Evening star., 1942-03-16
Defends Mr.. Mellett's Efforts
To Establish Information Center.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
The rise Of popular and congressional
Indignation over continuance of boom
doggling and confusion in the Govern
ment certainly should find appreciation
among all right-minded citizens who
are grievously anxious to see this coun-
try enter upon an all-out war effort.
However. there is some doubt as to the
wisdom of selecting Lowell Mellett and
his new information building at Four
teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue
as the terrible example. Indeed, to this
writer, there seems to be something
ironic about having Mr.. Mellett called
up on the carpet over a technicality in
financing when what he did was to take
that prompt and decisive action for
which we all are clamoring.
1t seems as though we all cry for ac-
tion-for results at any price-and then
punish the first man who steps forward
with the sort of action that most as
suredly should produce desirable results.
An example should sufice: About two
weeks ago, businessman from Alabama.
who previously had furnished satisfac-
tory castings for q Government agency,
told us that he had learned that an
other Government agency was in the
market for the same thing. Estimating
that the new order of which he had
heard could be filled for s65, 900, he took
train to Washington to enter his bid.
Following his arrival here 1t took him
lovye tN Ey,I HI,A
agency, only to discover that in the
meantime the order had been let to
another manufacturer for $4,000 or
$75 ,000-this writer forgets which. The
important point Is that the Government
paid more than was necessary for the
castings, and probably would not have
had to have done so had MIR. Mellett's
information building been in operation.
AS matter of fact, what any critic Of
Mr.. Mellett's plan should do, for his own
edification, is to put sample case under
his arm, take a train to any large city
with which he is entirely unfamiliar,
and stay there, paying his expenses out
Of his own pocket until he succeeds in
getting an order. Better yet, he might
put the sample case under his arm right
here in Washington and do a sort of
Diogenes trying to get Government
order by day and hotel room by night
He may find many an honest man from
the outset, but If he succeeds in finding
the right" man in less than q month
he will be doing well.
There truthfully is q very urgent need
for q center such as that which Mr.. Mel
lett is setting up for the benefit of busi-
nessmen. 1t would benefit not only
them, but the Government rs well. Be-
yond that, 1t should hamper the opera
tions of those who suggest to manufac-
turers that they can secure orders by
knowing the ropes" or having IAN in
side track"
The chances are that many of the
difficulties stem from the simple, human
fact that those in charge of purchasing
for the Government are simply showed
under with bids, quotations and requests
for information from dozens of manu-
facturers who actually have no business
before them, and that these harassed
Government employees are forced, in
self protection, to give the brush of"
to all unidentified callers. Otherwise
they could get nothing done.
In brief, If Mr.. Mellett, under the d.
rection Of President Roosevelt. sees At
to create . central point that win enable
Tie anAu manufacture 70 eentxihnts