The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-11-22
FOR COMMISSION ON
reconstruction.
Wilson Likely to Appoint Body
TO Map Out Program.
UNIFORM POLICIES URGED
Chief Problem Before Government 10
Stopping War Production With
out Throwing Laborers Out
Of Work.

Washington.-Presid Wilson has
under consideration the appointment
of a reconstruction commission to de-
velop comprehensive program for
the nations conversion from war to
a peace basis. The commission would
be advisory rather than executive in
functions, and the plans developed and
co-ordinated by 1t would be carried out
by existing Government departments
and agencies.
AS now considered, the commission
would be representative of commercial,
industrial, labor. agricultural and So
cial interests; its membership would
be small and it would deal with all
phases of the great problem of easing
the country from war to peace.
The President is understood to be
distinctly opposed to the suggested
plan of having a Congressional COM
mittee prepare reconstruction pro-
gram. He Is said to prefer men who
can give their entire time to the work
and who have made special studies of
economic and social problems. The
President is said now to be consider
ing what emergency legislation may
be necessary before the Government
can proceed Systematically to turn all
production.
How to shut off further war produc-
tion without closing plants, throwing
men out of work and causing financial
struction problem facing the Govern
ment. Hundreds of kilograms of in
quiry reaching Government depart
ments disclosed anxiety of business
men over this question, and offered a
multitude Of suggestions for dealing
with it. AS clearing house for such
suggestions the Reconstruction Com
mission would function. Establishment
of such a board was recommended to
President Wilson by Prof. o. M. w.
Sprague, an economist of Harvard,
who has conducted reconstruction re-
search work for the Council of Ma
tional Defense.
Government authorities having
charge of placing war contracts are
considering a plan for diverting raw
materials from war industries, as fast
as these curtail their activities, to
other industries where they can be
used at once for reconstruction needs.
War orders will not be Cancelled in a
wholesale way until such plan is
developed, it is believed.
In this connection the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States made
public letter to President Wilson,
citing evidence of anxiety among bust
ness men over the Governments fu-
ture course, suggesting development
of uniform policies for all departments,
and some measures for preventing a
sudden drop in prices of raw materials.
GAS you are doubtless aware" the
latter said, 'the cancellation of con-
tracts by some Government agencies
in the last 10 days has caused a great
deal of apprehense on and disturbance,
the extent of .lich, fortunately, has
not attracted public attention, because
the war news has so greatly over
Swallowed it. The developments Incl
dent to the cancellation referred to
indicate the difficulties we will have to
face unless the transition is gradual
and the vast labor and financial inter-
ests involved are most carefully safe
guarded. The stoppage of work in
the small number of instances where
steps have already been taken is caus-
ing uneasiness among the banks,
which, in almost every case, are eX-
tending credit to the contractors, and
is likewise affecting the credit of large
numbers o. sub-contractors who are
supplying materials to the principals.
'It seems to us that it is possible to
work out certain common principles,
which should obtain in all Government
departments in affecting settlements
on contracts now to be stopped and ad-
justing them on fair basis. If one
bureau, or department, follows its own
ideas, another pursues a different
course, it seems that it will lead to
endless controversy and confusion.
For this reason we believe the
agencies set up in the various bureaus
and departments to deal with the ques-
ton should be controlled by some COM
mon authority in order to prevent
great difficulty"