolutely no "red
| tape"
The officer in charge and in full
control of constructing all canton
ments to be built throughout the coun-
try is Gen. i. w. Littell. He reports
directly to the Quartermaster uen-
eral and Secretary of War. His as
sistant, Mrj. Dempsey, 10 known as
the contracting officer, and he exc
Pcutes the contracts and disburses
funds for the cantonment division.
Representing these two there are
officers at each cantonment, known
as cantonment contracting officers,
and their decision In all matters re-
lating to the work is final, unless
appealed and taken to the contract
ing officer.
The central auditor forms a chan
mel OF communication between the di-
vision officers and the various Of
feeds In Washington. The division
officers superintend all matters in their
respective districts. Each office ad-
ministers one or more cantonments.
and reports weekly to the contracting
officer. sending all communications in
duplicate through the central audi
tor.
Thorough System Evolved.
1t Is interesting to note from the
formation chart aduiting how the re-
cording. disbursing and filing Is car
ried on.
After a contract has been nego-
tiated between the government and
the contractor three copies are made,
one going to the auditing office. one
to the receiving department and one
to the inspection department. A du-
plicate invoice is entered on an in
dividual invoice record. This rec
ord carries all the essentials, in
cluding prices and special data, and
such other extensions as are desired
After this an invoice Is prepared and
checked by the receiving and inspec-
ton departments, a voucher is pre-
pared and a draft issued.
Each division auditor has a chief
clerk and stenographer and in the
Washington Office there are eight
clerks, stenographers and messen-
gers, while at the cantonments there
Is a field auditor. his chief clerk, and
about a hundred assistants, the ma
jority being receiving clerks and as
sistant time-keepers.
One payroll, in sheets of 15x17, used
up 800 pages, making a book six
Inches in thickness.
Helped by b fE Men.
The best-known actuaries in the
country. among them Capt. S. H.
Wolfe, of national reputation. volun-
teered for service. and such matters
as insurance. workmen's compensa-
ton. bonds. liability and other prob
lens incident to big undertakings |
have been definitely cared for. In |
fact, the country can never repay the |
big railway and insurance men for |
the services rendered. Low rates, all |
the advantages accruing from a sense |
of patriotism, have been coming to
the government in a most heartening |
way.
Maj. Dempsey has said the ready |
response of the large business inter-
ests coming at once to extend special
facilities toward the rapid PERFORM
ance of this gigantic task has been
most satisfactory to those in charge.
Perhaps the keynote of the entire
situation has been in quick adaptable
ity Of business methods or the using
Of forms and customs employed in the
operations of individual firms and of /
contractors handling like work. In
other words, to avoid any confusion.
entailed by changing of methods, the
and material dealers used