It follows that the instrument which commanded and set in motion all this effort--the war contract--must have been a thing exceedingly important to America. The 30,000 war department contracts, as a body, constituted in themselves the charter under which the preponderant part of American industry existed for nearly two years. As wisdom or unwisdom appeared written into the provisions of the war contracts, so fared well or badly not only the half of the population directly associated with industry, but the other half as well, and the Government, too. As an example, it was charged with some degree of justice that one great class of war department contracts, the so-called cost-plus contracts, was the chief factor in the rapidly mounting cost of living during the war. In other ways also these writings, which defined the terms of existence for American industry, profoundly affected every person in the United States. We may leave to lawyers and economists the discussion of the academic legal questions involved in the war contracts and still find in them plenty of interest common to all. When an individual person goes out to buy anything, he normally procures it by paying the price fixed by the seller. Business houses, too, commonly follow this custom in procuring their usual supplies. If, however, the individual person or business house is going into some relatively large operation in which he will require goods and services in extensive quantity, then it is customary to ask for bids from those in a position to supply the needs, and to contract thereafter with the concern which offers to supply the goods and services at the best price. The law requires the Government to follow this procedure in procuring practically all its supplies. Each federal department must advertise its needs publicly, giving complete specifications, must call publicly for bids to supply the materials specified, and must allot the business to the one tendering the best bid; provided only that the bidder is responsible and is known to have the ability to produce goods of the quality desired. The courts have held that a contract written under any other conditions is void. The law, however, permits certain exceptions. The War Department, for instance, is permitted by law to increase the size of a contract already properly made. It can deal directly, without advertising, with a manufacturer who is a sole source of supply, provided that previous advertising has elicited no bids. These exceptions are the reflection of experience in governing, exceptions granted by Congress to the end that the Government’s necessary business may not be impeded by the operation of the legal checks and balances.