The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-07-26
HOW THE u. S. NAVY
BUYS ITS SUPPLIES
Purchasing Department Under Admiral MCGOWAN Has Met All Tests
Successfully aizaon the Chief Merit Of the
system-Compimentet for Efficiency After
investigation by Congress.

Washington business concern
which can Increase It's turnover 800
I,~r cent Ia ~ months without radical
changes Ia method would seem 10 be
"a pretty sound Organization
Amid all tile expansion Of govern.
uuent activities due 10 wnr. with far
~ca.hing changes In methods of con-
sffuetlng business. congratulations, In
scr.ase Ia personnel. and addition OF
wholly new departments one big busi-
messs agency of the government Inns
changed not NJ all. except la magni-
snde That agency In the bureau OF
supplies aud accounts of the navy.
which pureiss SEES practically everything
Required by the navy except artnor
s,iat~. guns. and shells. IL feeds and
clothes the navy. buys It's stee.. met
ais, lumber. textiles. aud chemicns
provides transportation for the nnvys
supplies. Goals It's ships. and pays It's
officers and men. During the last
year this bureau has been greatly en-
sargrsi 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
xo change, says the New York Times.
After thorough investigation. con-
erv~s recently declared this great bust
ness once OF the navy To be notable
tor efficiency. as we'll as one Of tho
biggest business enterprises In this
United States.
far tk.. nfi-
s.iency--an excellent business system
and an excellent business man. Ad-
sntrni MeGowan. who first became
sd~ntifei with tho navy's purchasing
affairs four years ago. after demon
~irating his ability as purchasing OH
ser for the American feet when II
ssent around the world.
Its Chief Merit
The chief point OF merit In the
nsyy's purchasing system In centraii-
xation. All It's supply activities are
administered from Washington. no
matter how widely the American fleet
may be scattered over the world.
ships are proylsioned In the West In
dies. sailors are provided with warm
winter clothing for destroyer service
IN the submarine zone around the Brit
ash isles, coal Is dispatched to ships
La the Philippines. nltratcs are brought
from Chile clothing IL manufactured
In New York aud Norfolk. stores are
carried Mt innumerablc points ready
for delivery TO ships at instant notice.
Yet all activities center In Washington.
md navy supply business IL not only
kept under the cSes of few execu-
fiv.s. but 10 expedited by fino work
ins spirit.
Next 10 Capitalization and this fine
working spirit. probably the most i'm
rortnnt element In the system Is pub
itcisy In dealing with the supply of
xh. aavy's innnmerahle needs. Under
pressure of war other departments
nave found II cxpedient to set aside
chs normal peace-time methods OF pur-
chasing under competitive bids, but the
navy has adhered 10 the method of
open bidding. with fun publicity, on
the principle TINT the public. contrib
sstisg war funds by taxation. has
right tn know exactly and In the full.
.e~t detail how Its money Is being ex.
pended.
Smother principle the navy adheres
ITO Ia that war demands should be met
ny the peaee-tlme system of parchas
ting Great MS wnr demands are. they
call simply for an increase In volume
eft businessmen a change In the fun
sinrn.ntnl method of conducting bust.
n~as4 II the method has been proper
" worked out In peace. II viii meet
xhs exigeneies ~ war.
Directed by Mecowan,
rf every Institution IL the length
md shadow of one man. rs Emerson
said. then the bureau Of supplies and
accounts today reflects the personality
of Admiral MCt'owan, When the hu-
ssaa transacted It's affairs with ~ peo.
Ese. h. knew them all. and they work.
ssxi andvr his eye every day. helped by
the optlmism aud energy which h. r..
siate~. After year or war. with his
organization approaching atn people.
he still knows thcm all aud secs them
sr,~la,ntls. aud maintains the original
spirit Of orgaaisatlsn by making IN.
tinil,sd demands upon each individual
sor work. according to his or her ,apat.
sts. with uus'tntcs commeudatlon ZOE
.li xoad work whether tho lob be
gryat ar small
when the strength % the navy wps
nfous oL@o onlrets and enlisted men
the bureau al supplies au1 accounts
fid all It's purchasing and 'rausporta.
tinn through naval of'irerS - the pav,
nast"r = eogl1% When war cums. aud
activities iacrvHsed rs several hun
dred p~r esnt maH'hly. fho ersanlsa.
tion MAS strengthened ~ taking "a
slslnk hak..n civilian eNn..rts I'm,