The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-12-18
(TC Be Continued. }
ON
 SALE 0F ARa..iY
 STOCK T0PUDL-IC
Director of Sales Tells How Plan Was Formed and
 Prices Fixed.

The War DepaTtnent authorizes publication of the following state
 nent from the Office of the Director of Sales:
 Tn answer to criticism directed against the War Department by the mercantile trade, the Director of Sales takes this opportunity to out line briefly the policy which has con trolled the War Departments efforts to dispose Of it's surplus stocks which are of a character and condition that will permit the direct sales to the ultimate consumer; to state the req son for establishing the Army Quar- termaster retail stores which are now being operated, and to explain the method by which the prices fixed on commodities offered for sale through those retail stores were arrived at. Having purchased in a.. ordance with a program which called for d full six months future supply of all commodities and materials required for the equipment of it's armies en- gagged in the World War, the War LD-partmeuL found itself, at the ces- sation of h0stilities. with large sur plus stocks of all the supplies issued to field armies. Many of these sup plies, particularly those constftut- ing subsistence and equipage, are consumed in the American house i hold.
 Since the American people had, through taxation and loans, furnished the funds with which tthe large sur plus stock held by the War Depart l nent was acquired. the Secretary of War, in particular, and the legislative and executive branches OF the Gov ernment, In general, desired that the surplus be disposed of by that 1 method best calculated to relieve the ] taxpayers of the.r unusual financial burdens. As a step toward this end i the Secretary of War, acquiescing in 1 the expressed wish of the Congress determined to offer all surplus stocks i the character and condition Of which i would permit Of such distribution l for sale directly to the ultima -e con- 1 sumer. This decision was made q 1 part of the sales policy originally i formulated by the War Department. El-ais policy was designed to assist l the American people m reducing the i cost Of living through acquisition of ] these surplus stocks as cheapIy as ] possible. Direct distribut ion, elinl- | mating as it does the expense incl i dent to the operation of the mer- ] cantiIe trade and the profits exacted i by the fa otoTs through whose hands m nerchellE E.IS3 passes before req achInS the consumer, would necessarily en- able the War Department to sell 1 more cheaply than the retail mer- l chant
 When il inaugurated it's sales cam paign, however, the War Departnen ent 1 was not equipped to conduct a retail mercantile bus.ness. 1t first en- l deavOred to accomplish distribution to the ultimate consumer by Offering it's stoC-Is of subsistence for sale through municipalities and municipal selling agencies, and later reported to l the Parcels Post service as q medium ! for the distribution Of it's stocks ot foodstuffs. Since neither of these
 methods of distribution had proven entirely satisfa ctory. the War De- partment on September 25, having ir
 the meantime effected the organiza-
 riou necessary to operate such Q bust
 ness, opened 25 retail stores Int Quartermaster General of the Army
 divided the United States into retai districts and located the stores 1T
 those centcrs which would permit o1
 the most economical distribution pos
 sib1e.
 In these retail stores the War De-
 partment has placed a rart, at least
 Of it's surplus supply of every com
 modity which might be regarded a.
 household in character. Every com