The Washington herald., 1918-02-13
STETTINIUS TO
Be SURVEYING
EYE FORBAKER
Statement Explanatory Of
Reorganization Of War
Department Issue.

The War Department yesterday au-
thorized a statement explanatory OF
the memorandum Of the Secretary Of
War, made public February 10, direct
ing the issuance of general orders for
a reorganization OF the General Stan.
Many inquiries have been made con-
cerning the new system Of purchases
As the Director of Purchases and
Supplies. Brig. Gen. Palmer T. Pierce
viii have supervisory charge Of all
purchases made by the several pur-
chasing bureaus Of the War Depart
ment. Associated with and subordi-
nate to Gen. Pierce Is a civilian
Surveyor Of Purchases and Supplies.
Edward r. Stettinius. Of New York,
who was recently appointed
The function Of Mr.. Stettinius will
be largely that of a surveyor of the
Industrial field, and an accelerator Of
war supplies. He is to be largely in
strumental in maintaining an even
flow Of production to the purchasing
agencies OF the War Department. 1t
is within his province to keep track OF
the capacity and production Of con-
tractors. II there are changes in the
requirements Of the American expe-
ditionary forces, orders for those
changes must be passed on down the
line by Mr.. Stettinius, so that the pro-
ductiOn may be in accord with the de-
Tnand. Mr.. Stettinius will also watch
closely the transportation and ship
ping situation in order that the pro-
duction and deliveries of war ma
terials may properly proceed.
As "SuryeyIng Eye"
In other words, Stettinius. a busi-
ness man and purchasing agent Of
. vast experience, may tiEuratively be
called the surveying eye" for the
Director Of Purchases and Supplies.
who is a military officer and assistant
10 the Chief of Staff Mr.. Stettinius
will endeayor to mobilize industry for
the war needs OF the department and
when a certain article Is required he
will know where that article may be
readily obtained and the price at
which it may be obtained.
In conjunction with the division Of
which Brig. Gen. Pierce is the head,
the purchasing agencies OF the War
Department will continue their opera
.tions. 1t is not intended that the Di-
rector of Purchases and Supplies shall
take over the routine purchasing ac-
tivities of the several bureaus. He
will determine priorities of manufac-
ture and purchase. and make esti-
mates OF requirements. In this work
he will have at his disposal the
knowledge and business experience of
Mr.. Settinius.
e II tic Ordnance Department, for In
stance, should require 10000 shells
the procedure would be consultation
with the Surveyor of Purchases and
Supplies to ascertain with whom the
order should be placed, and when de-
liveries might be expected.
The Ordnance Department then
would proceed to purchase the shells,
as it has heretofore, and would draft
and execute a contract for the ma
teriaL Before final ratification this
contract passes through the hands OF
Brig. Gen. Pierce. Director Of Pur-
chases and Supplies. The actual de-
tails of the purchase. however. would
he handled by the Ordnance Depart
Inent and in the majority Of instances
the signed contract would be placed
before the Director Of Supplies and
Purchases for final wise.
In the case Of very large orders II
is likely that the Director OF Pur-
chases and Supplies will pass upon
The contract both before and after its
making.
The same system will prevail in the
letting of contracts for other materials
needed for the army-clOthes, shoes,
drugs, uniforms. food. etc.
The Office of Director of Purchases
and Supplies thus becomes a clearing
house for all orders placed by the
War Department. although the actual
details Of the contracts will be han
died as heretofore by the subordinate
bureaus The Director Of Purchases
and Supplies is the overhead purchas-
ing agency. with a general eye or
the Industrial field and a comprehen-
sive grasp of production conditions
and prices.