New-York tribune., 1920-11-17
Baker Invites
Public to File
W aste Evidence
Denies Department Bought
Too Many War Supplies
and That Irregularities
Attended Their Disposal
$16, 100, 100000 Spent
Congress Appropriated Sum
of 25 Billions From April
6, 1917, 10 June 80. 1920

WASHINGTON, Nov 1C.--A blanket
invitation :, every citizen having
knowledge Of any irreguiarity or mis-
conduct on the part of any agent, en-
ployee or officer of the War Depart
ment to submit such evidence for in
vestgation was issued to-day by Sec
retary Baker in reply to recent criti-
cisms Of the surplus property division.
appearing in New York newspaper.
The Secretaly's statement pledged
thorough inquiry into every accusation
brought to the attention of the de-
partment.
Declaring shat the particular articles
referred to cnarge: First. that the War
Department fought too many supplies,
and, second, that irregularities, ia
voritism and proiiteerinp have char
acterized the disposal Of surplus stocks,
the statement emphatically denied both
allegations. Supplies were bought, it
said, on the basis of an expected
duration of the war.
Had the campaign CT 1919 been
necessary" it said, "the American army
would have been greater in numbers
than the combined French and British
armies in France"
Accumulation Of Material
The rapid rehabilitation of the
army, the statement continued. left q
vast accumulation Of material which,
II dumped on the market. would have
resulted in widespread unemployment.
with demobllized soldiers and war
workers jobless and the economic con-
"ltlon of the country prostrated.
The policies which were pursued
encouraged the resumption of industry
ana America is the only country ac-
lively engaged in the war which has
up to this time attained full employ
ment conditions,' it added.
Total appropriations for the War
Department from April Is, 1917, to
June 30. 1920, were approximately sos
100000, 900, of which S16,O0O.O0O 900 was
expended and $500 100000 turned
back to the Treasury, the statement
SAID, deducting balances on hand and
amounts realized in sales prior to
June 30 The net cash outlay to June
80 was $15,770,00O, 900, which credit
and cash sales not yet turned in would
reduce to about $13,5OO, 100000.
Says There Was No Shortage
"ln other words" the statement said,
congress provided with an unstinting
hand and the War Department took
every step in its power to prevent a
shortage. of any necessary war materiel
and built its plan to meet the great
army in the process of formation.
There was no shortage. In spite of
all this, however, out of total of
about S25000,00O, 900 appropriated
about $4,000 100000 will be the net
cost of the war through the War De-
rartment, and this figure includes great
and valuable properties and facilities
acquired by the department and per
manently retained for the use of mill
tary establishment"
Specific charges of Irregularities ana
tavoritism made by Major W. G.
Watts, former executive officer of the
surplus properties division, have been
carefully investigated by the Inspector
Generals Department was found to be
unsupported, the statement declared.
More recent charges appearing in the
published articles also will be investi
gated, it is added