Evening star., 1940-09-28
Roosevelt Maps
Procedure for
Drafting Plants
Army and Navy Told
To Work Closely With
Defense Commission
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

PTeSlQe0J Roosevelt tOOdV IN
structed the War and Navy Depart
ments to work closely with the
National Defense Commission on
any projected conscription of in
dustry under the defense program,
directing further that ultimate de-
cision be left to him in case
unanimous opinion is not reached
by the departments and the COM
mission.
Authority for the President to
conscript industry by mandatory as
slgnment of contracts 10 non-co-
operating plants was included in the
Selective service law. Mr. Roosevelt's
instructions today were contained
in identical letters to the Secretaries
of War and Navy.
In statement accompanying the
letters, the White House noted that
procurement, at present, is on an
entirely voluntary basis which 1t is
hoped to maintain Indefinitely"
Proposing that there be uniformity
in procedure under the industry
conscription section of the law, Mr..
Roosevelt directed that all such
proposed orders be submitted by
the departments to the Defense
Commission. Accompanying this
material, he instructed further.
must be information on prices and
reasons for preference Of certain
contractors.
Recommendations Provided.
In event efforts of the commi~-
sion for voluntary cooperation fai',
the departments and the commit
sion are advised to consider action
under the law If their conclusion
in this regard are not in agreemen
/ the matter is to be referred to the
President with recommendation
/ The Chief Executives letter fol-
lows in full:
With reference to section 9 r.
the Selective Service and Trainl,~
/ Act of 1910 Public No 783-Sevent,--
sixth Congress-, which gives me va
/ ious powers to act through you j.
addition to the present authorize
methods of purchase or procure
ment, it is my desire, in order II
provide for uniformity in the nc
gotiation and placing of manda-
/ tory orders under section 9. that
( all such orders proposed to bo
placed by you under this section
be presented to the Advisory Com
mission to the Council Of National
Defense for review.
Reasons to Be Given.
Your proposal when so tram
mitted should contain your conclr
sion that action under Section 9 j
necessary, together with the reason
therefor, the views of the Army arT
Navy Munitions Board with refer
ence to all aspects of the matte"
within its purview, statement thT
/ the product or material desired
normally produced or capable OF be-
ing produced by the person involved,
a statement that the price of the
/ material or product desired as de-
termined by you is reasonable and 2
statement Of the preference over
other contracts or orders to which
the proposed order should be en-
titled. There should also be at
tached to the proposal all other
documents relating to the case
IF the commission, with the VOL
untary cooperation of industry, is
unable to effect a solution in a
manner satisfactory to you, it shall
return the case to you with such
recommendations as it may consider
appropriate. In the event that both
you and the commission agree as to
the necessity of placing an order
pursuant to Section for the prod
uct or material desired, you are
hereby authorized so to do. If how:
ever. you and the commission do not
agree, you will, of course, refer the
matter to me.
In the event of refusal by such
person to comply in whole or in part
with any order so placed. you should
transmit the case to me with spe-
cific recommendations from you and
the commission for further action
pursuant to Section g."