WHY is it that government agencies always seem to be bogged down with myriad yards of red tape?
One encouraging note in the new surplus disposal program is the attitude of the new Administrator, Lt. Gen. Gregory, who has already taken steps to eliminate some of the red tape slowing down the disposition of government-owned surplus goods.
By cutting corners in government paper work, General Gregory enabled 1,000 war veteran students at the University of Indiana to obtain much needed sleeping accommodations. Issuing orders by telephone and telegraph, the, General speeded 500 double decker beds and 1,000 mattresses, 1,200 chairs, 1,175 blankets and miscellaneous items to the University in time for the opening of the second semester. The General explained that the necessary paper work could be taken care of later. The usual paper details might well have made it impossible for these veterans to enroll at the University this term. The General is well qualified to do just this sort of thing because he demonstrated his ability to cut corners when as Quartermaster General he supplied our armed forces with the necessary equipment for the African and Normandy invasions and for campaigns in the Pacific.
The fact that the War Assets Corporation is now determined on a policy of rapid liquidation is emphasized in the increase in number of so-called site sales, aircraft parts clearance sales and auction sales. The further expansion of the approved-dealer program to cover other types of industrial equipment than machine tools indicates the adoption of real merchandising ideas comparable to regular business methods.
THE action of OPA in issuing Amendment No. 10 to Price Regulation No. 1 is commendable. In December when the Amendment No. 9 lowering ceiling prices on all used and rebuilt machine tools was announced, it was received with considerable shock by the entire industry. The criticism in our January editorial was prompted primarily because no one in the industry had been consulted. After OPA officials were informed of the losses which would automatically be incurred by the owners of machine tools, they readily issued the succeeding amendment which restored the ceiling prices on used machine tools in effect since July 1943.