Western Kansas world., 1918-07-25

eouraged under the policy of the navy
department to deal direct with the de-
partment- The purpose Is to eliminate
the middleman in purchases OF sup
plies and materials.
I'm my annual report" says Rear
Admiral Samuel MCGOWAN, "manufac-
turers were warned against profiteer-
ing agents, professional contractors,
and naval brokers. In our regular mail
ing circulars Of January 8. 1918. we ex-
pressed the hope that manufacturers
who have not availed themselves of
the opportunity to bid direct will do
so, as it viii prove of advantage to
them in bringing them in more inti-
mate touch with the navy and thereby
make a reputation for the materials
which they manufacture
1.-The fact is the responsibility of
contractors was never so thoroughly
investigated and they were never held
to a stricter accountability than they
have been since this country entered
the war. The number of responsible
direct bidders has increased greatly
and the number of agents and interme-
diaries has been reduced to a min
imum- The safeguards against profit
eering have been strengthened, not re-
laxed"
There are over 1900 names on the
bidders list OF the navy bureau of
supplies and accounts, representing
every section of the country, These
manufacturers and dealers furnish
over 10000 classes of articles used by
the navy.
Because of an acute shortage in the
supply of paper the war industries
board announced. effective July Is,
the following preliminary economies
to be enforced by newspapers pub
fishing a daily and weekly edition:
Discontinue the acceptance or the re-
turn of unsold copies.
Discontinue the use of all sample or
free promotion copies.
Discontinue giving copies to any
body except for office-working copies
or where required by statute law in
the official advertising. =
Discontinue giving free copies to ad
vertisers, except not more than one
copy for checking purposes.
Discontinue the arbitrary forcing of
copies on news dealers Il. e., compell-
ing them to buy more copies than
hold certain territory.
Discontinue the buying back of pa
pers at either wholesale or retail sell
ing price from dealers or agents in
order to secure preferential represent
alton.
Discontinue the payment of salaries
or commissions to agents, dealers. or
newsboys for the purpose of securing
the equivalent of return privileges.
Discontinue all free exchanges.
Three hundred applicants for stu
dent nurses to enter training schools
in the base hospitals at cantonments
were accepted recently. There have
been more than a thousand applica-
tions for entrance in these army
schools of nursing since the govern
ment sent out its call for student
nurses.
The majority of those offering their
services have been college women, or
women with complete high-school
education. The training units will be
assigned, it is expected, during the
present month. Each unit will num-
ber 25 or so student nurses and will
be supervised by an accredited and
complete nursing instructor and a
trained woman who will be response
BILE for the physical welfare and rec
reatfon.
The service bureau of the commit
tee on public Information has taken
over various departmental independent
information bureaus at Union station,
Washington, will consolidate and reor-
ganize them and be prepared to give
all visitors information on govern
ment business and the names and loca-
ton of those clothed with authority to
speak and act for the government.
Since the service bureau opened Of
fees May 1t has built up card-in-
dex system with $4,000 entries, many
of the cards being subject to daily
revisions and correction. In recent
week the bureau handled 1880 visit
ors seeking special information and
answered an average of $50 query let
terS daily.
The medical department, United
States army, needs women as recon-
struction aids. The Office Of the sur
geon general announces: "The work
of reconstruction aids is divided into
two sections. (1) those women who