Evening star., 1918-01-14
Willard SUPPORTS
WAR BUYING PLAN
Chairman of Industries Board
Says He Changed Mind as
to Munition Minister.
BEFORE SENATE INQUIRY

| Daniel Willard, chairman of the war
industries board, today testified in the
Senate military committees war inquiry
that he had advocated creation of a
government minister of munitions, but
now was in favor of trying out the new
War Department reorganization.
The War Department reorganization
with its change in purchasing, Mr. Will
lard said, is infinitely better than that
Of six months ago.
| Il am distinctly in favor of what has
been done so far" he said Putting
the Army purchasing departments on
done. l am in full sympathy with the
| character of the organization.
| Barnard NJ. Baruch, another member
| of the war industries board. recon-
| mended "one-man" control of NUM-
tons a single individual, not a mem
Der of the cabinet, but acting solely and
directly under the President and going
even farther than the British system
| He said he favored Capitalization of
| munitions purchasing authority. re-
gardless of the time given the man put
| in charge.
Il am in favor of highly centralized
Authority" said Mr.. Baruch. Under
the President he should have power to
take over any agency of the govern
ment he should deem necessary to have
! sole authority.
| Mr. Willard said he did not know the
| details of the War Department reorganl-
zation, but had had frequent confer
ences with Gems. Goetha1s and Wheeler
and others having supervisory author
! ity under the new plan.
Queried by Senator Weeks.
rs that form likely to be success
| full as a single responsible head to pur
chase all supplies for the government"
asked Senator Weeks.
: Mr.. Willard answered that he had
! thought, when we entered the war. one
of the first things to be done was to
| establish minister of munitions.
when / became chairman of the in
dustries board / still held that opinion"
| he continued. Secretary Baker asked
him to keep his mind open until Mr..
Baker considered reorganization plans.
II had very little confidence at first
Mr.. Willard said, that we could make
| this plan (of War Department reorgan-
! ization) work"
Mr.. Willard. continuing his explana-
tion, said that with men like Gen.
Goethals at the head of the Army ac-
tivities he believed it could be operated
efficiently. Army and Navy supply CO.
ordination, he thought, can be effected
under the plan submitted by Secretary
Baker.
"It Has But One Fault"
1T has one fault" said Mr.. willard.
to work, but after all it's purely vol
untary: if every one .co-operates it
will work.
"It is weak there and something may
be necessary to make it work. A
single purchasing head is not neces-
sary."
Instead of the war industries board
being the head of the new organiza-'
tion, Mr.. Willard suggested that one
man, with authority from the Presi-
various departments. would secure
bitter efficiency.
THAT would be a director of muni-
tions?" suggested Senator weeks.
NO. I've changed my views on that"
Mr.. Willard answered. The one man
could act under authority of the Presi-
dent. who should be given power by
Congress"
to say that the single man in authority
should represent him and decide be-
tween departments" said Mr.. Willard.
might Be Debating Society,""
.It seems to me the present scheme
might be debating society,"" said Sena-
tor Chamberlain. You've touched the
weak spot in the new organization"
That the war industries board is, tech
nically, "outside of the government" and
without strict legal authority was ad-
mitted by Mr.. Willard, but he said the
board and it's committees. by agreements
with various government agencies. ad-
justs priority questions.
He explained that the board endeavors
to anticipate munitions needs, but ad-
mitted it does not act to purchase sup
plies until requested by the department
heads Senator Weeks pointed out that,
therefore, delays In securing supplies
might result from slow action of the
depa rtments. for which the board
would not be responsible.
so, if there's been any neglect it's by
delay Of the government purchasing
departments in taking the Initiative"
Chairman Chamberlain suggested.
That's very likely true."S said Mr
Willard. THE board is not purchas-
ing agency. 1t has no purchasing flInc-
tons.
Senator McKellar suggested and Mr..
Willard admitted that the boards COM
mittees recommend prices at which
departmental supplies shall be pur-
chased.
Regarding steel supplies, under the
jurisdiction of Mr.. Repogle as an as
sistant to Bernard Baruch on the war
industries DOdTu, willard SAID MT.
Repogle took no part in fixing steel
prices except to make recommendations
"Shortage Not Great"
rs there a great shortage of steel?"
asked Senator Frelinghuysen
| mo, not a great shortage, but a short
age" said Mr.. Willard.
| "You need all you can get?"
absolutely!
"In lumber there Is not a shortage"
Mr.. willard added, but there is such
a demand at times and places that it
has that effect.
Regarding secrecy of Army supply
contracts, Mr.. Willard said the ques-
| ton had not come before the board or
| the advisory commission.
| ..Ias advisory commission considered
the question Of War Department reor-
sanitation in a broad way?" asked
| Senator Weeks.
"No, I don't think we have" Mr.. will
| lard answered. mot in large way.
don't think 1t is the duty of tho com
| mission. We have no authority,
| aaThe council and the advisory COM
mission is not a good war system" he
\ continued. "It was not a war scheme
II was there when war broke out, and
| Il was used because 1t was the only