The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-01
BARUCH BARES
LUMBER PLOT
Army Officers Names Used
Fraudulently to Get Ship
mentS Handled.
WAR WORK HAMPERED
Protest Against Plan to Com
mandeer Stocks Here Tn.
covered Deception.
WAR WORK HAMPERED

WARRINGTON, April 50. 0.--violations on a
far reaching scale Of Government 70.
strictions on the sale and d,ltribu,.on OF
lumber and tending TO ihUica.e exist
ence Of a widespread conspiracy were
uncovered to-day by Chairman Bsruch
OF the War Industries Board and as
s!stants in connection with the move Of
Secretary Baker 10 confne lumber 10
war essentials.
Millions of feet OF lumber. involving
many millions OF dollars. are believed to
have been sold for ordinary purposes
and contrary to the Government restric-
tons through fraudulent use OF names
OF army officers and of Government, ship
ping numbers and tags
Evidence In possession OF M Banch
| shows that a majority of tho shipments
we're consigned to points in and around
New York city ard Philadelphia. Prac-
| tically all Of them originated at By
mingham. New Orleans and Savannah.
Names OF persons and frms involved
were withheld by Mr.. Baruch until the
Department Of Justice has made in.
| Qutry and determined what shall be
| done.
Tho method was simple. Lumber has
been moved recently only when Govern
mont serial numbers were attached "a
bills OF lading. Material for military
purposes consigned to army ofictals has
been exempt from the restrictions and
! has been moved by the railroads IN
preference to other freight
! Choosing names OF army officers sta.
toned at training campo IN the North
| frequently at Yaphank. consignments o,
lumber have been shipped to them from
| the South and IN care OF lumber con.
| nj I'm i,a {
from the sawmills to destination camp
Duplicate serial numbers with blue
tags. giving preferred movement. &C
companied the shipments. Before des
tination was reached the railroads re-
ceived instructions to halt the consign
! ments at the yards of the Arms in whos'
care tho shipments were made to avail
further shipping instructions.
Under pressure of the car shortage IN,
lumber was Temporarily unloaded ant
is declared TO have been disposed Of I,
regular customers by the Arms In who's
care the shipment was made. Mr.. Ba
ruch Is sad to have no evidence that th'
officers knew OF tho use Of their names.
That me names OF naval officers hav
been used in the same way is indicate,
in . rather ambiguous statement issue,
yesterday by Secretary Daniels. whicl
follows:
Reports have come to me which shov
conclusively that in two instances tn
fraudulent practice had been follows
OF consigning materials not intended TO
Government use to certain navy oficial
in care OF private Arms. the latter con
vertlnE the material to private or com
mcrcial use.
persons guilty OF such practices ar
subject to punishment. and the fact
, IN such cases have been forwarde
promptly TO the Attorney General OF IN
United States for action.
"This evil seriously interferes with IN
war prosramme. Fortunately 1t apple
only to a few slackers and profitee'
who endeavor TO take advantage o. a
unusual condition in the commercii
world"
Secretary Bakers statement recent
that lumber was greatly needed
France and that stocks around Ne
York would he commandeered for e,
port brought several delegations
washington to mako protests. In II
course of the Inquiry which Mr.. Baruc
made in connection with the matter II
. deceptions were uncovered.