Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-15

manufacture of raw material. One OF
the raw materials can be shipped as
harmless stuff. no more dangerous
'han lime. which by a relatively simple
operation, can be converted into one
OF the most poisonous minerals known.
rms IS a patented process. The French
We're purchasing this material and We
are obligated to the French for 100 tons
month after July L.
At the examination before the COM
mittee. Chairman Sherley's report
said. General Wheeler of the ordnance
bureau brought out that the govern
ment had an arrangement with the
French to supply artillery and am
munltion to a certain number of
American troops arriving i'll France,
but after these units had been supplied
the United States would fully equip ad-
dltlonal troops. Americas resources,
General Wheeler testified, was sumo
lent to meet all war needs. He assert
ed the War Department had q billion
dollars worth of ammunition contracts.
$eo,ooo,0 900 AirpIane Obligations
Major General Squier. chief signal
officer, testified the signal corp had
spent or obligated all the $64o,00o,o0o
appropriated to carry out it's aeroplane
program and had incurred obligations
that would equal $50 900 in addition
and might so beyond that, for the
present fiscal year. He asked ST., 49,
geo to obtain bombs for the aeroplanes.
Discussing storage and shipping IA
cilities, General Cocktails said approx
mately 500, 000OoO, with authorization
of $50, 900 600 more. was needed for stor
age of quartermaster supplies along
the seacoast, including huge amounts
for various specific terminals.
Federal Food Administrator Hoover
said the combined food and fuel admins
trations so far had had total appropria-
tions of s5,5l5,0oo out of which there had
been an actual expenditure OF sl,9S5&9
and there were now outstanding obliga
tions of s2,27e3S2s leaving a sl,2I.lSs bal
ance. lie asked s2nOO,oO more now. He
said he and Or. Garfield. fuel administra-
tor, were agreed that the two administra-
tons should be separate and the COM
bined fund was divided in the proportion
fuel. He avoided discussing his drastic
price-fiNng and said that the keynote
of federal control was the Sterilization Of
prices.
He testified that the food n,stratIon
was directing the buying of $4,000 600 o.
foodstuffs month for the Allies alone
In addition, he explained, I'VE have
the whole problem Of conservation. Ow-
ing to increased standards of living In
inns country due to increase of wage
scales, consumption of practically every
one Of the staple food commodities has
Increased greatly in the United States. !,
this increased consumption is to 20 OH.
we cannot supply the Allies. Whether w..
can continue on voluntary basis for the
balance of the year am not sure. New
York already has reduced its consumption
Of food. but Pittsburg, for instance. has
not done SO much"
Fuel Administrator Garfield denied 70
the committee that he had advised peon,s
hot 10 BUY coal last summer lie explain.
! ed that what he advised was TO buv all
the coal needed but not go into the mar
ket 10 buy in excess OF needs and thin.
add to the transport difficulties
provost Marshal General Crowder in
asking an additional s10pONoo for drar,
registration and selection. testified that
'here was a complete registration already
OF all aliens, including enemy aliens. he.
tween Il and 81, and that on Jun. ! ,ber.
were 100000 aliens. not enemy a,s,s
between the draft ages of q and 30.