New-York tribune., 1921-03-16
W ar Supplies
To Be Sold bv
Special Board
Cabinet Plans for Liquida-
ton Commission to Rid
Departments of Surplus
Clogging U. S. Machinery
Value Depreciating Daily
Secretaries Amazed at Fail.
ure to Dispose of Varied
Goods All Over Nation
From The Tri6une's Washing gton Bureau

From The Tribune's Washing gton Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 15.-Creation
Of governmental liquidation commits
sion to handle the distribution and dis
posal of the mass of property and
equipment made surplus since the war
Will be one of the early acts Of Presi-
dent Harding's Administration.
This was made known TODAY after
a two-hour session of the Cabinet The
subject Of hang over property and
wreckage occupied much Of the session.
Practically every Cabinet officer told
OF the accumulation of such propertv
IN ms department and expressed amaze
ment at the apparent lack of effort to
dispose of it. Each said these ac
cumuiatlons are seriously clogging the
machinery of his department and thai
no further time should be lost in rid
ding the government of the surplus
and at the same time protecting the
interests of the public
The subject was brought before the
Cabinet by Secretary of Labor Davis
when he told of number Of homes
IN Quincy, Mass, which were built
during the war by the United States
Housing Corporation.
Weeks Wants Commission
These houses have ceased to serve
their governmental purpose and are
rapidly depreclating in value. Other
members told of similar situations in
their departments.
Discussion of the best procedure for
dealing with this condition brought out
the plan for creating a liquidation
commission.
Secretary of War Weeks is one of
the strongest advocates of placing the
sale of surplus war materials in the
hands of special commission. He
cited the case of the Muscle Shoal
water power projects, declaring that
1T should be decided at once whether
to continue this work or dispose of it
at the best available figure. A similar
situation prevails at Norfolk, where a
large number of narrow gauge rail-
road freight cars, built Cor foreign use,
and not available for any domestic pur-
pose, are held at the disposal of a COM
pany which has not vet determined
whether it can meet the contract sug-
gested by the War Department. An
other instance was piece of property
for whiih the government had been Of
fered 81 100000 in cash.
The stress of other matters before the
War Secretary has made it impossible
for him to determine whether to ac-
cept this cash offer or to endeavor to
dispose of the property in odd lots and
perhaps realize a greater figure on it..
Big Legislative Program
The Cabinet gave considerable atten-
tion to the Legislative program which
is being whipped into shape for pres
entaton to the special session of Con
gress next month. 1t was made evident
that when this Congress assemblies it
will have placed in its hands what is
expected to be the most concise and
complete legislative program ever Of
fered by new Administration.
Grave problems concerning the ter
rtories and insular possessions We're
brought before the session. Secretary
Weeks gave brief resume of condi-
tions in the territories and posses
sons, which were considered far from
gratifying. These sections urgently
need immediate development of their
industries and resources.