The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-15
FAVOR ctATRAlIz. 7 IN
Of PJRcHNIlG P v R
Both Willard and Baruch Before Sem
ate Committee Believe Would
Be Helpful
TO REPORT CHAMBERLAIN BILL
Senate Committee WIN Make Drive
10 Garry Through Plan Looking to
Creation OF Secretary Of Munitions,
BY LEWIS WOOD,


fstration and it's "dollar-a-year" ad-
visers reached the parting of the ways
today on the question as to how best
TO handle war purchases.
Daniel Willard, president of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. and
Bernard N. Baruch, speaking in large
measure for the big business in the
advisory commission of the council of
national defense. endorsed the theory
Of single man control OF purchases.
That is the germ of the Chamberlain
bill creating a secretary OF munitions.
In this they Numerically opposed
the Judgment of Secretary of War
Baker who contends that no such rad
teal change is necessary. Mr.. Willard.
who is chairman of the advisory com
mittee. testified before senate military
committee today:
IF President Wilson can give the
president of the war industries board
mower to deal with all questions eff
fectively the plan would work"
Said Mr.. Baruch: II believe we
should have highly centralized agen-
cy under the direct control OF the
president. / would prefer an indi-
vidual, for then the responsibilities
could be absolutely fixed"
w. s. Clifford, director Of the coun-
ell of national defense, will be heard
tomorrow. His thoughts on the mat
ter are said practically to parallel
those Of Mr.. Willard and Mr.. Baruch
1t is expected after Mr.. Clifford is
heard the committee will bring out
a favorable report on the Chamber
lain bill.
Secretary Baker said on Saturday
that no single man could be found
Stiff Ofortfxy ,ys
teri" to carry on the work of buying
all the war supplies
This afternoon Senator New call.
ed this statement to the attention OF
Mr. Baruch.
Mr., Baruch smiled systematically
We'll, / ask for your views on that
statement" persisted Senator New.
i di~er with him" replied Mr.. Ba-
ruch. still smiling. and everybody else
If The room smiled with him.
Secretary Baker also said on Satur
d7v that Mr. Willard favored his new
army purchase reorganization plan.
NJ willard testified today. however,
tnat while he contemplated retaining
ire army purchase plan suggested by
me secretary he proposed asknowI-
eaging this suhservient to a higher
etmmission--the central control
Does the reorganization meet with
your approval2" asked Senator Weeks.
FAVOR what has been done" said
UT Willard. 1T Is an Improvement
Sut 1t Ia by no means a perfect ar.
Management. When became chair
man or the war industries board" he
cohtnntI 7 thought that a minister
OF mnnit3ons was necessary. Secrer
ra'Y Baker asked me to keep an open
m n on the subject and see where
could improve the system fthe army
re rRanizatior pian). had little con-
ndence at first that we could make
1t work.
But. assuming that the twelve to
fourteen purchasing agencies OF the
army and navy are co-oriinated in
each instance under one man. wa
would then have four great buyinr
agenctes-namely, army, navy. shin-
ping board and the allies commits
sion.
And here is where the war indus
tries board comes In. II would detsr.
mine priority demands between the
four agencies. develop new sources OF
material and new sources of finished
'oducts. and convert industry"
Mr. Willard said the only thing he
couid see that would injure his plsn
was tnat IT was purely voluntary and
some legislation might be necessary
along that line He also said he ala
not th'nk congress should prescribe
IN advance just what duties should he
taken over by the central control ne
a., aaVocated' but the president should
You mean director Of munt-
IONS said Senator Weeks.
NOT entirely. / have changed nv
views on that. But one man could
ACT under the president after the
president was given the authority bv
congress" Wy
Baruch's Idea.
- Nr. Haruch- described his idea NJ
me central control thus:
Inc power should be conferred in
one agency directly under the presI-
oen.. would not make the head a
eao.nee minister. for the power should
continue only for the war and Ions
enough after 10 demobilize Industry
would go further than the British
system. | would put all purchases I'M
DER one head. But / would mt d.
stroy the many splendid things done
such as the navy purchasing or most
OF the other agencies now restah.
The committee does not think tbev
should be destroyed" suggested sens,
tor Chamberlain
Mcclellan 'a'oF
We should utilize all that can ha
utilized, said Mr.. Baruch.
In celebrating on his idea he said.
Il believe In centralizing the ar.
thority and decentralizing the execn.
tion. My idea is a scheme like the
food administrator" ~lie
During his examination Mr.. wilsrd
SAID ne would give the head of tho
war Industries board power to taxa
over any activity that was not work.
ing wen. and also to make the an.
pointment of the civilian advisors
lie and Mr.. Baruch spoke well Of the
committees of the council of national
oefense, Mr.. Willard saying:
II have yet to come across a single
individual who has said or done arvs
thing that makes me doubt the hon.
esty or his work. II the truths were
known, don't believe the government
was ever better served than by those
volunteers, some of whom have hear
criticised"
Neither Mr.. Willard nor Mr.. Ra.
UGH. however. approved the idea OF
separate minister OF munitions. bu,
insisted that a single-man control was
preferential to control by a board.
Under the Golden Balls.
PAWnhrnkar ~ A.y