Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-29

engagements for this afternoon,
including the cabinet meeting and
remained in the white house study
at work. There was no outward
indications Of whether the inter-
national situation or the attacks
on the war department in congress
are engaging the presidents atten.
ton.
It was said at the white house
Offices that the president had
slight cold.
Washington, "a c., Jan. 25-Edward
r. Stettnius of New York was ap-
pointed today as surveyor general for
al army purchases.
Secretary Baker, in making the an
Aouncement said:
mi. Edward R Stettinius Of New
York has been appointed surveyor
general of all army purchases. He will
be in charge Of the procurement and
production of all supplies by the FIVE
army bureaus, namely:
Ordnance, quartermaster, signal,
engineer and medical.
TO COORDINATE PURCHASES.
1T viii be his duty to coordinate
such purchases and properly relate
the same to industry to the end that
the army program be developed under
. comprehensive plan which will best
utilize the resources Of the country.
From the outbreak of the war Mr..
Stettinius has been in sole charge of
the allied purchases in this country
and has been responsible for the de-
velopment Of the production of war
materials. His intimate knowledge OF
conditions in Europe and in the United
States as related to industry and the
practical means he has used to ac-
complish his plans pre-eminently quail
ify him for the position.
"Mr. Stettinius will assume his new
duties at once and establish his Office
in Washington"
TO FORESTALL LEGISLATION.
The appointment of Mr. Stettinius
TO the new post, which is in effect that
of munitions supervisor and director
for all war department purchases. was
viewed as the answer of the admins.
tration to the munitions ministry bill
pending in the senate. It effects
complete consolidation of all war de-
partment supply questions under the
surveyor general and on the face Of
the statement issued by Mr.. Baker,
Mr.. Stettinius is to be backed by
complete authority in his responsible
position.
When the European war broke out
in 1914 and the allied governments
particularly Great Britain. came to
the United States for munitions and
money, it was found necessary by J. p.
Morgan and company, who hoated
allied loans in this country. to central
ize expenditures under one man in
order to obtain efficient results.
HAS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. Stettinius has been engaged on
that task since that date and is re-
garded by the administration as the
best Informed man available for such
post as that to which he has now
been assigned.
Mr.. Stettinius was not member of
the Morgan firm at the beginning of
the war but was president of the
Diamond Match company and con-
nected with other corporations. He is
native Of st. Louis and born of
American parents.
WILL NOT HALT INQUIRY.
When advised Of Mr.. Stettinius' ap.
It would not cause the committee to
halt its proposal for munitions direc.
tor, although he and other committee
members regarded the appointment as
progress in reorganization.
Secretary Baker today asked Sena-
tor Chamberlain, chairman of the sen.
ate's committee on military affairs. to
arrange for a hearing at which all
members of congress disposed to at
tend may do so and hear statement
in reply to the senator's charges of
ineficiency in the army.
LETTER TO CHAMBERLAIN.
Secretary Baker sent the following
letter to the senator:
my Dear Senator Cham berlain: :
The questions which have arisen with
regard to the conduct of the war re-
ouire an explicit statement from me
for the information of your committee
and generally for the information OF
congress and the country.
81 feel that in justice l owe such
statements to the splendid officers
and men Of the army who have forgot
ten themselves and labored with self
sacrifice and, as | think, success, in
the building of a great army.
DUTY TO HELPERS.
ut is due also to the great number
of men of business and of affairs who
have accepted the invitation OF the
war department to come to Washing
ton and brought their business expe-
rience, their talents and their judg-
ment to the work in hand. And,
think the people of the country are
entitled to have at least a summary OF
what has been done by America in the
war.
81, therefore respectfully request
that your committee arrange an oppor-
tunity for me to make such statement
and that the same time and place be
fixed as to enable all members of the
senate and the house of representa-
tives who are disposed to attend.
IF this request can be complied