New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
Ouartermaster General Rog-
ers Says Agreement That
Tied His Hands Was
Signed With Association
Effort to Sell Stopped
Refuses to Say Who Is Re-
sponsible, as 1t Would Be
Reflection on Superior
NetC York Tribune
W1Shinnton R1lrcoM


WASHINGTON, July 22.AQuarter-
master General Harry L. Rogers made
the fiat statement before congress
sional committee to-day that pressure
brought on the War Department by the
National Gamers Association was
hold from the domestic market $685.
1000 worth of canned vegetables no
longer needed by the army.
On his return from France February
II he had Immediately taken up the
matter OF disposing of the 100000 900
cans surplus, General Rogers told the
committee investigating the Quaretr-
master Corps, but he found his hands
tied by an agreement made by Acting
Quartermaster General R. E. Wood and
q civilian official of the Quartermas-
ter's Department, R. ]. Thorne, presi-
dent of the Montgomery Ward Com
pany of Chicago, with the Gamers.
There is no question that if my
original intention had been followed
out these vegetables would have gone
to the American people early in the
year." General Rogers said
Cross examined by Representative
Reavis, the quartermaster general
said that he was unable to give any
satisfactory explanation of why there
had been no surplus of canned goods
declared until eight months after the
signing of the armistice.
Can't Find March's Order
He said he never had been able to
get hold of a copy" of the order Cen
eral March told the committee he had
issued on November 80, calling for the
declaration OF a surplus.
General Rogers said it would have
been perfectly safe to proceed with
sales of army foodstuffs soon after the
signing of the armistice. The delay was
due in part to inexperienced officers of
his department who don't know one
class of canned goods from another"
to insufficient clerical help and to the
confusion at army warehouses, where
conditions are such that no officer
Knows what they contain beyond the
fact that it is "millions of pounds of
foodstutfs of one kind or another"
When Director of Sales Hare and
Colonel A. NJ. Davis appeared before
the committee they placed response
bIllty for the failure to declare a sur
plus on General March General
March, on the other hand, said the
blame must be placed on the quarter
masters department.
General Rogers described the plan
under which the War Department had
finally decided to sell surplus food to
municipalities. Representative Reavis
pointed out that 90 per cent of all
cities would be prevented under their
charters from participating in the War
Department offer
''lf you did not want to sell your
food stocks q pretty good way to
achieve that without attracting much
attention would be to offer them for
sale only to those who could not buy
them" he suggested.
Would Reflect on Superior
Can you tell me- Representative
Keavis questioned, "why the War De-
rartment could not sell its surplus
foods 10 public spirited associations
anxious to relieve distress by bringing
down the cost of living?'
ANY answer of mine to that ques-
ton would be reflection on superior
officer" General Rogers protested.
General Rogers said he had no knowl
edge of the agreement between the
temporary heads of his department
General Wood and Mr.. Thorne, and tn
National Gamers Association when h,
returned 10 the United States from
Europe.
shorty after my retuHn," hc said
II learned that from 25 to so carload
Of canned vegetables for the army wer
SlGetraCked near -. Louis, with n
storage room available for them. De
rnurrage charges were piling up and
gave instructions for their sa e O.
short advertisement"
Following tho appearance Of &C ad
vertisements, General Rogers con
tinued, Frank Gerber, president, an
Frank Correl, secretary, of the Ma
tional Gamers Association, wrote hir
letters requesting a conference A
this time he was shown for the frs
time the agreement that mad been mad
with the Gamers.
THAT letter from General Wood t
Mr. Gerber, dated December 6. 1915
Immediately stopped the sale OF su,
plus vegetables. Mr. Thorne assure
mo that the letter of General Woo
was written with the approval of tn
Secretary Of War;