Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-17
IS =: ~ = s's;;.,
Misconduct
Is sInvited
Baker Asks Any Citizen Hav.
ing knowledge of Irregular.
ties in War Department to
Communicate With Him.
Investigation Is Promised

Washington d. c. Nov. l6.-A
blanket invitation to every citizen
having knowledge of "any irregu-
larity or misconduct on the part OF
any agent, employc or officer of the
War department" to submit such evil
dence for investigation, was issued
today by Secretary Baker in reply
to recent criticism of the surplus
property division. appearing in
New York newspaper. The secre-
tary's statement pledged thorough in
quiry into every accusation brought
to the attention of the department.
Declaring that the articles re-
ferred to charge, first, that the War
department bought too many sup
plies and second, that irregularities,
favoritism and profiteering, have
characterized the disposal of surplus
stocks, the statement enphatically
denied both allegations. Supplies
were bought, it said, on the basis
of an expected longer duration Of
the war.
"Had the campaign of 1919 been
necessary it said, "the American
army would have been greater in
numbers .llan the combined French
and British armies in France
Industry Protected.
The rapid rehabilitation of the
army, the statement continued, left
vast accumulation Of material
which, if dumped on the market,
would have resulted in widespread
unemployment, with demobilized
soldiers and war workers jobless
and the economic condition of the
country prostrated."
'IThe policies which were pursued,
encouraged the resumption OF IN
dustry and America is the only
country actively engaged in the war
which has. up to this time. attained
full employment conditions" 1t
added. !
Total appropriations for the War
department from April E, 1917, to
June 80, 1920, were approximately
SIS. SOC, 100000, Of which $l6,l0C,.,
100000 was expended and $780,.
600 900 turned back to the treasury,
the statement said. Deducting bal
ances on hand aud amounts realized
in sales prior to June so, it con-
tinued, the net cash outlay to June
80, was $15,770,o0 which credit
and cash sales not yet turned in
would reduce to about Slo,5oo,oQo,-
I,f)Y : 'se-.s ip,s'a ''. ,-e-3,e-ess--4sz .s
Congress Liberal.
"In other words" the statement
said. Congress provided with an
.unstintinp hand and the War depart
ment took every step in its power to
prevent shortage of any necessary
war material and built its plans to
meet the great army in the process
Of formation. There was no short
age. In spite of all this. however,
out of a total of about Szs,00O00u.-
600 appropriated. about $l3,00O0oo,-
600 will be the net cost of the war
through the War department and this
figure included great and valuable
properties and facilities acquired by
the department and permanently re-
tanned for the use Of the military es-
tablishment."
Specific charges OF irregularity
and favoritsm, made by Mai. w. .:
Watts, former executive officer OF
the surplus property division. have
been carefd1ly investigated by the
inspector generals department and
found to, be unsupported, the state
ment declared. More recent charges
appearing in the published articles,
declared the statement, also will be
snvestipated.