Evening star., 1951-07-26
U. U.S.DeskSupp|y
Rises as Larson
Defends Policy
GSA Head Asserts
Furniture Program
Cuts Costs Sharply


Office desks here continues to be
enlarged despite recent criticism.
In addition, the stock piling pro-
gram was defended today as
sound business, both as money
saver and for operating efficiency.
Jess Larson, General Services
administrator. declared that the
Notwithstanding program has
saved the taxpayers hundreds Of
Thousands Of dollars in direct and
indirect costs and asserted that
the problem is not one of over
supply but one of finding adequate
storage space to meet the needs
Of a practice recommended by the
Hoover Commission.
1t was disclosed this week that
about 1900 new desks are
stacked by the Government at
nine auxiliary warehouses and
buildings in and round the Dis
trict. The equipment is valued at
approximately 100000.
More Furniture On Way.
A GSA spokesman said today
that additional Office furniture is
being received and would continue
to "dribble in" as a result Of
orders already placed.
Mr.. Larson estimated that the
Government saved about 20 per
cent on the desks by ordering
before recent price increases. In
addition, he said other savings
resulted from a decision to buy in
large volume for all Federal agen-
cies, rather than piecemeal.
by making the purchases on q
large scale" said Mr.. Larson, "GSA
was not only able to get the most
advantageous price to the Gov
ernment and reduce by thousands
the number of acquisitions that
would have had to go forth to
meet the needs Of expanding agen-
cies, but also costly delays were
avoided"
Mr.. Larson said the fact that
stocks are on hand is no indication
of oversupply. He said any busi-
nessman knows that supplies have
to be kept on hand to fill needs
as they arise. And, he added.
there will be ample demand for
the desks stored.
Admits Demand Slackening.
Since GSA inaugurated the con-
Isolidated buying program, Mr..
Larson said, desk stocks have been
turned over six and one-half times.
He said this is more than twice
the turnover considered good busi-
/, mess in comparable wholesale
! warehouse operation.
The administrator conceded that
the demand for desks has Stacked
some recently but said that on
: the basis of experience it appears
t like that the present stocks will
be depleted in three or four
months.
Mr.. Larson said most of the
desks now stored were ordered
from small business firms and
manufacturers which were under
going a lull and having to lay of
workers because of conversions in
the interest of defense. He said
the Hoover Commission advocated
Government buying at slack Pc
; RODS to meet year-round needs
and also an expanded program Of
central purchasing.
In Auxiliary Locations.
The desks are stored in these
auxiliary locations: D. C. Paper
Mills warehouse, 5000 K street
INV; Cameron Quartermaster
Depot. Alexandria; Twenty-sixth
and Evarts street NE, Congress
sional Airport, 1890 South Capitol
street; Auth Building, 623 D
street S.W.; st. Elizabeths Hos
pital, Soldiers Home and the
Alexandria bus terminal.
A GSA spokesman was unable
to estimate the cost of this stor-
age space but emphasized that in
many cases GSA occupies only a
part of the total warehouse space.
THE auxiliary space was taken, it
was said. because regular ware
house facilities at Seventh and D
streets S.W. for the GSA regional
Organization were overcrowded.