1 7 o PROPOSED SYSTEM. 



may both receive a thing and issue it on the same card, by- 

 punching twice : once as received, and once as issued. Two- 

 agents may each do this, allowing the record of four transactions 

 on the same card. See pages 178, 222. Two punch-marks on 

 the same card express a simultaneous issue and receipt, and so 

 on ; each mark means exactly what it most evidently says, and 

 can mean nothing else. Every possible transaction with material 

 may thus be unmistakably represented and indelibly recorded 

 with the least waste of energy and time. 



L. S. Section. 



This is used in authenticating entries which do not concern the 

 stock clerk. It is a mere locus sigilli, meant to prevent the 

 attesting punch-mark from appearing in the wrong place. 



Remark. 



The cost clerk concerns himself with the interpretation of the 

 entries in the material section, by the indications of the cost 

 section ; and the stock clerk, with the interpretation of the same 

 entries by the indications of the stock section. Thus they both, 

 like others yet to be shown, act independently on the same 

 original entry in a manner determined by. their special functions. 

 This saves writing and prevents mistakes in transcribing. 



Back of the Card. 



The requisition space is so placed that the punch-marks used as 

 signatures to the requisition come through on the other side in 

 the L. S. section. This is so arranged in consequence of the re- 

 quirement, page 31, that all the communication with Z must be 

 through the Commanding Officer, which applies to receipts as well 

 as to issues. His sanction for issues is given directly by punching 

 the L. S. section as from the front, before the issue can be made ; 

 his sanction for a receipt is found there indirectly in consequence 

 of his approval of the requisition on the other side. See case 2. 



Next comes a double column, like that on the correspondence 

 card, which may be used in the same way for passing the card 

 through the post-office. See pages 22, 90. It is not intended 

 that all cards should be so marked. In practice they are sent in 

 bundles, or are passed directly from hand to hand. 



