Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-09

Gays Bee.)
Washington, Nov. 8-(SpeciaD-
Ordinarily a congressional investi-
CATION is looked upon as good deal
of farce, due to the failure of con-
gress to take cognizance of the find
ings of the commission or commit
tee empowered to make such inves-
tigation, and the evils sought to be
remedied continue, most generally,
along the same old lines. -
But now and then committee is
appointed - to investigate certain
phases of our complex government
tai life that functions in manner
that attracts the unstinted praise
of the entire body of our citizen
ship and out of if~comes infinite
good to the country as whole.
One such committee was created
at the beginning of the Sixty-sixth
congress and known as the special
committee to investigate the expen-
ditures in the War department with
especial reference to the money
paid out by this branch of the gov
eminent during the world war. And
as members of this special commit
tee two representatives from Me-
braska were selected for the work
in hand C. Frank Reavis of Falls
City, and Albert w. Jefferis of
Omaha.
Both Well Equipped.
Well equipped, both by training
and experience in legal procedure,
and with a natural bent toward TN
raveling abstruse problems, these
two Nebraskans have been don1inat-
ing factors on the subcommittee
of which they are members, and
enc of them. Congressman Reavis
chairman of the subcommittee deal
ing with the purchase of food sup
plies, automobiles, etc, has already
established himself in the eyes of
the house as we'll as in the coun-
try, as fearless investigator and
champion of an unorgenized and
long-suffering public.
Congressman Jefferis, equally
tireless in running down reckless
expenditures in the purchase of
ordnance and other munitions, is
waiting his opportunity to show the
house that its confidence in him
has not been misplaced.
Shortly after the signing of the
armistice a department Of sales was
organized in the War department,
whose business it was to dispose OF
all surplus army stores, which in
value ran into the billions. The per-
sonnet of this sales department, as
selected by the War department,
was made up in large measure, by
the Representatives of the different
business activities handling the
products to be sold.
In many instances the surplus
army supplies, if sold on the open
market, would come in direct COM
petition with the products Of the
man. the War department had Sc
lected to sell the army supplies. This
most astonishing situation was fully
developed in the speech of Congress
man Reavis on Surplus Food and
the War Department" made in the
house several weeks ago and which
is still the subject of much comment
in the newspapers and magazines OF
the country.
Because of the personal interest
of these men the sales department,
as soon as organized last January,
determined upon the policy of dis
posing of the surplus army supplies
so as NOT to disturb industrial con-
ditions." As might have been ex-
rected this policy resulted in keep
ing army supplies off the market,
until perlshable stuff had spoiled,
and supplies of all character had de-
Perforated greatly in value.
Saved Over 100000, 900.
Congressman Reavis, whose search
ing Investigations and whose dis
closures on the floor of the house
have so aroused public sentiment
that the War department, after
months of delay and inaction, was
compelled to act, has within the past
two months been personally respon-
sible for putting over $500, OOO,O 600
into the treasury that would other
wise have been lost, as we'll as to
give the people an opportunity to
buy food and other necessities at
less than market price.
Having forced the War depart
ment.to dispose of its surplus food
for the benefit of the public and
help bit in pulling down the high
cost of living, Mr.. Reavis-looked
about for some other field of en-
deavot in which he might be useful
within the limitations of his sub
committee and hit upon the pur-
chase of automobiles by the War
department as the especial theater
for his investigation, with the result
that he has recently begun action
on the surplus motor cars owned by
TIE department.
His investigation has disclosed
that there are $4,000 surplus motor
vehicles, largely made up of Mack,
Garford, Liberty and Packard
trucks. and White, Packard, Cadil-
lac, Dodge and other standard
makes of passenger cars. These
cars, BY the thousands, have been
standing without shelter Of any