New Britain herald., 1918-01-10
RED TAPE IS CUT, l TESTIFIES M'GOWAN
1eneral Says Its Purchasing Sys- tem Is Nearly Perfect

Washington, Jan. 1O.-How tho Navy Department eliminated red tape tnethods and speeded up the work of it's ships and men after the fUnited States went into the war was Explained to the Senate Military Af- Hairs Committee by Rear Admiral kSan1uel McGowan, Paymaster General #nstead of a system of secrecy, said Admiral McGowan, his department (which controls the supply of all equip- &ment to the navy except ordnance, 4worked on a policy of the broadest &open door" so as to get the most ad- #antageous prices the market af- #o-ded.
 % As opposed to the evidence given be- #ore the Senate Committee concerning &he methods of the War Department, Working through the Council of Na- &ional Defense, the Navy Department Rystem impressed the Senatorial in kauisitors as more direct. Admiral McGowan said that the &moment the United States declared &war, a survey of the wool market was &nade by his department so that the #aavY knew precisely what supply was HRvailable. At once, bids were sought &rom manufacturers and without delay &prices were fixed for the wool product &and for making uniforms. "You didn't wait for any supply #ommittee of the Council of National Refense to hand you specifications and Xaen decide what you wanted ?" asked enator Frelinghuysen.
 & fSo, we didn't deal with any organ & &zation" replied Admiral McGowan
 ''The entire responsibility for order Rng supplies of clothing, blankets, and food for the navy was in my hands
 md went ahead to equip the navy"
 "You don't favor having a supply
 mmittee do that work for you?" Esksd Senator Mcclellan. # Admiral McGowan leaned forward in his ckair and replied: \ Absolutely not, Sirs. The navy's Eystem is as nearly perfect as it can be $naGe, the result of twenty-five years f hard study and work. I have 70 Recount only to the Secretary of the Navy and the President. I do not haveAto bother my head about advis- # ITS cNtslde my own department. I nay listen to advice, but that doesn't %Enean I have to follow it''
 Senator Wadsworth asked Admiral kcGowan if he did not think the navy
 urchasing and that for the army Eould be co-ordinated.
 Admiral McGowan saw no harm in
 aving a triumvirate to confer over upplies to both the navy and army,
 le fRird member to be a civilian or In official from the army or navy, but Fe would not take way from either
 army or the navy authority to
 Fa,ke it's own specifications and do it's Ayn buying.
 "You know it has been developed
 hat the War Department has not
 kne ahead in equipping the army as
 ou have done the navy" said Sena- 5r Mcclellan.
 'I am not familiar with the army othods,' replied Admiral McGowan.
 "If the army wants any suggestion
 rom us, we'll give it any time"
 Admiral McGowan was asked if the
 avy used shoddy in uniforms for it's
 len, as the army does.
 'fNo, Sir, not a bit of shoddy," he
 eplied,
 ''Why don't you use it?" asked Sen. Ktor Frelinghuysen.
 "Because there's no occasion to use 4SA pIClCy OI "uol III IJIo Illd ct" said the admiral.
 The admiral was reminded that ex- kerts before the military committed
 ad testified that the army was forced KS use S5 per cent. wool and 35 per
 ent. shoddy in it's uniforms because of
 scarcity of wool
 "Well We have found all the wool
 want, answered the witness "Wc
 ent out in the market and got it."
 Suppose a supply committee had
 yised you to use shoddy, what would