Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-15
HEAD OF WAR
W ~ UBA WI III " ttsF 6'....Ft s
INDUSTRIES IS
SUGGESTED
w. S. Clifford Recommends
Such Action at Senate
Military Inquiry

Washington. Jan. l5.-The senate
war inquiry today continued it's inves-
tigation into the merits of plan for
the establishment Of a one-man con-
troll Of the purchase. and distribution
of army supplies. sf
Before examining w. S. Clifford, di-
rector of the Council Of National De-
Tense, Chairman Chamberlain read a
letter from Daniel Willard, chairman
of the war industries board, saying 1t
appeared that he had given the i'm
preston yesterday that he recon-
mended abolishing the Council Of Ma
tional Defense. Such an impression,
meant that the supply purchasing
functions of some Of the advisory
committees Of the council should b
discontinued.
In endeavoring to mobilize industry
Director Clifford testified that preven-
ton of waste was one of the first ef.
forts.
Change Women's Styles.
1--WE even went 30 far" he said, IA
to change the Paris styles of women'i
dress to save CLOTH by taking 1t ur
; with French Ambassador. Jusserand
and arranged to- reduce cloth con
sumption next year about 33 La pei
cent. "''
The councils committee. he de-
clared, have cut out much duplication
Of work and Crossing of wires anl
also increased industrial production.
Il don't know where this work q
the national council" he said, ''coult
have been handled by the govern
ment without some co-ordinatint
agency like the council for it affected
not one but many departments ant
also comprised work which no existing
department was prepared to handle
What is there lacking in prepar
ing this whole program of WARP
asked Chairman Chamberlain.
| Need Executive Authority.
Its the lack OF our policy. on
program and one executive authorit,
for dealing with industries that ar
not able without enormous expansion
to meet the needs of the war;"
When asked If he saw any defec
in the plans of Secretary Baker TO
ford said he agreed with Mr.. Willard
that the war industries board, tn
paramount authority proposed, is
voluntary organization and lacks lega
authority.
II would suggest" said Mr.. Clifford
that the president have power to ap
point head of war industries.
would prefer q single individual"
1.-The scheme may work. l thin
and hope it will" he said. It's wort
trying. But when we fintshs the wor
hit should be transferred to the wa
! industries head, whose" organizaho
could be built:tup gradually az need
develop. He would be the only ma
, to know. the whole productive stu
alton. Positively a dozen or fiftee
separate purchasing agencies cannc
know that: War Industries must b
handled as unit
The present system Of voluntar
civilian advice or aid to the govern
ment should not be cut out with ),
meat axe" MIR. Clifford said. but i
purchasing government supplies tn
trend now is toward salaried and rer
;resentative supervision"
Mr.. Clifford denied that confusio
results from the great number {
j, civilian committees now in existenc,
Through the voluntary system {
cooperation in fixing steel prices. .fe
instance. Mr. Clifford declared ths
$3,112 ,O0O, ,0oOA,had been saved to til
. country. On copper, he said. $4,000
600 had been saved on governmer
purchases alone. Through the wa
: Industries board Mr.. Clifford cite
many other savings by voluntary pric
= fixing agreements.