The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-19
Workers At National Capital
By Herbert Corey


 WASHINGTON, D. 0. Oct. 1S- Why is it that sailors can make money on a farm when farmers can not?
 That query involves two distinct suggestions. One is that farmers are losing money. 1t certainly is a fact that the senators and representatives from our farming states cry out loud every time they think about thelr vote-bearing constituents. They other is that sailors make money on farm' That sounds incredible. Sailors are persons in bell-muzzled brooches who go ahoying about the land. But the sailors of the United States Navy are perhaps the best farmers in the United States. Listen:
 Near Annapolis, Maryland, the United States navy owns a farm Of more than 900 acres. It was forced to buy that farm because the local farmers had been furnishing milk filled with typhoid germs to the students in the United States Naval academy.
 Merely a Loan To the Navy
 Congress loaned the Navy $300,OOO with which to buy and equip that farm. That money wasn't given. It was loaned The total cost plus a running fund was included in that loan. There isn't farmer in the United States who could borrow so much money from a bank on the same amount of farmland security.
 That farm is today one of the best in the United States. It has, 325 of the best cows you ever saw, pedigreed, profitable, healthy, of which more than POO are always fresh. It has paid back $5O,O00 of the borrowed money. It has S10O,O00 more ready to pay back if Congress insists. And it is getting better and better in every way every day. It could be sold at big profit except that the navy could not afford to sell.
 Here is the moral;
 Bureaus Many Activities
 That farm is operated by the Bu- reau of Supplies and Accounts, which is perhaps the most efficiently func- tioning business organization in the United States. That has an extrava- gant sound, I know. But show me. Show any one who knows what the Bureau of S. and A. is doing. It is the most gorgeously expanded grocery store, bank, gents furnishings and tourist bureau on record. One branch of its activities has as much relation to another branch as the doctrine ot infant damnation has to hard boiled eggs But it never flivvers. It's ac' counts are always straight. It can track a jug of shellac right to the wasteful old seaman who made l1fs cocktails out of the good varnish.
 Let's get few facts straight about the B. of S. and A. and the navy.
 There are S6,000 men, more or less in the navy. Not enough men, be cause there are not enough to keeI the machinery of the navy function ing economically, but there you are The S6000 want everything, from chocolate carmels to pejackets. The Bureau of s. and A. furnishes every thing for the men and the ships, ex cept big guns, ammunition and nee essities for the Marine corps, which is a touchy organization that looks after itself.
 S5,OOO Items On Its Books
 .The Bureau of S. and A. carries 35,000 items on it's books right along. It buys fuel oil, coal, baking powder silk handkerchiefs, steering engines, boats-everything. Not only that. Ii delivers all of the 35,000 items against future need. Here is the idea:
 On Thursday last certain ships were ordered to sail for Constantinople or Monday. Perhaps not last Thursday In every other respect this statement is literally accurate. Those boats hat to be fueled, provisiOned, medicined for a stay of an unknown time. Fly erything that their complement of wrig. gling bluejackets might need or think they might need must be provided for them along with meat, flour, canned cookies, and other table needs. Ar rangement had to be made by which the men of the little fleet might get their money on payday, either in cash credit, or in the money of the coun try.
 We did it." said Rear Admira David Potter, supply corps, paymastel general of the navy. He did not seen to think anything unusual had beer l done. A good supply officer is ex pected to pull miracle out of the ail when it is needed. He isn't expected to make fuss about it either.
 Much Expected Of Pay"
 When the fleet wakes up in a for eign port and rubs the sleep out O it's eyes and goes to breakfast it con fidently anticipates that Pay" ha been ashore hours before and robbed the countryside of it's choicest edibl grown and strengthened. I feel tha