The chief of this division has been appointed by the Chief Coordinator, General Supply Committee, chairman of a committee to nvestigate the method of Government purchases of Pintsch and acetylene gases. This investigation will include transportation probems as well as those pertaining to the containers therefor.

The centralization of purchases authorized by the Secretary's letter dated June 15, 1922, was in operation during the entire fiscal year. While it has, of course, greatly increased the work along all nes of this office, it is believed that very gratifying results have been obtained and that efficient service has been given all branches of the department. This efficiency has been maintained by the very few experienced employees in the division, in spite of the handicaps incident to the change in the department's procedures and also the tremendous turnover in the personnel of the office. There are but 19 employees assigned to this division and the turnover since July 1, 1992, has been more than 100 per cent. In this connection your attention is invited to the following comparative statements showing Some of the greatest increases in the work of this division due to this centralized purchasing:

The above work has necessitated 341 days of overtime labor by the employees of the division of supplies during the fiscal year 1923, and while it is estimated that a material saving during the current year will be made due to improved methods of handling the department's appropriation, allotments, stock, and property records, I feel assured that proper handling of the department's work assigned to this division necessitates an increase in the division's personnel, and that at least two additional clerks should be assigned to it.

FEDERAL REAL ESTATE BOARD.

The report of last year submitted by this office showed a reduction in rentals paid by this department for its field service for the fiscal year 1923 over that paid during the fiscal year 1922 as approximately $20,000. The records of this office indicate that the depart

ment will pay an increase during 1924 of $8,865 over the rentals paid during the fiscal year 1923, as shown by the following report:

STATEMENT OF REAL ESTATE CHANGES, FISCAL YEAR 1924.

While there is an increase in the cost of rentals over that paid for the last fiscal year, it is nevertheless true that the activities of the Federal Real Estate Board through the department's representative effected a saving of approximately $11,135 over the rental paid by the department before the organization of the board, and the increase mentioned above has correspondingly decreased expenditures of other branches of the Government service which, in the opinion of the Federal Real Estate Board, would have been subjected to greater inconvenience in renting outside quarters than this department doing so.

CONTRACTS AND ADJUSTMENTS.

The department's board of contracts and adjustments completed their suggested forms for contracts, and these forms have been referred to the solicitor's office for opinion. That office recently requested the department board to go over these forms with their representative, which suggestion was accepted and the form for general construction work submitted by the interdepartmental board

for consideration was examined and this department's suggestions of changes have been returned to the interdepartmental board. The other forms suggested by the department board will be considered with the representative from the solicitor's office at the earliest practicable date. As soon as these forms can be approved they will be promptly submitted to the interdepartmental board for their conideration.

TRAFFIC MANAGER.

The following is a statistical report of the traffic manager's office for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1923:

Division of supplies made 10,306 purchases and only 302 of them purchased f. o. b. point of origin. However, the department paid the freight charges in the price of goods on the 10,004 purchases.

NOTE. Sleeping, parlor car, and steamship reservations, 1,048; sets of proposals considered, 232; letters written, 2,456; and routing orders obtained from Federal Traffic Board, 154.

DEPARTMENT LIBRARY.

The department's library, which is the depository and center for assembling all available data bearing upon the work of the department, is becoming more valuable each year, and is one of the most useful and important units of the department. It contains more than 100,000 books and pamphlets, and has long been recognized as the most complete statistical library of the Government. It contains a wealth of material to enable the research worker to study foreign countries and their needs, as well as domestic conditions. Use of the library during the past year has been the largest in its history, and, though undermanned in its personnel, the fact that the work was satisfactorily handled indicates the exertion and spirit of the staff.

Eight hundred research workers from other Government departments, establishments, and business men used the library during the

year.

During the year 1,790 bound volumes and 1,373 pamphlets were added; 3,288 books were catalogued; 14,636 cards were added to the catalogue trays; 715 books were sent to the bindery; 1,885 weekly, monthly, and quarterly periodicals, 99 different daily papers, and 57 foreign official gazettes were currently received, recorded, and routed upon receipt to 2,077 individuals or divisions; and 872 books. were borrowed from the Library of Congress and other libraries. The library has prepared lists of books on various subjects for research workers and lists of periodicals currently received.

A system has been devised by the library for routing periodicals whereby they are not returned to the library until all persons on the list have examined them and yet enables the librarian at all times to locate any particular periodical. By this system a limited number of periodicals are made to efficiently serve a large number of individuals.

In January, 1923, a branch library was installed in the Bureau of the Census, which is housed in a building 13 miles distant from the department proper. Its use has greatly improved the service to that bureau and has more than justified its installation.

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1923, 162 contracts, totaling $912,940.41, together with 12 contracts of indeterminate amounts; 75 leases, amounting to $80,080.98; 21 revocable licenses, amounting to $874; 18 deeds, involving the sum of $13,712; 87 contract bonds, amounting to $216,674.22; and 71 official bonds, amounting to $392,000, were examined (approved, disapproved, drafted, redrafted, or modified).

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The number of legal opinions rendered, formal and informal (memorandum), totaled 269; legislative matters handled which concern the Department of Commerce (drafting and redrafting of bills, reports relative thereto, etc.) numbered 27. Power of attorney cards, authorizing agents to execute official and contract bonds for surety companies, examined, totaled 1,895. In addition, 1,513 miscellaneous matters, embracing everything submitted for the advice or suggestion of the solicitor, or for the formulation of departmental action, not including in the foregoing items, were handled by this office.

Very truly yours,

E. W. LIBBEY,

Chief Clerk and Superintendent.