The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-07
SHODDY MAKERS
CAUSED A SCARE
Expert Says They Raised a
Cry of Wool Shortage to
Help Themselves
SUPPLY WAS AMPLE
FOR WHOLE ARMY
Supplies Committee of National Coun-
Gil of Defense Blamed for Shortage
in Army Clothing-D Difficult to Fix the
Responsibility.

in Army Clothing Difficult to Fix the
Responsibility.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Certain per
sons interested in making money out of
shOddy set up ''wool shortage scare,
as a result of which shoddy has been
used in United States army uniforms
and in civilian clothing, according TO
William Bianchi, a New York wool ex-
committee investigating military at
fairs
! His view was to some extent corrob
grated by the testimony Of Col, Elmer
| Lindsey, who asserted that the cloth
| ing and blankets of Americans con
| tanned much shoddv and are Of inferior
| quality, and who blamed the supplies
committee of the council Of national
defence for the shortage in army cloth
| ing.
| Bianchi, who dealt with the French
and Italian governments, told the com
mittee there was enough pure wool
available for all the troops the United
States would have in three years. He
| denounced the use of shoddy, which
| Eisenman had testified was decided on
to save wool.
- 1t was an unnecessary scare. prob
ably to foster some special plan to pro
mote use of shoddv, not only in army.
but also in civilian clothing said he
He thought persons interested in MAX
ing market in this country for shoddv
! promoted the wool scare MANY
'shoddy mills he said, could not
make all wool garments and therefore
II shoddy had not been specified for
army clothing, could not have secured
any government contracts.
| European armies he asserted. are bet
ter clothed than American soldiers. ana
he severely criticised the use Of shoddv.
declaring it wholly unnecessary.
Col. Lindsey contraticted the recent
testimony of Vice Chairman Eisenman
OF the Supplies committee that the com
mlttee had secured an abundance on
cloth for army needs He said There
now is a shortage of 900, 900 wards
OF cloth. and that the supplies commit
tee system is responsible for both de-
lays and friction
Testimony by Eisenman that the sup
Plies committee had taken no rart in
letting manufacturing contracts he also
contradicted
Some of the blankets. bought under
new specifications OF the gnpplies com
mittee, reducing weight and wool con
tent, Col Lindsey testified. .'were very
| INFERIOR
Garment manufacturers, the witness
said, are without sufficient cloth TO keen
their factories working TO capacity. and
III that connection he said that "hao.
CLING by the COMMITTEES with tae
American Wooden Company last summer
over prices had caused n loss to the
government OF 5000, 900 wards of cloth
many looms being idle for two or three
months. Strikes of garment makers
also have caused some DELAY. he said
kerltng Eisenman = statement that
excess supplies of cloth were furnished
and Quattermaster-G General Shame :
testimony, supported by Col. Lindsey.
mat cloth was short, Chairman Cham
, berlain declared:
the responsibility for the SHORTAGE
OF army clothing rests right ON ,a9t
contradiction-either on the solnnlias
committee for not securing cloth. or on
the quartermaSter generals office for
not making the cloth into garments.
we are gong TO clear that up. -
Because OF the divided responsibility
, Col, Lindsey said it would be hard 70
, exactly fix responsibility for the cloth.
; ing shortage.
) "Then it is on BOTH Chairman
| Chamberlain interjected
A telegram from David Kirschbanm
, of Philadelphia, vice president of the Ma
g tlonal Association of Clothing Nanufac.
, tuners, read by Senator FrelinchuvSen
declared new labor clauses pronoaad
e Tor government garment making con.
; tracts would cause strikes, serious labor
e disturbances and reduce production,
' Col. Llndsley said he understood thc
new contract III effect, would force omen
; Shop factories to unionize. The com
/. :mlttee decided to ask Mr.. Kirschbaum
n TO testify.
III also was announced that the com
mlttee had asked Secretary Baker for
q complete report as to any clothino
shortages III the training camps on
Jan. ]. Previous reports have dealt
with conditions as they existed some
= time ago and the committee wants tc
h know just what is the situation at pres
ent.
Conclusion of the entire army inquiry
! late this week or during the following
n week is planned Committee members
4 desire to close the hearings quickly
h make a prompt report to the Senate
and press Chairman Chamberlain s bin
TO establish department Of munitions
and other legislation. Inquiry into the
clothing situation, which will be re-
snmed Monday, will be followed by in
: vestlgatlon of cantonment contrasts
, and the aviation service, including
! progress on the new Liberty motor.