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®mce ct tbe Secretary, 
WASHINGTON, O. C 
May 4, 1916. 
MEMORANDUM NO. 166. 
Economy in the use of Supplies. 
Tho attention of all earplove 
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led to the fact +-hat present conditions point to substantial in- 
creases durins the coming fiscal year in the prices of many article 
in common use throughout the Department, such a.s furniture, stationory, 
electrical supplies, hardv/ore, etc. Strict economy must be observed 
:hroi'ghout the Department in tho purchase and consumption of all 
upplies needed for the service during the coming fiscal year. You are 
directed to bring to the attontic 11 ^ 11 0 ii 0 11 1 y 0 f pu r c ha. s i ng off i c e r s , 
but of 0.11 other employee;:;, the requirement that no \va.ste will be pei"- 
mitted. Purchase of now furnltuoe and equipment should be limited to 
actual necessities, and old furniture and equipment, if still service- 
able, must not be discarded sira,plY beca4.us0 new articles are desired. 
Particularly muot economy be oboorvod in the use of stationer^’'. Where 
cheaper grades of paper for carbon copies or other duplicates will serve 
the purpose they must be used. For intra-department:;.l transmission of 
pcaper.s , the cheapest manilo. envel pes meet every requirement and riiust 
bo used. Lavish consumption of carbon paper and letterhea.ds can not be 
tolerated, and all heads cf offices should be instructed to see that 
employees are economical in the use of those and other sta.tlonery 
supplies. ALl, REQUISITIONS FOR STATIOMERY AND SUPPLIES SHOULD RECEI' 
VERY CAREFUL SGIuJTINY BY SUPERVISING- OFFICERS AND THE NEEDS OF THBi 
SERVICE CONSIDERED BEFORE THE REQUISITIONS ARE APPROVED. 
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This memorandum is not intended to hamper the conduct of official 
business cr to limit the proper use of supplies for necessary purpo 
It is intended to call attention to tne noce::;slty for strict economy 
the use of supplies which are costing the Department more than ever 
before in its history. 
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Secretary. 
