The Washington times., 1917-07-26
WILL APPOINT
SINGLE HEAD
TO PURCHASE.
FOR ENTENTE

The appointment by President
Wilson of q centralized purchasing
agency is hourly expected by those
who follow the trend of events in
Washington, says q Washington dis
patch to the Philadelphia Public
Ledger.
The choice, as has been surmised
for some time, probably will fall on
Bernard M. Baruch, at present mem
Der of the advisory committee, either
as chairman Of a purchasing board
or as sole purchasing agent for the
United States Government. There il
good reason to suppose, after the de-
velopments of last week, that the
idea of q board Of three will be
abandoned and the purchasing
power centralized in the hands of a
single individual. ~
Mr.. Baruch already has been tenta-
lively chosen as purchasing agent in
America for the allied governments
and thus would centraIi1e under his
authority the whole purchasing neld
on this side Of the water. 1t would
not be for lack OF opportunity that he
would fail to take quick and decisive
action, obtain fair prices. and clear
up the uncertainty that latterly has
been undermining the business situ-
stion- Business can conform TO all
most any fixed and known demand,
but uncertainty Is its natural and in
evitable destroyer.
Guided by Shipping Row.
II President Wilson had determined
upon an Individual purchasing agent
instead of . board, 1t is fair to as
sumo that he has taken this fact largely
into account in coming to his deci-
sion He doubtless has realized that
the factor OF uncertainty would not
be wholly removed under a divided
authority. The experience of the
shipping controversy might lend espe-
cial point to this argument
The President might feel that dis
sensions would be bound to arise
within the board; that rival theories
as to prices and proflts would clash
sooner or later; that disgruntled SELL
ers would be running with their
grievances to the opposite camp, and
that a dozen controversies would soon
be started in place OF the one just
settled by the elimination OF the two
contending principals.
In addition to this the President
has, OF course, been made fully aware
~ he rn1FFFrG1 -
by the desire Of Congress to limit the
authority Of Mr.. Hoover as food ad-
ministrator. That Congress favors a
division OF authority in Mr.. Hoover's
case is q black eye to the general
method, whatever good arguments
there may be in Its favor.
Opposes War Board.
President Wilson has expressed
himself vigorously on this point in
his letter to Congressman Lever, say
ing he would consider the proposed
amendment to the food bill dividing
the authority OF the food admInIst-
traitor as an indication OF lack of
confidence in himself. In this letter
the President definitely took his
stand on the side Of one-man admin
istrative control
It may be that at that date he
already had made uo bis mind re-
EardIng q purchasing agency. had
determined to have It also a one
man executive power, and will insist
upon a clear field of action for Mr..
Baruch as emphatically as he has for
Mr.. Hoover.
The fact may As we'll be faced at
once that the post OF purchasing
agent such as the President evidently
intends to create. would carry with II
enormous administrative powers.
Upon the decisions OF the man or
agency vested with these powers
would depend the making or break
ing OF the industrial situation for the
war period upon which the United
States has now entered, and the con
sequent success or failure OF America
aE a war machine.