Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-07-26

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Amid all the expansion of govern
ment activities due to war, with far
reaching changes In methods of con
Quoting business, reorganizatlons, In
crease in personnel, and addition OF
wholly new departments, one big bust.
ness agency Of the government has
changed not at all, except in magni-
tude. That agency Is the bureau OF
supplies and accounts Of the navy
which purchases practically everything
required by the navy except armor
plate, guns, and shells. 1t feeds and
clothes the navy, buys its stee., met
ais, lumber, textiles, and chemicaF
provides transportation for the navy's
supplies, Goals It's ships, and pays its
officers and men. During the last
year this bureau has been greatly en-
iarged by the addition of new officers,
technical experts from civil life, and
clerical workers, but its organization
and methods have fully met all tests
of war and have required practically
no change, says the New York Times.
After thorough investigation. con-
gress recently declared this great bust
ness office Of the navy to be notable
for efficiency, as well as one of the
biggest business enterprises In the
United States.
There are two reasons for the eff
cIency-an excellent business system
and an excellent business man, Ad-
miral MCGOWAN, who first became
identified with the navy's purchasing
affairs four years ago, after demon
strating his ability as purchasing Off
Ger for the American fleet when 1t
went around the world.
It's Chief Merit.
The chief point of merit In the
uavy's purchasing system is centrali-
zation. All its supply activities are
administered from Washington, no
matter how widely the American fleet
may be scattered over the world.
Ships are provisioned in the West In
dies, sailors are provided with warm
winter, clothing for destroyer service
in the submarine zone around the Brit
ish Isles, coal is dispatched to ships
In the Philippines, nitrates are brought
from Chile, clothing is manufactured
In New York and Norfolk, stores are
carried at innumerable points ready
for delivery to ships at instant notice.
Yet all activities center in Washington,
and navy supply business is not only
kept under the eyes of few execu-
tives, but Is expedited by fine work
ing spirit.
Next to Capitalization and this fine
working spirit, probably the most i'm
portant element in the system is pub
licity in dealing with the supply of
the navy's innumerable needs. Under
pressure of war other departments
have found it expedient to set aside
the normal peace-time methods Of pur-
chasing under competitive bids, but the
navy has adhered to the method of
open bidding, with full publicity, on
the principle that the public, contrib
uting war funds by taxation, has a
right to know exactly and in the full
est detail how it's money is being ex-
pended.
Another principle the navy adheres
to is that war demands should be met
by the peace-time system of purchas-
ing. Great as war demands are, they
call simply for an increase in volume
Of businessmen a change In the fun
damental method of conducting bust
ness. If the method has been proper
" worked out in peace, il will meet
the exigencies of war.
Directed by MCGOWAN.
If every institution is the length
and shadow of one man, as Emerson /
said, then the bureau of supplies and (
accounts today reflects the personality
Of Admiral MCGOWAN. When the bu-
reau transacted its affairs with IS peo- |
pie, he knew them all, and they work
ed under his eye every day, helped by |
he optimism and energy which he ra-
Hates. After year of war with his |
approaching 1000 people, |
he still knows them all and sees them
and maintains the original |
'pIrit of organization by making I'M
United demands upon each Individual
or work, according to his or her capac-
ty, with unstinted commendation for
Ill good work, whether the job be
,reat or small.
When the strength of the navy was
bout $4,000 officers and enlisted men
he bureau of supplies and accounts
lid all its purchasing and transporta-
ion through naval officers of the pay
masters corps. When war came, and
activities increased by several hun
Ired per cent monthly, the organiza-
ion was strengthened by taking on
bout dozen civilian experts from
usiness life xren who gladly resigned
God positions and large salaries with
rivate business concerns TO don Uncle
ams uniform and work day and night
or the comparatively slender salaries
I naval officers.
Other purchasing departments of
he government met their early war !
roblems by enlisting advisory COM 1
,ittees OF business experts. who In ,