El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-11
For Sale: War
Materials Of
Your UncLeSam1
They Are Sold In a Bust
nesslike Method and Not
HIaphazard.
by FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Washington, D. C.. April liver
since the signing Of the armistice.
people have been wondering what the
government was going 10 do with all
the war material it couldn't use.
II understand you are going 10 sell
of your war typewriters." writes one
eager customer. "aud I would like
10 know how much you viii charge
for slightly used oneT' Another
correspondent wants 20 know II the
government has any flat topped de ks
Tor sale, and sim another states that
he has been informed he can obtain
a good army mule from the war de-
partment al a low price.
Nothing for sale Yet.
The war department hates to dis
appoint the public, but il is forced
to insist that there is not the slight
est bit Of truth in these rumOrs. TIE
department is a digni1ied Institution.
and not junk shop 1t still has so
much work TO DO that IL has plenty
Of use for all its motor cars. and has
no intention Of selling any Il is
also unaware that any Of its air
planes are TO be offered for sale, at
any price.
Careful in Selling.
The war department does not deny
that IL has surplus war material
which must be sold. u has a large
sales department devoted to that very
purpose What II objects 70 Is the
way IN which the public IS rushing
ahead Of it and jumping 10 amazing
conclusions. The government IS TAX
ing every precaution 70 prevent any
disruption to industry through the
unloading OF war material
When &c got ready to sell its suF-
plus lumber not long ago. for eE-
ample. the director OF sales Of the
war department made a contract with
firm which represents the majority
Of the American Timber associations
This firm agreed TO purchase the
surplus lumber on various army pro-
iects. and to resell It at the current
market price for each grade and s1e-
cies. paying the war department the
amount received for the lumberi less
the actual expense OF handling the
same
This IS the usual procedure with
any Industrial staple such as lumber,
steel. copper, coal or iron
How sales Are Made.
Suppose. for example. that three
government plants have quantities Of
surplus steel they are anxious to get
rid Of One Of the plants is on the
Pacific coast. one In the south. one
on the New England coast IL would
cost too much for one firm 10 collect
sales decides 10 have Il sold at each
plant Notices Of a public sale Of
steel ar each plant are inserted in
the local newspapers. so that every
one interested in buying steel can
take advantage OF the opportunity
IL is by the public sale method. also,
that the war department intends 20
sell its surplus furniture and Access
sories-
While congress has appropriated
for a large army. compared 20 that
which existed before the nation went
TO war. the war department viii un-
doubtedly have 20 pun I'm its belt dur
ing the next year War workers are
already being discharged by the hum
dreds. and this means that typewrit-
ers. desks. chairs and office supplies
viii either have to be sold or put Up
IN the attic
in the sale OF material OF this kind.
an allowance has 20 be made for de-
probation. OF course. and the depart
ment has the price cf each article
fixed by a professional appraiser.
Before any kind OF war material IS
put on sale by the war department,
the other departments OF the govern
ment are consulted to see 81 they can
make any use Of IT, some ~ The