The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-06
COUNCIL. OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SAVES
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MOBILIZATION Plan
By WAITER s. CLIFFORD,
the Council of National Defense and OF the
Advisory Commission.

OF supplies for the war and navy de-
| partments. largely through the eiin1i.
nation of r1iddlemen.
| The work performed by the eoun-
ellis committee on emergency con-
struction and contracts in enlistfng
/ the best building and architectural
experts cf the country FOR the cre-
alton of the cantonments for the ma
/ tional army.
! The successful Initiation of a move
| ment TO coordinate activities on the
/ part OF the states of the union for
the national defense, and form state
! councils OF defense. brought to
/ clear and workable focus by a confer
/ ence OF states held In Washington a.
| the call and under the auspices of
the council. and which movement has
reached high point Of organization
under a. special section.
The organization OF a railroad COM
mittee which was sent to Russia.
The enlistment OF reserve engineer
regiments TO aid in rehabilitating the
/ rs.iIroa DIS OF France.
The creation by the council OF the
war industries board 20 assume the
, duties formerly discharged by the
general munition board and TO act. in
addition. as a clearing house for the
I war industry needs Of the government
Under this board are handled vital war
matters having to DO with raw mater
ials finished products and priority. A
commission of this board also acts in
a purchasing capacity for the allies
The creation by joint action OF the
secretaries of war and navy and the
council OF national defense of re-
search information committee in Wash
tngton, with branches in Paris and
hm Of working in
close cooperation with officers of the
military and naval intelligence, and
the function OF which shall be the Sc
curing. classifying and dissemination
Of scientific, technical and research In
formation especially relating TO war
problems. and the Interchange OF such
Information between the allies In Eu-
rope and the United States.
The designation of the National RE
search council, composed of the lead
Ing scientists OF the country. as the
department OF science and research OF
the council OF national defense. This
body Is charged with the organization
OF scientific investigation bearing on
the national defense and on industries
affected by the war,
The activities OF the highways
transport committee of the council.
which has been doing extremely use
full work In developing the use of
motor TRUCKS Tor OVERLAND lfAnApOFtA~
ton, this helping to relieve the con-
gestion in thu freight terminals.
The work of the committee on hous-
ing which during the autumn mapped
out a plan for handling the war hous-
ing problem. TO be handled by the de-
partment OF labor.
The work OF the industrial service
section which was largely responsible
for the initial plan for a unifed labor
administration which the department
OF labor Is putting into execution.
The carrying on By the commercial
economy board OF the council with the
cooperation of merchants. manufac-
turers and consumers at all points, of
successful campaigns for conserving
wheat; wool and other commodities in
which there have been shortages and
for reducing the amount OF capital and
labor employed on nonessent!ai ser
vices In trade.
The creation by the president. on
the recommendation OF the council, OF
a labor commission 10 aid in the ad-
justment OF social and labor disturb
ances throughout the country. par
= ticulariy in the western states
: The creation by the council of q
, womans committee which is enlist
ing the woman power OF America for
} the prosecution OF the war.
: The pronouncement by the council
i through it's chairman OF a policy to
the effect that all effort should be
, conferred to help win the war. this pro-
nouncement having been made In re.
> sponse to queries as TO the attitude
which should be taken relative TO i'm
,provements, public and otherwise, IN
Evolving large construction work.
The mobilization. In short. OF the in.
: dustrial forces of the. country for war
. the act of congress Creating the coun-
/, ell having made 1t mandatory upor
the latter TO bring about the crea'
ton of rotations which will render
possible in time of need the immedi
ate concentration and utilization o.
: the resources of the nation
In the procurement OF iron and stee
: the council has effected saving:
amounting TO hundreds of millions o
dollars to the United states as agains
I the prewar prices.
j.. Under the commercial econom,
( board of the council, TO state only
= few OF the many instances, there have
: been brought about the reduction o
a about forty per cent in the summe,
a styles for shoes In 1918, and the re
duction of from ten to Atty per cen
In the number Of men and vehicles
a employed for delivery In retail stores
thus enabling approximately. 1900
Ffnen to enter war work, the savinG Il
/. hour through this board by the eiimi
!, nation Oh uTcau fecuFu 10 estimated q,
> tho food administration at $4,000 bar
rels year. and the saving In WOO
cloth BY the dealers. to the trad
7 through reduction In the size of sam
\ pies Of more than 100000 yards Fo
e the tn,ire garment and clothing in
dustry the saving resulting frcr
i smaller samples will be no less thai
n 1900. 00e yards. and the saving Il
e clothing resulting from the reduction
' in yardnse per garment will pfobabi.
a amount to at least ss .rec.s geo yards thi
ysar