South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-28
Block OHoH>5 territory OCCUPIED By German
mite LINED sko.vs k2ozf6e4 kzsvck 2/from
DLk77c<oe 10 Loon.
Multiplying Navy Purchase By Is

The navy needed transportation on sea land. All
the problems Of chartering ships for worldwide
distribution of supplies coal and provisions going out
to the fleet, and nitrate and shelIac coming in
naval vessels placed in charge Of Benjamin T.
Young expert ship chartering and trans
port who severed his connection with big New YorH
shipping concern for the period of the Trans
portaton on land aiken by o. NJ. Ellsworth
who left a remUnerative position with big railway
system to enter Uncle SANS service.
again and again DEPARTMENT to deal with foodstufs
provided under f. A. Tlman; another dealing
with lumber under c. NJ. Morford and another dealing
with leather and allied materials under j. w. Mcintosh
CONTROL REMAINS INSIDE.
The general standard of ability by the navy
its civilian experts is that each man must be worth
several times what the pays him in salary, AMI
period the war absolutely outside talent with
side control" is the principle followed and this has
worked we'll that the navy never been obliged
TO seek advisory service outside its own organization
Growth has been entirely from within out
While other departments of the government we're
seeking auxiliary working quarters in office buildings
apartment houses and like places during the first rush
activity last May. the bureau of supplies and
accounts met first problem expansion
genious way which illustrated the working of prin-
ciple of growth inside Instead
seeking an office building TO house additional en-
ployes bureau erected 80 days a temporary
inside the central court of the state War,
and Navy building in Washington. This structure.
called Sanda ct, anagram used the bureaus
cable address is notable in that room Is provided
which can by anyone without pass question
Formally. There door, entered from the
street, giving to a room called the pubc-s
ROOM" and there any person interested in offering a
bid on navy supplies wishing that bids
opened fairly and watch Gil transactions. En-
ployes engaged in opening the thousands Of bids
ceved daily open view of any person
wants to enter this AS fast bids opened.
the amounts of each item posted in books ana
placed upon counters. where anyone may examine
them learning all the facts about the prices bid by
competitors
The navy needed chemicals and Donald Riley
from a large chemical take charge OF this
department 1t needed industrial accounting and a
great accounting machinery concern made arrange
ments whereby c. $. AshdOwn took that activity in
hand giving all his time the development OF account
ing systems bureaus transactions multiplied.
ADMIRAL McGOWAN'S VIEWS.
Admiral McGowan's views on publicity for govern
purchases very pronounced.
In handling other peoples money things
only right" he says. but they look right
And the way Of having them look right, in ms
belief the public supervise operations the
extent. only in has the navy found il
cessary keep any information about its purchases
confidential and in secrecy is necessary for
but a very small fraction of the purchasing. where
knowledge of details might afford ssistance the
Centralized purchasing with we'll planned Organi-
cation has made II possible the navy increase
oy thousands per merely without
congestion other difficulties. but th actual increase
in income and efficiency. purchases have grown
larger and numerous they have been handled with
greater speed and at lower Administrative work
large quantities is greater than small quaint
ties and more trouble open bids, the
contract and sign a check for 10000 pur
chase than for OF $40. the machinery being the
in every
And with growth gnitude there has been everv
the quality of supplies purchased for
navy. When entered the war, confusion existed