Mr. Taylor: All the rest have gone through. The Italian Government bought   
a quantity of blankets--about 16,000 and these are enroute to some of the same   
provinces. These blankets are being distributed through the National Committee.
 
     
 
 
Ing.Vicentini: The blankets cost 750 lire each. Col. Armstrong and Major   
Snee have given splendid help in the distribution.
 
     
 
 
Adm. Stone: Where did you find the blankets?
 
     
 
 
Ing. Vicentini: In Prato near Florence.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: There is a quantity of sheeting in Naples --about 100,000   
yards, the price of which has been blocked by the Government or someone.
 
     
 
 
Ing.Vicentini: I heard yesterday that they would give us half off this   
quantity. The price is 150 lire a meter.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: The cost of sheeting is about 34 cents a yard in America. The   
price has been frozen here at a very high level. The question is whether some   
agency--logically the Government-- cannot afford to buy that material. It is   
very important, because one of the greatest shortage in hospitals at the   
present time is sheeting.
 
     
 
 
Prof. Canaperia: I think something has already been done about that.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: The distribution of this sheeting would be effected through   
the National Committee. Would you advise that the distribution be for Rome   
only?
 
     
 
 
Prof. Canaperia: Mostly for Rome. The greatest quantity should be given   
to hospitals in the city.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: The point is to centralize distribution to avoid cornpetition   
and disorder. Are there any other materials that anyone knows about which   
could be purchased?
 
     
 
 
Ing. Vicentini: We are purchasing 28,000 meters of cloth, the price of   
which is also blocked. That would be used by institutes to make children's   
clothing.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: Is that woolen material?
 
     
 
 
Ing. Vicentini: No, it is generally cotton cloth--but good cotton. Many   
institution have asked me to buy this cloth.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: (Exhibited samples of men's and boys' trousers). This   
material has been sent from America and has been made up in one of the   
convents. The trousers for children cost 50 cents to produce. It is the   
opinion here that the top part of these trousers is too narrow.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Silber: The band at the top of the trousers should be wider.
 
     
 
 
Ing. Vicentini: The cost of making the men's trousers is also 50 cents.   
These were made in one of the convents by the sisters and girls who are   
working with them. There are three convents to assist in the making up of this   
material.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: There is a suggestion that some of these could be made in   
trade schools.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Carroll-Abbing: The convents correspond to the trade schools.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: The trade school girls and boys, however, come in from the   
outside, do they not?