The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-07-26

ganlzarion. Growth has been entirely
from within out
Can See Bids Opened.
In Sandal court, the bureaus tenn
porary structure In the central court OF
the state, war and navy building
room is provided which can be entered
by anyone without pass. question. or
formality. There Is an open door en-
tered from the street, giving access 10
a room called The Public's Room,
and there any person Interested IN OF
fering bid on navy supplies or wish
ing 10 see that bids are opened falriy
can 20 and watch all transactions.
Employees engaged In opening the
thousands Of bids received daily Work
In open yew Of any person VINO wants
TO enter this room. AS fast as BIDS
are opened the amounts Of each item
are posted IN books and placed upon
counters. where anyone may examine
them learning all the facts about the
prices bid by competitors.
Admiral McGowan's views on pub
llcity for government purchases are
very pronounced.
In handling other peoples money
things must not only be right, ne
says, but they must look right Ana
the best way OF having them look right
In his belief, is to let the public super
wise operations to the utmost extent.
only In war has the navy found II
necessary TO keep any Information
about its purchases confidential, ana
even In war secrecy Is necessary Tor
but IA very small fraction of the pur-
chasing. where knowledge OF details
might afford assistance to the enemy.
Centralized purchasing with we'll
Planned organization has made 1t pos
sible for the navy to Increase It's turn
over many thousand per cent, not mere
ly without congestion or other DIM
culties. but with actual Increase IN
incomes and efficiency. AS purchases
have grown larger and more numerous
they have been handled with greater
speed ana AT lower COST.
Quality safeouarded.
And with growth and magnitude
there has been every care to safeguard
the quality of supplies purchased Tor
the navy. When we entered the war
confusion existed In commodity mar
kets, and there was apparent short
age of wool and other supplies. 1t was
believed for time that navy specifi'
cations would have to be revised. with
d lowering Of quality. But the bureau
OF supplies and accounts took deter
mined stand on that point. Very often
In view of assumed conditions, 1t look
ed like a stiff-necked stand against
reasonableness. Despite widespread
belief among textile men that navy
uniforms would have to be made partly
OF shoddy, IL the enormous require
ments were to be promptly met. the
bureau refused to consider any lower
Ing of It's standards for uniform cloth
and, through the department Of agrl
culture, secured actual figures regard
T. luz iHt VIVA SUM 80 Nhft
country ut that time. This survey no
only proved that there was ample WOO
in the country for military purposes
but checked wildly rising market
The same stand has been taken or
food for our sailors, coal for battle
ships, and practically every article re
quIred by the navy.
The best that Is humanity possible,
says Admiral MCGOWAN. "is none too
good for the men at the front, wheth
er they be in the army or navy.
hold myself personally accountable II
every father. and every mother, ant
every wife, and every sweetheart. tina
the men l have any supervision ant
care over are as well clothed and a:
well fed as 1t Is possible for them tt
be. l acknowledge that as persona
responsibility resting on me. I freel,
acknowledge Il; excuses are not re
cetvable, and alibls are not accepted
What we want for the navy Is IN,
best I"