Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-15
BAKERS PLAN
HASCHAMPlON

DANIEL WILLARD ADVISES SEN
ATE COMMITTEE TO
\ TRY IT.
I Washington. D. c., Jan. 14.-Danie
Willard, chairman of the war indust
'ries board today testified in the sen
ate military committees war inqulr,
that he had advocated creation OF
: government minister of munitions but
now was in favor of trying out the
new war department reorganization.
Mr.. Willard the first witness today
reminded the committee that When
1.-THE advisory commission Of the coun
Gil of national. defense was organized
it was regarded as peace organlza
ton formed to secure industrial IN
formation for use in case of war. 1t
was largely voluntary and had no
legal standing.
APPROVES COMMITTEE WORK.
He said he felt the committee had
rendered very valuable assistance es.
pecially the supplies committee OF
,Mr. Rosenwald.
The chief purposes of the war in
dustries board, Mr.. Willard stated as
follows:
'To prevent unnecessary competl-
ton between government agencies, to
determine questions of priority, to dis
cover sources of supply and produc-
ton and to prevent unnecessary dis
ruption Of industry. J..
ibid it work. out satisfactorily
asked Senator Weeks.
COORDINATION Is LACKING.
IT dom think it worked satisfactor-
ily,' ME-. Willard replied. It was not
perfect, but it worked much better
than, think, is generally supposed.
Undoubtedly mistakes were made but
on the whole think the accomplish
ments were creditable under all the
circumstances"
Lack Of coordination between var
ious government agencies was "gener-
ally recognized" Mr.. Willard said,
but he thought it was to be expected,
with ten or twelve separate purchas-
ing agencies.
SEES BIG IMPROVEMENT.
The war department reorganization
with its change in purchasing Mr..
Willard declared to be Infinitely bet
ter" than that of six months ago.
II am distinctly in favor OF what the
secretary; Of war has done so far" he
said. Putting the army purchasing
departments on the most ef11cient
basis is what is being done, l am in
full sympathy with the character OF
the organization"
Mr.. Willard said he first favored the
establishment Of a minister OF NUM-
tons but Secretary Baker asked him
to keep his mind open until he con-
sidered reorganization plans.
COCKTAILS SAVES DAY.
II had very little confidence at
first" Mr.. Willard said, "that we
could make the war department re-
organization work. with men like
General Goethals at the head Of the
army activities, however. Mr.. Viii.
lard said he believed it would be OPP
Grated efficiently.
Army and navy supplies co-ordina-
ton, he thought, could be effected I'M
der the plan submitted by Secretary
Baker.
ONE WEAKNESS IN PLAN.
1T has one fault" said Mr.. Viii.
lard. at is good plan and can be
made to work, but after all it is pure
ly voluntary. II every one co-operates
it will work. 1t is weak there"
Instead of the war industries board
being the head Of the new organiza-
ton Mr.. Willard suggested that one
man, with authority from the presi-
dent to decide differences between
various departments, would secure
PRAISES CIVILIANS.
The day of advisory committee
functions" has passed in conducting
the war, Mr.. Willard said, praising the
work of civilians who have helped the
government.
II have yet to hear Of a single in
who has not done everything
possible for the government" he said.
III the truth were known the govern
ment was never better served. But
now is time to do things, not advise.
When we consider our present state
and our utter unpreparedness we have
done pretty we'll"
FOR ZONE MAN" CONTROL.
In comparing navy and army pur-
chasing methods Mr.. Willard said the
as great and not comparable with the /,
navy's.
Barnard NJ. Barusch, another mem
Der of the war industries board, called |
by the committee, recommended zone |
man" control Of munitions, a single |
Individual not member of the cab |
met, but acting solely and directly un-
der the president and going even far
Their than the British system.
II am in favor of highly centralized
said MIR. Barusch.