El Nuevo mexicano., 1918-01-17
#MA" HNN sn - = aA VI" % H"f-a ~HNH ~
BASIS
PLAN SUBMITTED
FOR REORGAN|z|NG
WAR MACHINERY
Steel Company President
Suggests Centralizing
of Authority.
BROAD, BALANCED
PROGRAM NEEDED
lHy Leased Wire to New Mexlean.l

(By Leased Wire to New MexicanJ
Washington, Jan. 16.-Recommeld-
atoms for reorganization Of the war
supply machinery, as approved by the
| chamber OF commerce of the UniSed
States yer presented to the senate
war enquiry committee today by Wad-
dell Catchings, president of the El0ss-
Scheffield Iron and Steel Company.
"All business men, / think" said
Mr.. Catchings, believe there Is lack
of central control and responsibility in
our war program. The effect is very
harmful. The program Is not bal
anced. Shipping is the principle part
of the program and 1t has not been
Civ en- the right Of way. Clearly we
are not producing ships and will not
for many months. There Is absolute
ly no one engaged In preparing .
broad war program. We have very
great fear for industry. Reduction Of
the output Of so-called n~on-essentials
is proposed and we fear the produc-
ton Of essentials will be far beyond
possibility of transportation to the
other side. We fear we will be facing
a very disastrous and serious situa-
ton. We ought to have some central
responsible authority to prepare and
push a broad industrial program tor
the war. What bothers US ID that We
have slipped into, dropped into and
drifted into our present condition. We
are at sea without q chart.
"The war industries board he said.
cannot act successfully as the SUI
preme authority as proposed by Sec
Baker in his reorganization plan
because 1t has neither legal nor para
mount authority" +
Mr.. Catchings said the faults OF
Secretary Bakers plan included di-
yided purchasing responsibility and
large advisory functions instead
# legally conferred authority. The !
purchasing plan, he said, twas most !
:
England, Mr., Catchings declared, |
as recognized the principle of CEN
munitions control, although =
he British system is not ideal. Sec
etary Bakers statement that his or s
.anization virtually is similar to the
ritish munitions central, Catchings
atty denied. He denied Nj. Bakers Il
ssertion that the British munitions 81
has no jurisdiction over navy 81
The British director, Catchings as p
srted, cannot dodge or shift respon. n
bility. n,
Changes in present government or
anizations, Catchings said. should Ct
be- sudden, and without disturb in
Il, for instance, the navy's 'splen- 81
ID buying organization" 81
Central Authority Needed 2
ut ID unthinkable that we should. :,
this crisis, destroy any efficient or "a
mutations" he said, but a central 4,
could gradually assume and =,
Ike over direction" ~,
'sNo sane man would destroy work.
g organizations Chairman Cham- Al
srlain observed.
The central munitions director pro-
,sed by the chamber Of commerce, n.
Catchings said, should be made a u
Ibinet member. ~
A war council similar to England's IA
i'd subordinate only to the presi. II
mt, Catchings also declared, should IL
formed to decide disputes between =
Q munitions head and other cabi- =
It officers, It should be in session II,
instantly, he declared, and be sn- a.
In power even to the NUM- Il
ms director. NJ
1--WE don't care what the agency ie; 3,
) are contending for the principle q
having a central authority" sale 4,
C%atchipgs. ~
Baker indifferent %
Last summer, he declared. Score -
ry Baker refused to discuss the ~
lestion Of broad war policies with .
committee Of business men. ~
WE said to him. business ia in O p
condition. and asked him
create some machinery by which
siness could be rum said Cath u
IS. -
1.-THE secretary did not seem to j,
low where to send you?" suggested "
nator Chamberlain.
mo, but we convinced him we
re in the right and he said the war g.
luiries board would act" "
w