The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-22
BAKER BEGINS
RETRENCHMENT
Secretary of War Informs
Senate He Already Has Saved
81, 1886, 100000.
HALTS AIRPLANE WORK
200, 600 Men to Be DemObil-
lied i'm Two Weeks-COn-
gress to Take Hand.
Special Despatch 10 THE srs.

Special Despatch 10 THE SuS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-The first
move of the Administration toward re-
trenchment was detailed to the Senate
through letter from the Secretary of
War to Senator Martin (va.). chairman
of the Appropriations Committee.
Through the cancellation of contracts
the abolition of all overtime work, stop
page OF the whole aircraft programme the
demobillzation plans for the army and
reduction of officers personnel. Secretary
Baker wrote, prospective outlays of
money amounting to s1.336.so0.0O0 will
be avoided. The saving by cutting ont
overtime on all war work, amounting to
Sc. 900 n day, cannot be included ac-
curately.
The fact that something is being done
by the executive branch of the Govern
ment to tighten the heavy burden was
highly gratifying to members OF Con-
gress. Many Of them insist. however
that the whole subject of-retrenchment
and applying the pruning knife should be
in the hands OF Congress to a much
greater extent.
Quick Halt in War Contracts.
The Baker letter to Senator Martin
setting forth in detail the savings TO be
effected follows:
Ny DEAR SENATOR MARTIN: l am
writing this letter because l think as
l. chairman of the Committee OF Appro-
priations it is important that you
should know of steps so far taken by
the War Department to cut down the
expenditures of this Department in
view of signing of the armistice. which
brought about cessation of hostili-
ties
The armistiee was signed on the 1lth
OF November. Up to and including to-
I day the War Department has cancelled
contracts in process Of execution, az
fecting a total saving Of $40s,9O0,SlS.
on contracts which have been let
but upon which no work had as yet
been done, cancellations aggregate Z
saving OF 800 100000
An order was made on November
IL cutting out all overtime and Sun
day work. The amount saved by this
order aggregates about S2,sOO,OOO a
Gay.
The foregoing amounts are exclu-
sive of cancellations in aircraft pro-
duction Or in engines.
End of AirpIane Production.
In the bureau of aircraft produc-
ton orders have been telegraphed out
stopping all production on a large
number of items, including planes of
various types, engines parts and spe-
cial instruments, which aggregate in
the estimated saving S225. 100000.
In addition to the foregoing plans
have been made to begin the demobil-
ization of the forces under arms In
this country and 10 begin returning
at once TO the United States such por-
tions OF the armed forces abroad as
are not needed for the purpose OF
occupying enemy territory.
How rapidly 1t will De possible for
us at present to return soldiers from
overseas cannot be Immediately de-
termined. The demobilization IN this
country, however can proceed at
once. Blanks have been distributed
physical examinations ere being had
and records made. 40 that within "A
period of two weeks 100000 soldiers
will have been demobllzed and there
after the work will progress rapidly
We are reducing the officer person
mel of the army by discontiruing all
commissions and honorably discharg-
ing officers whose services are no
lonRer needed. Tho number possible
10 be dispensed with increases from
day TO day and there will OF course
be a corresponding decrease in civil
ian employees.
In the termination Of contracts Tor
supplies and material the war De-
na rtment Is working In close harmony
with the War Industries Board and
the Department Of Labor In order that
there may be the utmost freedom for
resumption OF clril business and the
most complete opportunity for labor
, released from war Industries and mill
itary service to find suitable and
profitable Industrial and commercial
employment.
have no doubt that within few
days the figures above set forth Will
show substantial increases and the
savings effected will mount day by