Show n ARMY BUYING ii BUNGLES TOLD y f BY GOETHALS N laN la 01 De Departments s Bid Against A AI Ff Each I E ae h O Other for Supplies if r J f Says Canal Builder l Washington ashin ton Aug 2 Bureaucracy Bure t in inmost p I t mo most t selfish elfish form has been revealed I b ato to the tiro special committee on tures In tho xv war ar nr department by MaJ l Geor o W W. Goethals builder of ot I tb Panama canal and director of ot purchase pur- pur chase hase storage and traffic during tho thor r war In his testimony concerning tho t fi that thai beset e ono who j to bring bring- about an tn efficient s and economical co ordination of or sup sup- I ply ve-ply purchases in the war department i r General in ht his discussion before the committee brought out tho p act which was never realized b the tho Country that durin during tho ho first l cn months o of this country's countr s par par- In the war absolutely nothIng noth- noth Ming Ing was done b by the secretary of or war warto warto to bring about a ordination co-ordination of or the tho purchasing facilities It was repeatedly ly urged upon him wand r-wand and none nono was over ever actually put Into t effect because of or the fact that before the tho f. f system stem finally consented to by bythe bythe bythe the secretary could he be established the armistice was 51 signed ned Sn No o Co ordination All 11 of of r these purchasing agencies of ol the thc c various bureaus or tho the war department depart depart- depart I mont ment man many of or which were con constantly bidding against each cach other for cai I supplies thereby causing increased 0 prices could have ha b been en co Uy pr order of or the secretary of or war said i t General Goethals but such an order t was never ne I Issued t i When he was asked b by Chairman U Graham wh why the secretary opposed this reform for so long General replied that President Wilson did not approve of 0 It it and that the bureau I chiefs were afraid ld that it would mean I oo diminished authority for them He tie said sald ald the these c chiefs were er very jealous is of their their power and had opposed the proposed pro pro- posed consolidation at every ery I i Co Coif t Pia General Goethals also said that the cost cost plus plus' plan whereby the govern govern- purchased vast quantities of or war I materials at a price Juice which allowed ithe i r-f r the the manufacturer a profit of ot 10 pel pet J cent above c actual cost of or production vas a vcr very extra ant system Under L this system said the genthe gen gen- cral the manufacturer was only Iny In- In y in his 10 per cent profit and jj the Hie cost was permitted to take tako care cara up Ia of itself Ills His profit was greater reater where f the cost was greater and it Jt was was was' wasa a as s cr very extravagant ant system |