The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-29
GIN. CROzIER ASKS
-. ORDNANCE REPORT
Former Chief Says Statement
Is Due in View of 1917
Criticism.
URGES REORGANIZATION
Advocates Larger Personnel
and Accumulation of War
Material.
URGES REORGANIZATION
spsciai Despdtch 10 THI sus.

SpeCtdl DesputCH 10 1HE sun.
WASHINGTON. June %. - Brig. Gen.
william Crozlcr, former Chief Of Ord
nance. to-day asked the House Commit
tee investigating war expenditures to
make some report on the conduct of the
Ordnance Department He complained
that the Senate Military Committee had
never made a report on its investigation in
1917 and said that in view of the wide
public criticism Of the department at
that time by the committee and others
some final finding was due.
Chairman Graham assured the Gen.
ssl that the House committee would
make report after going into the sub
ject fully.
Gen. Croziers complaint came at the
end Of a days examination of the wit
ness into the methods used by the ord
nance Department in making purcha ses.
AS result of that criticism were not
YOU and Quarterma ster-General Sharpe
promoted or denoted to the War Coun-
cil?" asked Representative Mckenzie.
I'm other words. were you not sacrificed
20 the criticism"
IT do not feel that II was a promo
ton" replied the witness, though /
would not like to speak for Gen. Sharpe"
Was "Fxicked Upstairs"
You we're sort OF kicked upstairs
into another job to get you out of the
one you held" Mr.. Mckenzie added.
Gen. Crozier explained that the public
criticism aimed at him. was in connec-
ton with the recommendation that the
Enfield rife be adopted and that rifles
BE- standardized. a recommendation con-
CURED in, he said. by the Secretary Of
War, Chief of Staff. head of the Army
War College, commandant of the Ma
rine Corps and Gen. Pershing. The
Standardization and interchangeability
OF parts proved highly important later,
he said.
In reply to a question by Chairman
Graham Gen. Croker made several
recommendations for organization OF
the Ordnance Department against the
possibility OF another war. Among
there were that the personnel be en-
larged; that larger amount OF war
time material be accumulated: removal
Of legislative restrictions so that greater
use could be made OF private factories
provision for official connection with
the department Of scientific men and
engineers who could give part time and
become familiar with the Department.
needs and of other civilians so that the
department. might call on them quickly
In case OF emergency.
Much OF the questioning during the
day had TO do with the method of MAX
ing purchases. This was done, the
General explained, In connection with
the munitions board, composed OF civil
ians. some OF whom. he admitted, were
Interested In the industries which re-
ce!ved contracts from the Government.
Asked whether he thought II a sound
policy that would have. men on a pur-
chasing board who, being interested in
the industries receiving contracts could
AZ the prices the Government WAS to
pay, Gen. Croker said he could not de-
fsnd the policy as such. but that II was
The only thin. the Governm .nt could do
In the circumstances
DimcuIt to Obtain Experts.
The difficulty, he explained, lay in the
inability to find men Of expert knowl-
edge without taking some that had d.
rect interest To that extent the policy
was forced on the Government, he said.
Why were not these men restricted
In their functions to giving advice?' the
witness was asked. He replied that many
persons had to do with the negotiation
OF contracts and the Secretary Of War
himself was finally responsible.
In cost plus contracts the former head
Of the Ordnance Department disclosed
That interest, taxes, depreciation, insur-
anoa, portions OF salaries, employers liza
billy and all items usually figuring In
overhead were included IN costs allowed.