Executive Order 3159

Whereas section 5 of the act approved July 11, 1919, "Making appropriations to supply deficiencies, etc.," requires—

That the heads of the several executive departments and other responsible officials in expending appropriations contained in this or any other act, so far as possible shall purchase material, supplies, and equipment, when needed and funds are available, from other services of the Government possessing material, supplies, and equipment no longer required because of the cessation of war activities. It shall be the duty of the heads of the several executive departments and other officials, before purchasing any of the articles described herein, to ascertain from the other services of the Government whether they have articles of the character described that are serviceable. And articles purchased by one service from another, if the same have not been used, shall be paid for at a reasonable price not to exceed actual cost, and if the same have been used, at a reasonable price based upon length of usage. The various services of the Government are authorized to sell such articles under the conditions specified and the proceeds of such sales shall be covered into the Treasury as a miscellaneous receipt: Provided, That this section shall not be construed to amend, alter, or repeal the Executive order of December 3, 1918, concerning the transfer of office material, supplies, and equipment in the District of Columbia falling into disuse because of the cessation of war activities.

And whereas, in order to carry out properly the provisions of this act, it is necessary to establish a central agency where information relative to the surplus material, supplies, and equipment of the various services of the Government may be obtained, I hereby designate the General Supply Committee, of the Treasury Department, as the organization to maintain records of such surplus material, supplies, and equipment as may be reported to it by the heads of the various services of the Government. It shall further be the duty of the General Supply Committee to answer promptly inquiries from the head of any service of the Government, or his authorized representative, relative to the probable availability of any surplus material, and to inform the person making the inquiry what service, if any, has reported the material about which the inquiry is made as available.

It shall be the duty of the head of each of the several executive departments and independent establishments of the Government to designate a central agent for his particular service to whom all surplus supplies of his service, under the act, shall be reported; and it shall be the duty of this central agent to advise the General Supply Committee of the surplus material, supplies, and equipment available from his service, to answer inquiries from other services in regard to such material, supplies, and equipment, and to arrange with the other services the details of any purchase which may be made under the provisions of this act.

The provisions of this order shall be carried into effect in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Woodrow Wilson 

The White House,

27 August, 1919.