Evening star., 1931-12-10
M'CARL PROPOSES
NEW BUDGET PLAN
Uniformity in Federal Open,
Market Purchases Urged
in Report.

tDrmity in the purchase OF Government
supplies on the open market without
asking for bids, Controller General Me-
Carl has recommended to Congress q
program of Standardization which would
az s1eo as the maximum open market
purchase.
In his annual report, made public yes
terdsy, McCarl pointed out that the &C
provisions excepting the Government
agents from advertising and purchase
by public bidding were enacted at vari-
GUS times, and apparently have resulted
from various causes.
For example, he said, there is 81 900
exemption for the former National
Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
There are at least six separate open
market purchase authorizations of not
la excess of $500, two of which pertain
to the civil branch of the Government.
Four OF the major civilian Federal
sgencies-the Justice Department, La
Dor Department, Veterans Administra
ton and the District of Columbia-and
certain minor agencies are operated with
open market purchase authorizations of
tI00 or less. Several other=, including
the largest of all, the Treasury Depart
snent operate without any open market
exception whatsoever, and must buy all
supplies by advertisement and bids.
Would Avoid Confusion.
at Is believed" said McCarl, lit would
be In the interest of both the Govern
ment and those with whom 1t does busi-
ness to have enacted q standard fixed
maximum amount and standard condi-
ttons under which open-market pur-
Chases and procurementS may be made
applicable alike to all Federal and semi
Federal agencies. Thereby all agencies
who expend Federal funds would be
placed on an equal footing for OPEN
market purchases of supplies or services;
the public and all concerned would have
notice that all open-market purchases
or procuTements with Federal funds
may be made in such manner and to
such extent and not otherwise, there
being, as now, some sc differing author
tzations and various happenings to be
borne In mind in determining whether
3 particular open market purchase or
procurement Is or Is not within statu- |
tory exception to the general advertis-
ing rule.
The need for many repetitions of
such exceptions In appropriation acts |
would be eliminated, the examination |
snd audit of contracts and vouchers ma |
teriaIly simplified and economy Of time |
snd Of funds should result"
Truck Buying Haphazard.
Motor truck needs Of the Government |
could be better met, the Controller Gen. |
eral suggested, through new system of |
Government specifications and competi- |
tive bidding for the purchase of all
Government trucks.
The Government is constantly puy-
ting motor trucks he said "espfcially
such departments as the Post Office,
War, interior and Agriculture, and for
the most part these trucks are of three
classes-light, medium and heavy-with
light predominating. In this class Is
the mail truck ever present on the
streets OF all our cities.
In the present haphazard method of
purchasing" he said, there Is ever pres
ent the personal element-the popular
make-the personal Judgment or desire
cf thu purchasing officer--the influence
OF the salesman, etc. So far as the in
dustrV h concerned, the nARnufacturef
fortunate enough to have popular
product Is probably working its plant to
capacity and feels no need to grant the
Government or any other prospective |
purchaser reasonable reduction In |
price for quantity purchase, while a |
manufacturer less fortunate for the mo-
ment because its current models have |
Less appeal to the purchasing public |
probably has In consequence . plant In |
need Of business and would likely vel |
come an opportunity to build trucks for |
the Government, in accordance with |
Government specifications, at a very |
reasonable price Thereby the Govern |
ment would profit, and the industry |
likewise.
Federal Saving Seen.
1t would seem desirable, to secure |
essinterested consideration of the possi- |
pllties and the beset results, to intrust |
such study as the Congress NAV see fit |
to sanction TO q group Of engineers ex-
perienced In the planning and building |
OF motor trucks, who may easily ascer- |
tain not only the average number of |
trucks required by the Government per |
year, with view TO determining wheth- |
er the requirements would be sufficient |
al circumstances considered, to warrant !
> trial OF the plan, but the actual needs |
of the Government, with view to de- |
serminang whether in the light of such |
leeds there could be trucks devised To /
supply such needs and manufactured. |
after competitive bidding. at a probable |
saving to the United States"
Other legislation recommended To
congress by the Controller General In
Guided:
Restriction and standardization-
within minimum and maximum limits
-of fees and expenses payable to
agents, attorneys, etc, for services
rendered for clients in connection with
claims against the Government.
Legislation upon the subject of the
audit OF the financial transactions of
the Merchant Fleet Corporation and
the carrying by the United States of its
own shipping insurance.
Gensfal authorization for advance
payments in foreign countries for
articles or services to the extent re-
CURED by laws, customs or practices of
the foreign countries In which Federal
activities are being operated.
Extension generally of provisions of
section COL of merchant marine act.
ls28-requiring Federal personnel and
Their effects, for travel by merchant
ships, TO be transported by ships of
american registry-to the transporta-
ton via ships of American registry of
Federal owned property, deported
aliens, etc.
ELIMINATION of unnecessary detail in
connection with the returns, audit and
1ling OF Federal contracts.
Elimination of renewal oaths of Of
Ice by civilian Federal personnel, in
GUIDING those of field services, on
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