The Washington times., 1918-01-17


Senate is Of how to coordinate anG
unity the Government Of the Cni,ed
States so that it will function prop
erly."
Some Of the greatest volunteer ex-
{ perts are now convinced that the
government does not function prop
erly. II lacks Centralized author
ity."
( Ii We function" We do what is
/ usually spoken of as getting ac-
ton. making good putting the
thing over" or>"arrivinG.
/ 1t Is generally supposed that as
the Government is divided into exec
utlve departments, all are charged
with the responsibility of function
ing in this way, and that the final re-
sponsibility rests with the President
OF the>Cnited States, who. as Chief
Executive centrslizes the power of
all departments to function as gov
eminent OF, for, and by the people. e
1t has been taken for granted that
the President does "centralize au.
thority that he does function, ."
make good" and arrive" himself.
and see that all the different vari-
cites Of efficiency in executive ac-
ton are continuously demonstrated
by all under him and all concerned.
IL seems, however. that there is a
mistake about this, as it is provided
for in the Constitution of the United
States. Something more is needed.
What is il? What ought it to be?
Is 1t to be a great holding board"
such as the parent" Standard Oil
Company was before its efficiency
was interfered with by the anti
trust LAVE"
1t seems that this is the way out,
as it will be satisfactory to the
greatest experts among the Dollar
a-Year volunteers who are now sub
ordinated 10 the Government in its
various departments.
II they could form holding COM
pany, take the whole thing over, CO.
ordinate and unity 1t, centralize au-
thority and make good" for their
method of functioning, they might
win the war, and ask neither pay
nor credit After they had made the
Government efficient, we could take
the whole thing back after the war
if We liked-and go on inIthe usual
clumsy way.
This is a result Of disclosures of
"profiteering" by live wire patriots,
and like disclosures made before the
investigating committees, the tes-
timony has forced question for i'm
mediate answer.
The expert answer is that these
things could not have occurred if the
Governments action had been under
proper coordination and control of
centralized authority, now to be sup
piled by efficiency experts, who are
masters in the science Of functioning,
or getting action, or arriving, or put
ting things over.
Mr.. Waddell Catchings, OF the war
OF the United States Cham
Der of Commerce, appeared before
the Senate Committee on Military At
fairs yesterday and read an able
summary OF the whole situation, rep
resenting his committees opinion Of
managing the expenditure of nine
teen billion dollars. He said that
there must be some kind of leader
ship in this situation" 1t might be-
come "a disastrous and serious sit
ustion otherwise"
This leadership might be supplied
by "co-ordinating body" to prevent
the decentralization Of purchases"
by war and navy departments. This
"co-ordinating body" should repre-
sent the business principles OF con- !
and responsibility
Mr.. Catchings read resolutions
adopted last year at Atlantic City |
and applicable to existing conditions,
recommending the control OF the war
fund for all purchases by one board.
with power TO FIN PRICES NOT
ONLY FOR THE GOVERNMENT
BUT FOR THE PUBLIC"
He made a strong presentation of
his case, as it was assumed to rep
resent the greatest minds OF the
Council of National Defense, the war
industries board, and various other
expert bodies with which the United
States Chamber of Commerce CO.
ordinates.
- ~ II An5nr.o,, aras;