Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-27
Plane Report
'Reconci|ing'
Figures Drafted
President May Make
1t Public Today os
Reply to Criticism

A second progress report on avia-
ton procurement, described as a
reconciliation" of previous conflict
ing figures, was to be submitted to
President Roosevelt by the Defense
Commission late today.
Preparation of the report by John
D. Biggers, acting chief OF the Pro-
duction Division of the commission,
was announced this morning by
Stephen T. Early, secretary to the
President. Release of the figures
is expected at the Presidents press
conference late this afternoon.
Describing the expected figures as
largely in substantiation of those re-
leased yesterday by the commission
Mr.. Early said they will reconcile
differences coming out of the War,
Navy and Treasury Departments
and given critical publicity by Sena-
tor Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia, on
Capitol Hill.
Referring to Senator Byrd
charges that only 343 combat planes
have been contracted for in the last
100 days. Mr.. Early said that the
Army and Navy have varying meth
DDS of designating work under way.
In many instances. he said, actual
manufacture is proceeding while
contracts are being rewritten or
while authorization exists only in
the form of letters of intention" is
sued by the Government. Changes
in statutory profit restrictions have
forced rewriting of many of the con-
tracts, Mr.. Early said, but not in all
instances have caused actual inter-
ruption of manufacture.
Speed Satisfactory.
Furthermore, he emphasized, all
OF the controversy has centered over
combat planes, whereas there has
been satisfactory progress on pro-
curement of training ships. The
training planes, he went on, are the
first requirement in building up the
fighting air forces.
In summary. the secretary con-
Guided. it is felt at the White House
and at the commission that things
have been moving along in good
shape and at satisfactory speed.
The commission yesterday replied
to Senator Byrd's charges by as
sorting that 6,747 Army and Navy
planes are under contract and that
final congressional action on the
pending s5008, 900 900 supplemental
defense bill is essential to further
speed in completing procurement
plans.
Senator Byrd retorted last night
that defense preparations ARE lag
ging to such an extent that our
national security is menaced."
AS the commissions report was
submitted to Mr.. Roosevelt yester-
day, Robert w. Horton, information
director. said that by the end of
the week the Army would have
placed contracts covering rs per
cent Of all aircraft funds available.
Mr.. Horton did not give the spe-
cific dates the contracts were placed
nor did he give exactly the delivery
dates. He did, however. say that
in addition to 6,747 contracts out
standing on August IT, a good
many" more had been closed since.
and that 1900 planes were expected
to be delivered in the latter half of
1910 and $500 in the first half of
l94l. He predicted that plane out
put, now at the rate of 10000 a year,
would be up to $4,000 a year by
December, l941.
Congressional Check Sought.
Senator Byrd advocated a closer
check by Congress on the defense
program.
In view of the confusing and
conflicting statements from the diff
ferent agencies of the Government
with respect to the progress of our
national defense" he said, Il am
convinced that Congress itself
should establish a National Defense
Committee, so that such a COM
mittee can keep closely in touch
with the progress of this essential
work and take steps that may be
necessary to expedite it when I'M
reasonable delays occur"
Meanwhile, Senator Russell, Dem
ocrat, of Georgia. renewed his re-
quest for legislation empowering
the Government to take over manu-
featuring plants whose owners re-
fused to agree on Government con-
tracts.
Senator Russell said the Senate
Appropriations Committee had been
informed that contracts the Navy
was seeking to let for IA 5-inch
guns for destroyers had been held
up because subcontractor, manu-
facturer or roller bearings, was mot
satisfied with 8 per cent profit.
Senator Russell told reporters
that it was such disclosures which
had prompted him to offer his pro-
posal as an amendment to both