New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Head of Base Sorting
Plant Declares Criticism
Hampers U. S.
Brother Not Interested
Hint of Connection With De-
fence Council Adviser
Refuted

the following statement
AT the suggestion of the committee
Of supplies of the Council Of National
Defence. with the object Of conserving
the wool required for the men and
officers Of tina United States army, the
Base Sorting Plant, Inc, was organ
lied. The incorporators were chosen
by the Committee on National Defence
for their knowledge Of the situation,
for their experience and for their rep
utation.
Zach Of the incorporators, Nathan
iel c. Myers, Of S. Rawitser & Co..
Inc; Edward A. Stone, Of Stone
Brothers, Cleveland, and myself, paid
in onc-third Of the capitalization of
$4,000 without thought Of individual
profit or expectations of same. AZ the
same time, il became necessary 10
reach some tentative working agree
ment with the government, to cover
the ccst Of the work % be done, ana
an approximate price Of Six cents
round was agreed upon, 70 cover the
sorting of wool clippings used on gov
ornmcnt contracts, incoming freight
handling and carriage, insurance, over
head charges, etc.
at was also agreed that out Of this
six cents the profit should at no time
exceed one-half cent q pound, but this
was done with the understanding that
there should really be no profit accrue
and the contract was amended before
any discussion Of it ever became pub
lie. 10 the end that not one cent OF
proft or remuneration should accrue,
either directly or indirectly, 20 any in
d;yidual responsible for the organiza-
ton of the plant.
"Neyer Benefited" by Penny
"This agreement was made retroac-
tive. and none of the individuals inter
ested in the Base Sorting plant have
ever benefited 10 the extent Of one cent
Of profit in connection Herewith.
They have. on the other hand, foregone
large individual profits which they
might have made had they not under
taken this work for the Council Of Ma
tional Defence. The three companies
whose heads organized the Base Sort
ing Plant, Inc, would under ordinary
circum stances, had they not undertaken
government work from patriotic mo-
tive, handled 90 per cent OF the WOOL
clippings produced from government
contracts as private individuals and
private firms. and would have made the
normal business profit on the same.
"The statement as printed IN several
New York papers that the contract with
the Base Sorting Plant has been cam
celled by the government IS entirely
erroneous. The Base Sorting Plant eX-
poets to continue its work without
profit i'm the future, as in the past. En-
tirely aside from other questions, the
method of wool conservation for the
government, made possible by the crea-
ton of the plant, has saved to the gov
eminent hundreds Of thousands Of dol
lars worth of clippings from govern
ment contracts, which otherwise would
have gone TO the private contractors
for their own gain. II has shown the
government way in which the utmost
economy in operation could be achieved,
and has also been in large part respon-
sible for the speeding Of government
contracts.
at should be clearly understood by
the public that all the clippings sorted
and graded by the plant are clippings
Of government contract work, and that
these are shipped to contractors en-
gagged on further work for the govern
ment only at the specific direction OF
the War Department, which designates
the quantity and the mill TO receive the
same, together with the price TO be paid
TO the government.
Furthermore, the entire plant is UNI
der the constant supervision of in
spectors Of the War Department, is
visited from time to time by higher
officials, and is in a very real sense an
adjunct Of the War Department. The
mills which receive the clippings saved
IN this manner arc enabled TO effect
further saving because of the fact
that they get them at a lower cost
than they could possibly be purchased
in the open market, and are thereby
in a position 10 make a lower price
for their output to the government.
Enters Emphatic Denial
"Such statements as have appeared
regarding the Base Sorting Plant are.
! am sure, the result either of an in
complete understanding OF its purpose
and operation, or else must assuredly
have been Measurements made with
the intent TO embarrass the govern
ment.
"None of the mills in which my
brother, Emanuel, or the other men
who with me incorporated the Base
Sorting Plant are interested directly
or indirectly have ever received any
Of the wool clippings handled by the
plant, and thus not only have we in
no way personally proiited directly. but
it has been impossible FOR US to profit
indirectly.
81 feel that this statement should be
made by me az this time in justice
both to Dir. Stone and Mr.. Myer and TO
myself, and in order that the public
may have before il clear presentment
of the actual facts. feel that il also
should be made in justice 20 my
brother. Mr. Samuel ". Kaplan, who
has virtually abandoned his own bust
ness and gone TO Washington 10 serve
on the committee on supplies Of the
Council of National Defence, and who,
as leading wool substitute expert, CO.
operated with Charles Eiseman. also
Of the committee on supplies Of the
1 Council of National Defence, in de-
wishing this important plan OF wool
/ conservation in the interests of the
I government.
"ln conclusion, should like TO cor
rect the statement that either myself
I or my brother, Mr.. Samuel Kaplan, or
in fact. Mr.. Myer and Mr.. Stone, ever
/ had any personal acquaintance with
/ Mr.. Eiseman before we came together,
/ several months ago. in connection with
I .,,.,ripO tho trovarpunapf ~