Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-28
ADVOCATES CENTRAL BUYING.
Wiseon7in State Purchasing Agent
Tells Econernie Methods Used.


Madison Wis, Aug "S.-"CentraI
buying by an un!anEpered and com
pate-lt buyer WAS recommended by VI.
f, Bldmenf. Id. Wisconsin state par
chasing agent. speaking today TO the
conference OF secretaries Of state. OF
their accredited representatives gath
cred here TO learn how this state ac-
conphshed economies and savings III
the last four years over previous SIM
liar periods and in the face OF rising
prices for almost every commonly
purchased.
in opening his address Mr.. Bluner-
field pointed out that the years 1915 TO
1919 have been the most expensive
ever known" and that when Co7nr'~
ed with the preceding four years, 1sl-
TO 1915. the cheapest years in history
the savings resulting from a state pur-
chasing department becomes more
prominently impressed on the minds
| of au.'
He emphasized his idea that to be
successful a state purchasing agent
must not have his hands tied and
must be permitted to rely on his own
Judgment in buying. must not be
| Handicapped by any commission or
by political influence. should have had
previous training as a general buyer
and not in any one class OF goods. and
should receive salary adequate to
his ability" He held also that II was
not always advisable for the purchas-
ing agent 10 ask for bids.
AS examples of the savings he had
effected he told Of buying automobile
license plates in 1915 for cents a set
when the contract for the previouS
year carried a price of Is cents. In
1916 the contract he let carried price
| of ST.. cents in the face Of rising steel
| prices. In 1917 he obtained io-cent
| price and in 1918 a l4-cent price, al
the steel was twice what it had been
| in 1914.
In plain words used my own judg-
/ meat and bought the plates. at the
| dearest time the world has ever known,
| at i cents against % cents at the
! cheapest time in the history Of the
! United States. Had been tied by the
| old methods Of buying and waited for
| bids and other things. surely would
| have paid a great deal more than II
| cents. possibly s.. 40 or 50. as some OF
| the other states were forced to pay
| Now the plates are being manufac-
l LAX GU at thc okN&bc PIiH"a o. "a SN't y
| Il cents pair, out Mr.. Blumenfelo
! quoted from recent conversation with
! a plate manufacturer who had just
! closed p contract with an adjoining
| state for plates at az cents offering. In
case the prison manufacture in Wis
! consin is discontinued. to take over the
| remaining Of the prison contract and
! furnish plates at II cents pair.
The Wisconsin system Of buying,
| the speaker said, had been given the
| endorsement of General Crowder and
the United States food administration.
| Methods by which money had been
saved TO Wisconsin, rs detailed by Mr..
! Elumenfeld' included installation OF
power paper cutter and purchase OF
! all type writer paper and ribbons used
| by various state departments at saw
| ings Of 10 to IS per cent; quantity
buying of lead pencils, inks and clips
| with the profit OF the middlemen elm
| mated: establishment OF a rnineograph
ard oultigraph department to concen-
| trate work formerly done in each OF
the state offices and the multigraphing
OF ali the index and tabulated cards a,
a cost $50 per cent less than printing,
as well as letterfeads and envelopes.
He also reviewed the work of the state
lprinting board which he said by care
full business methods" had effected a
saving Of s220. 900 in four years.