Evening star., 1922-10-31
BLAME |SP[ACED
FOR SUPPLY DELAY
Dr.. BaIIou Cites Roundabout
Methods of Distribu-
ton to Schools.
TIME AND MONEY LOST
Law Compels Dealing Through
General Committee Disposing of
Surplus War Material.

Many of the difficulties and delays
in the opportune purchase of supplies
for the public schools are due to the
general supply committee, an agency
created by law to dispose of surplus
war material in the hands of the fed
eral government, according to Super
intendent of Schools Frank w. Bal
lou.
Under the provisions of the law
virtually every requisition forwarded
to the District purchasing officer for
materials or supplies-where per-
sonal service is not involved
whether it be for an article already
contracted for or for one to be ac-
qured through open market pur-
general supply committee, to pass
muster before an inquiry, such as the
following:
Inquiry Must Be Made.
HAS the federal government this ar
ticle. or its equivalent, anywhere in
it's inventory, either in the extensive
warehouses in Washington or else
where?"
supply committee makes diligent m
vestigation to see If the article or
its presumptive equal proposed to be
purchased is listed in his inventory
of government stocks. Until the CO.
ordinator's reply is received, releas-
ing the same. all steps looking to-
ward ordering the material else
where are held in abeyance. Should
the article requisitioned or one SINH
lar be in government hands awaiting
disposal, the board of education.
through the purchasing officer. is no.
titled of the essential facts. The pur-
obligatory, unless convincing evil
dence can be submitted. in writing.
that 1t is wholly unsuited for the
purpose for which it is desired
System Brings Delay.
1.-THE schools have heartily endeav-
ored to comply with all the provi-
sions of the law with a sincere appre-
citation of the economic reasons for
disposing of surplus supplies on hand
and also from motives of patriotism. i"
said DIR. Ballou. But while the re-
quirements of this statute are appli-
cable alike to all branches of the Dis
trict government, its operation is fire.
quently calculated to work a hard
ship to school interests. from which
other city departments escape, for the
reason that many of the school sup
plies and materials are exclusively
intended for classroom needs, Tor pur-
poses of instruction. for scientific
uses" The application of this state
ment is shown in specific cases cited
by DR.. Ballou, as follows:
Specific Cases Cited.
A requisition was forwarded to the
purchasing officer for a quantity of
school pens. The general supply COM
mittee reported that the BROOKLYN
navy yard had school pens on hand
in a quantity to meet the school
needs. An investigation of the kind
and quality of the pen at the navy
yard disclosed that 1t was a bankers
stub pen. which is in no sense &C.
ceptable to teach children penman-
ship. The proper pens were provided
following this delay.
In accordance with a recommends
ton in the report of the chief of the
fire department, following the Knick-
erbocker Theater disaster, several
hundred fire extinguishers were red
uisitioned for to safeguard certain
rooms and assembly halls. Only a
part Of the order could be placed with
the manufactures agent for imme-
diate delivery. The remainder had to
be purchased from the government
and shipped from the Canal Zone.
Panama. while an early delivery was
highly necessary.
Useless Phon0graph Received.
1n the attempted purchase of a
phonograph for a suburban school,
the outcome. was the delivery of a
phonograph from the United States
Shipping Board through the general
Continued on Pags,2. Column -
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