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Show 26 l?3PORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES The awarding of contracts and execution of details relative to the purchase of the supplies for the year were expedited in order that the supplies might be delivered under the contracts before the open-ing of the fall term of school. The accomplishment of this result will relieve the superintendents of considerable annoyance and will constitute a precedent for the future. A change in practice whereby canned goods, cereal products, flour, beans, etc., formerly bought in the fall, will be purchased at the spring letting of contracts, insur-ing delivery at the schools by the time they open. The new crop will not be available but its absence will be more than compensated by the presence of supplies at the schools when needed. Leather shoes will be made for the fiscal year ensuing in accordance with statutory requirements, by the United States Penitentiary shoe factory at Leavenworth, Kans., arrangements therefor having been completed during the latter months of the fiscal year. Supply bills for shipments handled by or through the warehouses will be paid by disbursing officers stationed at Chicago and San Francisco, thus expediting payments. All bills should be paid well within the discount period and lower cost to the Government for Indian Service supplies should result through discounts offered and accepted, closer prices being quoted because of the quicker settle-ment of accounts. This method is made possible only through recent legislation which permits the creation of a purchasing fund by the consolidation of sums temporarily transferred from appropriations for the Indian Service. Fuel requirements for the year were fully met. During the closing months of the year advertisement was published for the coal supplies for the fiscal year 1928, based on proposed standard specifications recently adopted by an interdepartmental board convened for the purpose of establishing standard Government requirements for bituminous and anthracite coal. Several other branches of the service likewise have used the standard specifica-tions in order that they might be fully tested. |
