New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-21
Government POLICY
For Selling Surplus
Machinery Shaped
States and municipalities
To Be Given First Oppor-
tunity to Buy Supplies
Needed for Construction

Members of the National Supply and
Machinery Dealers Association are
rapidly responding to the written re.
quest sent out from their Philadelphia
headquarters for information concern
ing the specific items of machinery and
tools to be disposed Of by the govern
ment in which they are interested. This
request followed conference held last
week between representatives or the
association and officials of the War
Department, during which the matter
Of disposal of surplus government
owned property was discussed.
The government representatives at
the meeting reiterated the policy OF the
War Department to sell the greatest
amount possible through its Preferred
Sales Division to the navy and other
government departments. Following
these, State and municipal departments
will have the first choice.
Report Sent TO Members
NEGOTIATIONS have also been con-
cuded by the government to sell some
of its surplus machinery to foreign
countries A report of the entire sltu-
alton regarding government. sales sent
out to all the members of the assocla-
ton says:
"Arrangements of definite character
have been made to sell portions OF this
surplus property to state instltutlons
the sales in the various states being ia
ciliated by committees which have been
appointed by the Governor Of each
state, so that there may be maximum
amount of goods sold for state con-
struction work-alms houses, penal in
stitutions, city and county construction
work, public utilities and various other
state, county, city and borough activi-
ties.
"a special effort is being made, and
in many cases with success, to nego-
tate sales to foreign governments, the
greatest volume of these sales being to
Montenegro. Ecuador, Belgium and
italy, as we'll as to the countries in the
Near East.
at has been found that the volume
of sales to France will be somewhat
limited through the existing ability of
France and England to supply con-
siderable portion of the needs.
Special efforts will also be made to
negotiate Il maximum amount of sales
to the United States Railroad Admins
tration, although it has been suggested
that difficulty is being experienced in
causing the railroad administration to
purchase as literally as the surplus
property division would like"
Inventories Being Made
at is said that the inventory of the
great number of items involved will
not be ready for about sixty days.
with respect to the disposal Of
such amount of property as may re-
main after the preferred sales division
has exhausted every effort, the fol-
Io Fo11
"If the government through its
preferred sales division, cannot
sell the property an effort will be
made to have the manufacturer who
produced it take it back upon a basis
later to be determined, but which will
take into account the necessity of the
situation. If, however, the manufact-
urer refuses, then all manufacturers
engaged in the production of similar
goods will be requested to confer re-
gardlng the purchase of the material
from the government among the manu-
facturers to determine whether or not
they desire to absorb the goods in
order to protect the trade interests
involved. Failing in that the property
shall be offered to distributors regu-
larly engaged in dealing in the COM
moditics in question.
at is planned to eliminate specula-
tors, brokers, scalpers and others sim
ilarly operating who might improperly
profit from this situation"
Sales may be made by three meth
eds, as follows: First, by negotiation
where sales are possible at ruling
market prices; second, by sealed pro
posals where it is deemed expedient by
the officer in charge that this methot
be followed, and, third, by public auc-
ton.
According to information given ou
at the office Of the construction quar-
termaster at the War Department there
are throughout the United States Az
construction projects and an inventory
of the surplus property in connection
with these las been prepared The
value Of all the surplus property il
which the association is inter.
estcd is 81 100000 The items include
the following: Nails, $161 900; bolts
1000; builders hardware, $45, 900:
fencing, $4,000; rope, $4,000; roof
ing and screening, $4,000; chain
$4,000; hose, $4,000; lanterns, $1,000
Besides this there is plumbing ant
heating material on hand valued at
S2.5S2,000 and lumber valued at &c.;
900 900