Evening star., 1934-03-13
Text of Woodring's Statement

The text Of Assistant Secretary Of
War Woodring's statement. to the
press today regarding the investiga-
tions of transaction IN his office
follows:
I welcome the Investigations being
made of transaction in my office, and
I have been confident all along Of
complete vindication.
Pending their conclusion. there Is
being broadcast a campaign of in
sinuation and innuendo. A feeling
that the public is entitled to the truth
impels me to make this statement.
There is no conference to the at
tack. It Is intimated that I have
denied some one business or that ]
have given some one business; that ]
have changed specifications so as to
broaden competition, or that I have
approved specifications narrowing COM
petition. The implication is made in
every case that there Is something
sinister about the conduct of my office
The implication is false.
am criticized for exercising super
vision over the procurement of sup
plies, but the law requires me to dc
this.
Cites Large Responsibility.
BY express provisions of the laws
of Congress and by delegation from
the Secretary of War, I have numer.
Gus. varied and important duties tc
perform. including responsibility for
supervising the procurement of all
supplies for the Army and for the
Civilian Conservation Corps. This
involves responsibility for spending in
one year some $500 100000 of the peo-
pies money, Hundreds of times each
week I must take action involving
some business matter.
Every action affects the financial
situation of somebody. I have nc
illusions that I can please everybody
in every transaction under any condi-
tions likely to exist this side of the
millennium.
My duties bring me into contact
with the whole field of American busi-
ness. Most satisfactory relations exist
between my office and business men
generally.
In nine hundred and ninety-nine
cases out of one thousand no eXcep-
tlon is taken to my official action
But occasionally some one is dissatis-
fled that certain business goes to a
competitor rather than to himself
These rare instances have led to the
OBJECTIONS that We hear about us. But
dlsappointments to some people are
inevitable II I am to do the lob thai
| am sworn to perform.
Simply SuperviSes Work,
My interest and responsibilities II
connection with the preparation o.
specifications for War Department
supplies arises from the fact the ma.
tlonal defense act, as amended ir
1920, charges the Assistant Secretar,
OF War. under the direction of thu
Secretary of War. with Supervision
| of the procurement of all militar,
supplies and other business of thu
War Department pertaining thereto.
The same act places responsibility fol
the actual procurement of supple.
upon the eight supply arms and serv.
ices OF the War Department. Thu.
the Assistant Secretary of War is no
an operating agency, but simply one
OF supervision and coordination.
During the time that have beer
the Assistant Secretary of War.
have considered it my duty under thi.
mandate of Congress to exercise such
supervision and control over the pro.
curement activities of the several
supply agencies as will insure thai
supplies are procured efficiently, eco.
nomically and in accordance with the
provisions of law and existing regu
lations; and that the business activi
ties of the War Department are car.
rled on in such manner as will full,
protect the interests of the Govern.
nent and be fair to the great bod,
of citizens with whom the War De.
partment has business relations.
I always have considered that com.
petition for Government busines.
should be encouraged to the fullest
extent practicable in each particular
case. Every qualified manufacturer
should have an equal opportunity tt
obtain this business. and the Govern
ment should have the advantage OF
the lower prices which accrue through
such competition.
Committee Report Cited.
In the report of the Committee or
Appropriations on War Department
appropriation bill, fiscal year 1885. il
is stated:
"~ the committee feels that pur-
chases should be made in accordance
with the procedure established gener-
ally by law for the making of procure.
ment contracts. Moreover, it is of the
opinion that to the greatest possible
extent regular commercial products
should be bought without requiring
the embodiment therein of special fea.
lures beyond such as the using
branches may determine to be essen
tial in a strict military sense and not
merely to satisfy the Uhim or fancy
of some individual y ' y"
A record of the changes which ]
have caused to be made in specifica-
tions will show the policy enunciated
in this report has been closely fol-
lowed by my Office. This has been
especially true in the case of specifl-
cations for motor vehicles. Practic-
ally every change I directed served to
broaden competition rather than to
restrict it. All changes directed fall
into two classes: one, to broaden
competition and the other to obtain
vehicles made in accordance with best
commercial practices and suitable for
the purposes to be served. All changes
in the latter class were based upon
accepted commercial practices; as
sured the obtaining of vehicles suit
able for military needs, as established
by military authorities, and, In every
case, retained broad field of COM
petition.
Gave Opportunity to All.
My action in regard to the pur-
chase of airplanes from funds allot-
ted under the Public Works Admin
istration was also to insure that all