Evening star., 1918-01-30
Curtai1 Boards Work.

Two recent moves of Secretary Baker,
it was pointed out, have resulted in the
curtailment. These were the naming
of Col. Palmer Pierce to be director OF
purcha ses, and of Edward r. Steetlnlus
to be surveyor general of supplies IN
the War Department. The annunoce-
ment today that Secretary McAdoo mas
recommended the creation of half
billion-dollar government corporation
to make loans and advances TO indus-
tries deemed essential to war time
work further affects the future of the
war industries board.
While the Secretary's plan relates only
to the financing of wartime enter
prises, the fiscal and administrative
functions of these industries are closely
interrelated. it was pointed out. So diff
ficult would it be under such proJect
for an industry to borrow capltal ex-
cept from the government. a difhcuity
already experienced by the rallroaus
before the government TOOK theIii ov.i
that Mr.. McAdoo's proposal would re-
suit in giving him, in large measure,
the determination of what is and what
is not essential in wartime enterprises
Directing Left to Board.
Secretary Bakers recent reorganiza-
ton efforts in the War Department re-
late principally to purchasing. The en-
tire field of stimulating and dHecting
production still is left to the War In
dustries Board. except as IT might be
modified by the lending of funds were
Mr.. McAdoos suggestions enacted into
law.
1t was learned today that as substi-
tute for the proposal of munitions
director, urged in some form by Mr.
willard. Bernard B. Baruch and Walter
s Clifford when they tesined at tne
Senate military affairs committee near
ing, some project might be worked out
la1 tn
for a production director or board.
AS an example of the need for such an
agency the work of the raw materials
committee. headed by Bernard Al. Ba-
ruch. was cited. When the war is over
an interesting story may be told of this
committees efforts. When the ord
nance bureau went into the market for
certain munitions it found manufac-
turers were willing to bid, but they
could not get raw materials for some
of the explosives ordered That was
where Mr.. Baruch's committee came in.
And also its international features.
which cannot now be disclosed.
Would Furnish Power.
Such an agency also, it was suggested.
would furnish the driving power to speed
up production of materials for war use,
which was an argument presented for the
creation of a munitions director. 1t also
would serve not only to meet the needs
of the War Department, but of the ship
ping board. the Navy Department, and
other branches of the government not
within the scope of the War Department
reorga nization.
1t has been suggested among officials
that either the war industries board might
be clothed with this new power or an
Individual named who would avail him
self of the services of the men trained
in the council and the war industries
board.
Since Secretary Baker is chairman of
the Council of National Defense, and its
work touches most broadly upon his de-
partment, no change is likely to be
made until he has had time to go over
the entire situation.
Meantime the war industries board is
working along in the limited field of it's
advisory capacity, waiting to see what ad-
justment will be made.