New-York tribune., 1918-02-13

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 agen-
cles Of the War Department. It is
within his province to keep track of
the capacity and production Of con-
tractors. If there are changes in the
requirements of the American expedl
tlonary forces orders for these changes
must be passed on down the line bv
Mr.. Stettinius, so that the production
may be IN accord with the demand.
Mr. Stettinius will also watch closely
me transportation and shipping situa-
Ilon, IN order that the production and
oe1lVerles OF war materials may prop
erly proceed
The Surveying Eye"
IN other words, Mr.. Stettinius,
business man and purchasing agent of
vaSt experience. may figuratively be
called the surveying eye for the Di-
iector OF Purchases and Supplies, who
IS military officer and assistant to
tne chief of staff. Mr.. Stettinius will
war needs of the department, and when
q certain article is required he will
Know where that article may be readily
OBTAINED and the price at which it NAV
be obtained may
I'm conjunction with the division Of
which Brigadier General Pierce is the
n' nnead' the purchasing agencies CT the
war department will continue their
operations 1t is not intended that III
Director of Purchases and Supnlies
snail take over the routine purchasing
acIIVltles OF the several bureaus. He
Will determine prorities Of manufact
ure ana purchase, and make estimate,
OF requirements. In this work he will
have at his disposal the knowledce and
BUSINESS experience of Mr.. Stettinius,
III the ordnance department, for in.
the, procedure would be consultation
with the surveyor of purchases and
supplies to ascertain with whom the or
der should be placed and when deliv.
cries might be expected The ordnance
department thap would proceed to pur.
chasc the shells. as it has heretofore.
ana would draft and execute con-
tract Tor the material. Before actual
ratification this contract passes tbroncb
the hands of Brigadicr General PiercHa
Director of Purchases and Supplies
The actual details of the purchase
however, would be handled bv tho ord'
nance department, and in the maior;tv
or instances the signed contract would
p,e. placed before the Director of Sun
PinTo ~ ana Turcnases tor final wise
IN n, the case of very large orders it
!. IS likely that the directors of pur-
,hases and supplies will pass upon III,
both before and after -.
making. ITO
ne same system will prevail in tha
citing of contracts for other materials
,eeded for the army-clothes, shoes.
rugs, uniforms, food. etc.
Inc office of the Director of pur-
masses and Supplies thus becomes
hearing house for all orders placed
" the War Department, althoueh to
'ctual details of the contracts wil ho
'andled as heretofore by the subord;.
late bureaus. The Director of Pr
nases and Supplies is the overhead
urchas'ng agency, with general eve
y" 'he industrial field and compre.
enslVe grasp of production, conditions
!; Inc Director of Purchases and Sun
r;t,, ,ifv H, ~ en- empowered to determine pri-
.'Cy "here two branches of the war
apartment require the same article
IN the event the War Denartment-
hould require some article also ro. S
urea py the navy, or other depart- v
lents, or the Allied countries. ~ ~ s
ector of Purchases and Sunnlies viii =.
ohter with purchasing reprcsenta
We OF the other departments, and tho d
ar INDUSTRIES Board, and priorit;es t
zen yer, Will be determined. =
ror OF tne internal requirements ~ =
'e var Department alone, the Direc- i
'r, General Pierce is the arbitor of g g
:,0 ::1,00rlty' and, exercising this function
~ avail hlmsclf of the advice Of tbc q
lrVeyor of purchases and sunnl;os q
+. Stettinus. 'upp'iea' . .
1T is planned that. under th;s CO.. ;'
M there shall be coordination svsts,n +,
"a overhead regulation in the lett;rr r.,
contracts by the purchas;,,e1 o,
a nc @ signal. medical, engineers s.
"a, and engineer. n
In aoditlon to his duties as ouartor- e,
aster general, Major General Georee II
uoethals will act as director 81 V
oiaee ana traffic. In this latter ca
l9elty, General Gocthals viii d;rect
loIltles OF storage and war traffic in at
e Gnlted States, the ambarkation If W
ppI!es and troops, inland war trans ST
i.at,on and storage at inland points Iii
=: :oarkatlon points and oycrseas it
aHtS. ~, IT,
IN exercising these duties. Gensra,,
,etna's must work in coniunctio,,
IN the Shipping Board, the Djrector =
neral of Railroads, and the seveyai r.
ppiy bureaus. He will, of coursa #
hntaln cooperative relations with the
division Of purchases snd
pplles, headed BY General p;oaro arlo
lcn furnishes the supplies for stor'
e or traffic w 'S0i
Under the reorganization n,an II
rmanent director Of operat;onns n'ea' 49, -. "a
named This on;r. -, iS &c "