Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-06
UNCLE SAM MAKING BIG HIT 2 :
AS A SECONDHAND DEALER
Saves Millions by Salvaeing Furniture
Thrown Into Disuse by Signing
II of the Armistice

the American expeditionary forces
were transferred to the Treasury to
be used in transporting surplus prop
erty. The general supply committee
has in operation about ten trucks
The forty-eight buildings of approx
mately 1000 square feet each in
which this material is stored were
erected for the purpose of housing
part of the Army. but fell into dis
use upon the signing of the armi-
stice.
1t is the intention of Congress to
make East Potomac Park. in which
these buildings are situated. the play
ground of Washington. The process
of Identification is already in prog
ress. A golf course has been laid
out. bandstand erected and other
improvements are under way. 1t will
be but short time until it will be
necessary to raze these buildings to
make way for the necessary improve
ments. In the meantime they serve
to house over million and half
dollars worth of government prop
erty. One of the buildings contains
an up-to-date cabinet making shop.
while another is used for rennishing
contain over four thousand typewrit-
ers each. The typewriter repair shop
has eighteen men constantly engaged
in tearing down. cleaning, and reas-
Sembilng machines.
In the cabinet shop can be seen
hundreds of chairs, desks and tables
in the process of renovation. Parts
of fling cabinets. arms, legs and
metal parts of chairs are Salvaged.
Such articles as are beyond salvage
so far as the government is concern
ed are sold at public auction. To date
over $4,000 has accrued from such
sales. Nothing is sold which can pos
sibly be repaired or reissued.
The role of Uncle Sam as a second
hand dealer. while novel one, has been
efficiently conducted, as record of the
cost of this material shows that 1t
per cent for this work. The size of this
overhead is one that many dealers in
this class of goods would look upon with
suspicion in view of the generally ac-
cepted opinion that the cost of operation
when placed under federal control is
out of all proportion to the results
achieved. An examination of the rec
ords Of the general supply committee
shows that tx per cent covers every
thing excepting rent. Salaries, materials
required for replacement, electric cur
rent, telephone service, operation OF
trucks, etc, are all covered by the over
head indicated. Unfortunately the exec
utive order was made to apply only to the
District Of Columbia. and while it's OPP
Grafton will in all likelihood result in a
saving Of several million dollars, a much
greater saving might have been effected
had it been laid down on a broader
basis or its scope enlarged.
About ten years ago-or, to be exact, on
June II, lS10ECongress created the gen.
eral supply committee for the purpose
of standardizing and contracting for
supplies required by the government.
That it has been an effective agent of
economy for the government there is no
doubt. 1t is a matter of record that be-
fore this central contracting agency bes
gan to function government bureaus had
been competing with one another in
making purchases with distinctive dis
to the government as a whole.
The economies effected in the dispos-
ing Of surplus property and in contract
ing for supplies have about convinced the
leaders Of Congress that the authority
Of the general supply committee might
well be extended SO as to include the
purchase of material, supplies and equip
ment in stated quantities for distribution
from a central warehouse. Steps to
bring this into effect have already been
taken by the introduction Of bills for
this purpose in both the Senate and
House Of Representatives.