Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-12
Oil Mixup
Shows Lack
Of Unity
Less HeadIone Action
Needed in Capital
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

too much on one subject, but
this is going TO be another piece
on SPAB. or the 1941 war in
duStries board.
My excuses are: First, that
from close personal war expert
ence and years of study l know
more about that subject than
any other and with becoming
m desty) more than most
people.
Secondly, whether II is gener-
ally recognized or not, the well
fare. defense and even the con-
tinuous existence Of the Ameri-
can economic system depends as
much on the success or failure
Of that board as on any other
principal government body-in-
Guiding the army and the navy.
The ecent- reorganization
was certainly step in the right
direction. Mr.. B. NJ. Baruch
called it "a falterIng step" out
i know that he agrees with me
that, in practical administration,
1t could prove to be effective.
I WANT to talk about unqueS-
Il tionahle evidence of one of
its faults upon which / have
touched briefly before. The eVi-
dence is much clearer now.
refer to the shameful fight about
the eastern gasoline shortage,
or. more accurately. the alleged
transportation shortage 10 the
East from the oil fields.
Without warning. Mr.. Ickcs
made the startling announce
ment that il existed, insisted on
fiat 10 per cent cut in con-
sumner use and strong-armed the
oil companies into agreeing 20
build a new pipeline 10 the East.
He said the shortage was due
10 transferring tank ships 10 the
British.
Apparently Admiral Land.
who is in charge Of and sup
posed TO know all about mari
time transportation. d id n I
agree. Apparently he had not
been consulted.
Mr.. Pelley. head of the Assoc
citation of American Railroads.
who should know all about tank
cars. didn't agree and il was
made apparent that he hadn't
been consulted either.
MR.. L f ON HENDERSON,
A'I who is supposed 10 sit in
the central clearing house on all
such matters, also didn't agree in
so many words. Diplomatically
he didn't disagree. but a strict
analysis Of his testimony shows
what amounts 10 disagreement.
Whether il did or not. when
the request for priority for the
pipe came in. SPAB wouldn't
grant il on steel plates, from
which pipes are usually made.
Apparently SPAB Including
Leon had not been consulted
either.
Finally all this had TO be
churned out in public in a Sen
ate fact-finding com mittee,
which seems about 10 reach
conclusion that Mr. IckeS was
wrong or at least headlonC.
The government properly asks
for unity in the country when
apparently unity does not exist
within its own house.
Now this happens 10 be
question Of organization and
administration within SPAB
itself. Quite properly. the head
of our merchant marine and our
oil administrator, not 10 men
ton our great finance director,
Jesse Jones. and several other
heads of our principal economic
efforts, are not regular members
of SPAB.
THERE are two good reasons
u for this-one is that their
interests are occasional and
collateral; a second is that the
board is big enough now More
m m beTs would ma Ike IL
unwicldly and unnecessarily
interfere with men of great
responsibility unduly pressed for
time.
But one great and successful
principle Of World War 1 that
is proved here TO have been
completely overlooked in this
new shuttle is that these great
wielders of separate wers
ought to undertake no action
Importantly invading the field
of SPAB.
And SPAB should take no
action invading their fields with
out first going into a huddle-
sitting together with all prin-
cipal government interests rep
resented. If they can't agree.
which should be rarely, the final
decision should go 10 the Presi-
dent or his selected delegate.
This kind of shindy adds
nothing TO and subtracts much
from good administration. unity
in government, unity among the
people and, even more important.
confidence of the people in the
war making agencies of their