Evening star., 1942-02-01
Judge Patterson-No. I Spender
Undersecretary of War Will Supervise 20 Billion Outlay
chmdL

~ in the cafeteria of the War De-
partment Building, there may be OBJ
served . small, slight, cheerful man who
carries his own tray and waits his turn
patiently in line Of jostling clerks and
stenographers. Nothing in his simple
bearing and attire indicates that Presi-
dent Roosevelt's first war budget raised
him to manager Of the biggest business
In all history, with turnover for next
600. This viii mean approximately $55,-
100000 . day, $2,300.000 an hour and
$4,000 . minute.
The country's new spender No. I, who
will make Harry Hopkins in his most
prodigal days look like miser, Is Robert
Porter Patterson. dirt farmer. hero Of
World War l., lately judge of the second
circuit of the United States Court Of APP
peals and since July, 1910. Assistant Sec
retary and then Undersecretary of War.
Over the vast field Of military procure
ment in this country-on behalf not
only of the American Army, but the
troops of Britain, Russia, China and
his is the ultimate responsibility for
every dollar Of expenditure.
Army Biggest Spending Agency.
As chief of the War Departments
eight supply arms and services, he viii
disburse $16,258 ,233 900 out of $18,738.-
015,0O0 allotted to the Army In the $55,-
1856, ,186, 900 war budget for the fiscal year
1923. He will spend in addition a.
600 900 900 Of 81. 900 900 900 earmarked for
lease-lend aid during that period. Final
ly, some part Of a supplemental national
defense item Of $4,000, 900 900 will doubt
less pass through his hands.
In the Governments overall combat
establishment, the Army is by far the
largest procurement agency. Next IN
rank are the Navy and Maritime Com
mission. The War Departments outgo
for the coming fiscal year, according to
the January bulletin of the Bureau of the
Budget, will be nearly three times the
Navys allotment of $6,849 1859 900, and
more than II times that of the Maritime
Commission, with $l,675 300 900. Later
appropriations, however, may change the
proportion of these figures to degree
not as yet practicable.
Under Mr.. Patterson's management
are three major and five minor purchas-
ing agencies. The biggest are the Ord
nance Department, the Air Corps and
the Quartermaster Corps. Their dis
bursements for 1923 are set. reSpec-
lively, at $7,s33, ,633, 900, 5000, 900, 900 and
s1,554 300, 900. The smaller branches and
their ALLEGATIONS are as follows: Corps
of Engineers, $3.50 600 900; Signal Corps,
$700, 900 900; Medical Department. $780,
800 900; Coast Artillery Corps, $50, 900 900,
and Chemical Warfare Service, $50, ,00o,-
900.
Most Complicated Job.
In striking contrast to his salary OF
$4,000 q year, Mr.. Patterson recently
announced that he would no longer give
personal attention to items less than
5000, 900. Field officers were empowered
to let contracts up to 100000 on
their own responsibility, and up to
$5,0O0,000 subject to clearance by the
War Production Board and the chiefs OF
the War Departments supply branches.
His job is not only the most towering
but also the most complicated among all
procurement agencies. He buys every
thing from buttons on soldiers blouse
and laces for his shoes to folding organs
for chaplains, 16-inch coast artillery
guns and flying fortresses." He builds
cantonments, Notifications, air bases and
munitions factories; prevents the selec-
tive service system from stripping fac
tories 81 skilled artisans, helps extend
contracts to small business and CO.
operates with the Permanent Joint
Board on Defense and the Lease-Lend
Administration.
He consults with w. P. B. on raw ma
terials and production plans, with Jesse
H. Jones On financing synthetic rubber
factories and tin smeSers, and With the
c. I. o. and A. r. L. on labor supply.
Through delegation of authority by the
Secretary Of War, Mr.. Patterson is
chairman sf the National Board for the
Promotion Of Rifle Practice.
As Z member Of the National Power