184 PROPOSED SYSTLM, 



CASE 2. Procuring Material from tJie Outside World to be held 

 in Charge. 



If the material required from store cannot be supplied thence 

 (see case i), the storekeeper marks or sends the card back 

 to the foreman with a proper explanation. The latter replaces 

 W by Z in the requisition head line, marks the card to the Master 

 Armorer and throws it into his own mail box. His responsibility 

 is at an end ; he has asked properly for what he wants ; he has 

 set in motion a ball which will continue to be in somebody's way 

 until it is finally disposed of. 



(The foreman would pursue the same course in requiring 

 directly for material which he knew was not in store.) 



The Master Armorer punches out " M. A.," dates the card and 

 sends it marked to the Executive Officer, who sends it punched 

 and dated to the Commanding Officer. Should the latter disap- 

 prove of the purchase, he either returns the card disapproved, or 

 lays it by for future action, awaiting explanations, funds, etc. In 

 any case, his deliberation on this subject does not lead to delay 

 in other things concerning which prompt action may be desired. 



The Commanding Officer, after indicating his approval to the 

 purchasing clerk, has the cards brought to him accompanied by 

 the purchasing order. After comparing he punches out " C. O." 

 and indicates below who is to inspect and receive the material 

 when it arrives. 



(This need not be a storekeeper ; it may, and in many cases 

 hould be, the foreman who originally punched the card. The 

 " C. O." also indicates from what appropriation the purchase is 

 to be made.) 



The card then goes to one clerk, preferably the stock clerk, to 

 whom incoming invoices and teamsters with supplies are always 

 directed. He holds it till the material arrives. When it has 

 come he gets the bill or invoice from the teamster, unless it has 

 preceded the stores by mail ; gives it a serial number with the 

 numbering stamp (page 92); changes the unit on the card to 

 agree with the official nomenclature or with the bill ; inserts the 

 price per unit, and the abstract and class designations and the 



