The sun., 1918-11-26

thorough retrenchment out of the
and put it into the hands of Congre
When told to-day of the demar
the wholesale use of the axe on exy
said to THE SUN correspondent: "
ing very generally now. 1t may n
hitting a great many"
Those members of the House
here will be called together this we,
appropriations with the idea of rep
and restoring these sums to the Ire
Chairman Sherley of this committee
conferred with the President to-day.
and It is understood the Presidents
approval of the plan was given. The
recovery Of the appropriations already
made will be done as part OF another
deficiency bill. II was admitted to-
night that the deficiency part OF the
bill would consist merely OF minor
matters.
No Definite Policy Dfscovera BILE.
Inquiry to-day at the departments
most concerned in war expenditures.
and at the boards and commissions
that have had much to do with spend
ing, failed to reveal any definite policy
In cutting off war work. The nearest
approach to any sort OF policy ex-
pressed was that It was the plan TO
"cut of contracts and other expendI-
lures as fast as possible
To the suggestion that It would be
a greater saving through conss rving
at least the materials now going into
war work II the work were stopped
completely and the pay OF the work.
men continued, the answer made was
that the plan was not practicable.
Congressional leaders Of both parties
and in both branches who are con-
cerned with granting the appropria-
tons are insistent in their demands
that war expenditures, so far as mu-
nitions is concerned. be chopped off
short. Not all legislators agreed that
there was sufficient need OF labor IN
ordinary peace time industries at this
time to absorb quickly the entire
labor supply, but not one questioned
the fact that a very large percentage
of this labor could be taken up quickly
by non-war Industries.
It is the open opinion of the War De-
partment and OF the Labor Department
that the release OF labor from purely
war work to non-war industries must
be done carefully to prevent idleness.
II is impossible to obtain figures from
these departments to back up the be-
lief, however. These departments are
proceeding IN this way and urging
that the procedure % followed else
where:
Contractors are consulted before any
contract is cancelled to see II in that
particular plant work of another char
acter can be furnished. OF II the work.
ers can be quickly placed in definite
employment of a non-war nature else
where.
Baker Admits He's az Sea.
The lack OF real War Department
retrenchment was revealed to the Sen
ate Military Committee recently when
the members interviewed the Secre-
tary of War. They asked the Secre-
tary about blankets, shoes and similar
supplies for the troops. II developed
that III the case OF blankets there were
some 100000 on hand The Secre-
tary was unable TO say whether It was
intended TO try to sell the blankets
here or abroad or to keep them in spite
OF certain deterioration. OF shoes the
Senators found the army has on hand
about 100000 pairs. What disposi-
ton is to be made OF these surplus
shoes Secretary Baker was unable to
say.
The programme OF Congress looking
TO retrenchment will include a ma
terial curtaiiment Of the appropria-
tions for many OF the special war
time agencies. The method will dis
close itself when the annual executive
appropriation bills are under discus
sion.
Cutting off the appropriations, the
Republicans hold. Is the one sure way
OF stopping the outflow uf money for
the support of purely wartime agencies
of the type of the Fuel Adm!nIstra-
ton, the Food Administration. the
War Industries Board. the War Trade
Board and the War Labor Board. In
fortunately, though, the effects would
not be seen for more than seven
months.
Cutting down not by pruning but by
n slashing OF payrolls will dispose OF
the surplus in organizations such as
the War Risk Insurance Bureau, with
it's $4,000 employees. The organiza-
ton may remain as O peace time
branch Of the Treasury, but cannot be
q Dected to retain so many employees.
The Republicans expect to insist
that every proposed expenditure shall
be justlfied before II is permitted to
remain in an appropriation bill. This
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