Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-25
Accomplishments Of the
Council Of Natl Defense.
Announced by Clifford /.

mittee whose purpose L. to prevent ou-
pucation Of war work Ia the various
xovernment departments.
The Council has In the Naval Con.
sulting Board q board Of invent1onss
which just now IL investigating plans
to combat the submarine. The Board
Is headed by Thomas A. Edison and
numbers among its members some OF
the country's most noted scientists
and inventors. =,
A Commercial Economy Board. with
A. w. Shaw as its chairman, 10 study.
ing means by which commercial busi-
ness may best meet demands made on
It during the war. and how large
quantities Of supplies may b diverted
to government use without 'upsetttng
the essential services Of trade. This
board is studying q plan to economtze
on city delivery systems and IL in.
vestigating measures Of economy for
adoption by retail stores.
The coal problem is in the hands OF
a committee on coal production, head
ed by F. S. Peabody of Chicago. It is
assisting the War Railroad Board in
expediting the movement of coal and IL
taking measures to stimulate produc-
ton.
A womens defense committee was
created in April with DR.. Anna Howard
Shaw as its chairman. It's activities
will be directed along the following
lines:
Organization Of state committees,
registration of women for service with
the Food Administration, home and al
lied relief work, food production. con-
servation and thrift; educational
propaganda. protection of women and
child workers, conservation OF the
health and welfare of women, con-
servation Of the moral and spiritual
forces of the nation.
Scientific research is being conduct
ed by the National Research Council.
The work is under The direction Of DR..
George E. Hale and DR.. r. A. MillikAn.
The Research Council is co-ordinating
the research activities of the country
in the fields of science and engineering.
1t Is now engaged in studying devices
to detect submarines and mines, In
vestigating range finders and instru.
ments to detect invisible aircraft and
improving wireless apparatus.
A committee on shipping 10 working
with the Shipping Board on the
problem ,of increasing the eountrys
merchant tonnage.
The work Of state defense councils Is
co-ordinating through a department
headed by George F. Porter. II has
assisted in organizing state councils
and in giving them advice as to what
the Federal government expects Of the
states in assisting In the conduct of the
war.
Transportation questions are studied
by committee on transportation.
Daniel Willard. president Of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad, Is its chairman.
1t operates through a War Railroad
Board. Of which Fairfax Harrison,
president of the Southern Railway, 10
head. This board is running the vari-
Gus transportation lines as one CONT
mental system.
erence to fuel and is moving coai ahead
ably will be the next commodity givon
preferential shipment. Coal Is moved
in this order: fuel for the government,
for the roads on which mines are To-
Gated. for other steam roads and final-
ly for general purposes. The commit
tee recommended the personnel Of tho
AoAA O0A SSAAAll6SlOA UOW .fSO8Jl4s
1t is engaged in disseminating passen.
ger trains not considered essential ana
expects to discourage conventions and
other meetings that would require un-
usual train service.
Other accomplishments of the rail.
road board are given as follows:
Enlistment Of nine regiments of
engineers to rehabilitate the French
railway systems; an arrangement for
moving coal to the Pacific Coast in box
cars to prevent an uneconomical haul
back; expeditions movement of food
products"
Telephone and telegraph committees
OF the Council have arranged a system
of cooperation between the wire COM
panles and the government. Govern
ment calls are given preference.
Much army and macy purchasing has
been done by the committee on sup
plies. Of which Julius Rosenwald OF
Chicago is chairman. The committee
Is composed Of six business men chosen
from different industries, who are civ.
ing their entire time to the work. This
committee is said to have saved the
government millions of dollars in the
purchase of supplies. All army and
navy contracts, before signed, are sub.
mitted to the committee for approval.
and the committee in many instances
has instituted new purchas sing systems.
Associated with the committee are a
large number of subcommittee made
up OF experts on various commodities.
The committee on raw supplies,
headed by Bernard NJ. Baruch Of New
York, has organized the purchase Of
raw materials. 1t saved the govern
ment, according to the report. 10000
600 on the purchase Of supply Of cop
per.
Samuel Gompers' committee on labor
is engaged in settling industrial dis
pntes and maintaining existing labor
standards.
The Committee on Industrial Pre-
paredness has obtained $1,000 detailed
reports from the countrys larger
manufacturing plants as to capacity to
meet the governments industrial and
military needs during the war. This
information. the reports declares, will
prove invaluable in placing orders for
supplies.
Engineering problems are being
studied by an engineering committee
under DR.. Hollis Godfrey.