The sun., 1917-10-09
DEFENCE BOARD
ADVISERS TO BE
MADE UP ANEW
Director Clifford Receives
designations Of %: Many
More Will Follow.
NEW POWER RESTRICTED
Members Will No Longer
Speak for Government, but
Only Their Own Industry.


WASHINGTON, Oct S.-W. S. clifford,
director Of the Council Of National De-
fence. announced to-day a complete re-
organization Of the councils advisory
committee system. II will be the first
big shakcup in the council since Its or
ganization before a state Of war was de-
clared with Germany. Twenty-Five mem
| bers have resigned.
The -eadj;i=tmcnt which will be cf-
fected gradually. will mean that the $50
representatives Of industrial firms
throughout the United States who are
now advisory committees of the council
in a dual role. representing their par
ticuiar industry and the Government at
the same time. will hand in their resig-
nations to the council.
In the majority of cases probably they
will be rechosen to act on advisory COM
mittees that frankly only represent the
trades or industries with which they
happen to be affiliated. They will 1ot..
as In the past. assume to speak for the
Government or for the Council Of Ma
tional Defence. They will not use the
stationery of the council and their Corre-
I spondence will not carry with II the
Z
. can M Longer Purchase.
The great objection and criticism that
will be met by the reorganization Will
he that in future members OF committees
OF the Council Of National Defence will
not as agents OF the Government, pur-
chase materials or supplies from them
selves. as producers or manufacturers.
Neither will they, az agents OF the Gov
ernment, recommend purchases OF this
nature.
! The revolution in the committee sys-
/ tenn will conform to the spirit Of section
J Of the Lever food and fuel bill, which
/ forbade members of the war stan pur-
| chasing. or recommending the purchase
! OF materials in which they themselves
! had interest.
! II was said by Director clifford to-day
however. that the change in the commit
! tee system would have come at this time
even If the legislation had not been en-
acted. as it was conceded from the he
ginning that the appointment Of these
advisory committees from the nations
industries was merely a temporary en-
pcd.cnt. After this. however, the vari-
Gus industries will select their own COM
mittees. Each will represent its par
t!cular industry, but none will have any
thing to say except in "A purely advisory
capacity.
When the war broke out" said nj
, rector Clifford I'VE had 20 have the ad-
/ vice OF the industries Of the nation. The
industries, however. IN many instances
did not have the organizations or COM
mittecs to deal with us. Therefore, we
appointed the advisory committees We
knew that were technically incor-
rect. We knew that, in ordinary cirCum-
stances. il was wrong to place on com
! mittec g, man who at the same time rep
resented the Government and tho indus
. try with which he was connected A
situation in which man was permitted
the acrobatic liberty of sitting on both
, sides or the table at once was open To
criticism II was not sound business
Positions Not Misusrd.
But as say'it was absolutely neccs-
sary to have the heuefit and advice OF
these men at once. So We waived other
! considerations and appointed them. taxi
ing care however. that there should he
! none Of the misuse OF their positions
which Congress evidently fears has
taken place. This was provided against.
while IT appeared that "A man might
effect purchases by the Government from
his own firm this actually did not take
place The injury has been in this other
direction. Memners or committees nave
been 81 fearful Of taking advantage of
their membership on the committees that
the Government probably has been de-
privcd in some instances Of the benefits
~ their firms production.
"As the system worked out. the COM
mittees did not work directly with con-
tracing firms. but submitted their rec
concentrations for purchases to the
Council of National Defence, which sf-
tor passing on the recommendations
submitted them to the War or Navy
Department.
Mr.. clifford admitted that twenty
two members OF various Arms had re-
signed from the committees since the
Lever act had put han on persons
in the employment of the Government
recommending purchases from firms
with which they were connected None
Of the designations has been accepted
and in some cases the council is still
availing itself of their advice.