Bisbee daily review., 1918-01-04
Will ADVOCATE
Cabinet MEMBER
FOR MUNITIONS
Senate Committee Members
Win Introduce Legislation
Providing for the Appoint
ment of Important Bureau
Head.
CRy Review Leased wirel

WASHINGTON. Jan. S.-In further
Investigation of clothing and other
army supply contracts negotiated by
the civilian supplies committee OF
council OF national defense. the senate
military committee today received
+ from Charles Eisenman. vice chairman
Of the contracting committee. a state
ment OF merchandise bought from
firms whose members or employees
were or are connected with the com
mittee.
OF supplies worth about SS0O.00O :
600. bought during the last eight
months. Mr.. EiSenman's statement dis
closes that SlsS.S .0e0 worth came
from such concerns, but that all eN-
ecpt S14. .SS0.064 worth was contracted
for before the contractors representa-
tives became connected with the COM
mittee-
Members of the military committee
are prepared 10 launch legislation. the
first results of the inquiry. Chairman
Chamberlain plSns- to introduce to
morrow a bill to create 3 new cabinet
member. known as 'the secretary OF
munitions. Il have complete charge OF
all war material purchasing. II is
promised virtually unanimous commit
tee support
Another bin which Senator Nickel
lar plans to introduce tomorrow would
amend the national defense act Great
ing the council of national defense. so
as 10 abolish all civilian advisory COM
mittees and prohibit the council mem
~h~r- h1fwu d.
rectly or indirectly interested in sup
ply contracts.
Nine Firms Named.
Nine firms were named in Mr.. FL
senman's statement as being among
those who had received army supply
orders from the committee and whose
representatives served with the COM
mittee.
OF the $4.O5z. 600 contracts given the
Cleveland WOrsted company. of which
Mr.. Eisenman is a stcckholder. R was
stated that only S6l2.7OO were negoti-
ated after the supplies committee was
formed.
Testimony supporting Eisenman's
contentious that quality of army cloth
ing. had not been lowered by his ord
ers for use of more re-wcrked wool,
or shcddy in the cloth was given by
Michael E DriScoll. an expert wool
manufacturer OF Raritan. y. J.. who
said the new cloth virtually is as warm
and durable. He added. however, that
the German uniform is so per cent
better and costs less
Testimony regarding army shoes
al ss,a,x- l. 4 pl-=S
OF Boston, who said about so per cent
OF American soldiers shoes do not
fit ami charged delay by the war de-
partment in adopting i correct shoe
fitting device.
Mr.. Eisenman asserted that the
sorting plants operation had saved
the government almost $1,000 900; /;
that only the government has profit
ed, the owners making no profits and
receiving no compensation. The
plants purpose. he acGed, was TO
stabilize rag prices. and prevent prof
i,eering in scrap.
Tanele In Argument.
DurinS the examination Senator Nc
Kellar said;
Il think you have no right TO make
contracts for the department and have
been violating the law all the time in
making them"
Eissnman replied that he assumed
responsibility for anything done by
the supplies committee.
Senator Frelinghuysen said he und-
erstO0d the department Of justice had
advised the navy department that sec
recy regarding government contracts
let is illegal. adding. this policy of
secrecy is unwise. unbusinesslike and
contrary TO American business
methods and practices"
Eisenman offered to ask firms given
contracts If they approved the secrecy
policy
"Of course. the firms with which
you dealt secretly would approve" ."
said Senator Mcclellan.
Eisenman sharply resented the
statement.
Its not fair to have my motives
impugned.r he said heatedly. I was
called down yesterday for protesting
and I am willing TO he called down