Evening star., 1925-11-03
Shaving Uncle Sans Dollars
And Saving His Dimes
BY WILLIAM p. HELM, JR.

THE development of a policy to
govern the destruction of useless ex-
ecutive papers is being considered.
Thousands OF square feet of office and
storage space are now occupied by
papers that have no further value and
should be destroyed. 1t is believed
that a policy as to the length Of time
all executive papers should be retained
would result in an even flow of use
less papers for destruction.
"A survey has been made Of all
office reproducing equipment such as
monographs, multigraphs, photostat
machines and blueprint machines in
use by the Government service in
Washington. 1t is believed that the
underload periods of some machines
may be used to the benefit Of services
that have periods of overload, with
resulting economy"
x X X
4 previous recommendation by the
Federal purchasing board to the
Bureau Of the Budget, from which
has resulted many minor economies,
was made in the following language:
Analysis Of the general schedule
Of supplies proves clearly two facts:
FIRST Many, perhaps the ma
jority, of items now under running
price fixing contracts are bought in
such small scattered quantities dur
ing the contract period as to make it
very doubtful whether it is worth
the Government while to spend its
money for cost Of bonds and for the
contractors long time risk in price
merely for the sake of protection
against default which . formal CON
tract affords. Why not preferably
enter into informal price agreements
OF the nature common to business
with subsequent wedding out of deal
ers who prove their unWillingness 10
stand by such agreements?
Second. Many times. several hun
dred, are purchased 50 commonly for
stock and in such large quantities that
the question naturally arises. why not
buy these items periodically in def
mite quantities to cover the needs OF
all departments and establishments,
thereby keeping close to market con
ditions and securing the advantage
of bluk purchaser
The Federal purchasing board has
set itself On record as being in favor
of definite quantity consolidated pur-
chases for articles as to which the
needs Of the Government can be fore
cast. Such purchases have been made
III several important commodities with
resulting savings in price Of from
TO p per cent, with 4 few cases OF
even higher savings
X x X
Working along these lines, the Fed
eral purchasing board has recommend
ed, for instance. that all departments
Of Government, where possible. clear
their orders for fuel oil through the
Navy Department, which. because of
its large requirements of this com
modify. is in q position to obtain an
exceedingly low price In addition
similar recommendations for procure
ment have been made to all depart
ments as follows: Canvas from the
Atlanta Penitcutiary: rope for marine
use from the Navy Department. gasO
line from the War Department: aCety.
lene gas from the Navy Department
The board through careful and
painstaking work, has placed before
every department of Government rec.
concentrations as to the best method
of purchase, the best time of the year
to buy, the best fields in which Il
buy, and the best packages to require
and best kinds of deliveries with res
pect TO coal, fuel oil, forage, lumber
provisions, hemp, paint and other in
gradients.
These recommendations are being
followed in a large number of cases
at a saving whose size is difficult &c
estimate.
Downright 1923