Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
meyer AND GREEN
TO TESTIFY ON WAR.
Policies Commission to Re-
sumo Hearings on Plans
on Next Monday.

The War Policies Commission will
resume hearings next week on methods
Of equalizing the burdens and mini
MIXING profits in the event Of q future
war, with Eugene Meyer, governor OF
the Federal Reserve Board, and VIII
liam Green, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, among the
witnesses to be heard.
Mr. Meyer will be one Of several who
will give the commission their views
Monday, while Mr.. Green will appear
Tuesday afternoon.
If this country should ever again
have to go to war unified operation of
the railroads could be accomplished
within "a hours through a plan of hav-
ing q Central Committee cooperating
with the Government from Washing
ton. but with each road continuing
under its own management, Daniel
Willard, president of the Baltimore g.
Ohio Railroad told the commission yes
terday. The commission is holding
hearings to prepare recommendations
designed to equalize the burden and
minimize profits in future wars.
Mr.. Willard said the method he out
lined for handling rail transportation
in any future war was similar to the
policy followed by England, and said he
thought it would work better in place
If the procedure followed in this country
in the last war.
Mr.. Willard told the commission that
if the Secretary of War or some other
Government official in time of war would
tell group of responsible railroad ex-
ecutives what the Government wanted
done, it would be done.
Opposes Referendum.
Commenting on Bernard M. Baruch's
plan to freeze the entire price level
of commodities" at the outbreak of
any future war, Mr. willard described
it as an interesting proposition and
said that if it could be done, land a
way found to administer 1t, 1t might
be very effective"
The railroad executive said he would
want to study it more closely and con-
suit with economists before expressing
Mr.. Willard definitely opposed the
idea of having q referendum vote on
going to war except in cases Of attack
or invasion.
IT am not in favor of a town meet
ing to determine whether we will make
war" he said. 1T would be all over
before We got ready"
Mr.. Willard said he was in favor Of
doing everything possible to avert war,
and is one Of those who believes that
one of the best ways to prevent war is
to be prepared, within moderation. Mr.
willard, who preceded Mr.. Baruch as
chairman of the War Industries Board
early in the World War, told the COM
mission that board was hampered in
the early days by lack of authority,
that he made recommendation to
President Wilson, some Of which were
reflected in later legislation, including
the Overman law, which made the War
Industries Board more effective.
Against Property Seizure.
Mr.. Willard said that If it could be
arranged, he thought man In time OF
war should make no more than he
made by his own efforts in time Of
peace and under peace conditions. He
said he certainly was in favor of taking
the profits out Of war, but is opposed
to q proposal that would take any ones
property for the use of everybody with
out any return.
Willard said that within five days
after this country entered the war the
executives of 701oF more railroads met
in Washington and within few hours
had given q COMMITTEES power of attor-
ney to bring about co-ordinated opera
ton. This occurred before the Govern
ment decided to take over the railroads.
For future emergencies he suggested the
formation of q group of oficers selected
by railroads, to be In contact with the
War Department, with skeleton plans
prepared in advance, so that no time
would be lost In bringing about unified
operation subject to control by the Sec
rotary Of War, under the management
Of the roads.
r. H. Ashton, president of the Amer
lean Railway Association, pointed out
that six years ago the War Department
and the railway executives adopted q
tentative plan for operating rail car
riers in time Of war which Is still in
effect. and under which railway presi-
dent is designated as a point Of con-
tact with each corps area commander
to deal with him concerning questions
Of executive policy in that area.
Tells Of Reserve Commissions.
While Mr.IWillard was testifying. Sec
rotary Of War Hurley asked him If the
implied wartime powers Of the Presi-
dent had proven sufficient in the early
days of the World War TO make the
was at the close OF the war. Mr.. VIII
lard said they were not sufhcient, due
to restrictions that remained in effect
from peace time.
Secretary Hurley explained the plan
under which approximately $4,000 in
dustrialistS have been given Reserve
Ofhcers' commissions in connection with
the industrial mobilization plan.