Evening star., 1941-04-25

things done quickly and efficiently.
The cry that this or that must
be done for the defense program
can issue from almost any Govern
mPnt agency. There is no overall
criterion or yardStick WhereWith to
measure the extent of the sacrifices
that must be made II is not enough
10 say that President Roosevelt has
all the power and authority and
has not delegated it.
What has not yet been realized Is
that il is impossible for the PreSi-
dent through the normal peacetlme
type of organization to carry on
war preparations which amount to
the same thing as if America were
actually at war. The difficulty lies
in the fact that for many decades
the United States has functloned
by a series of Government depart
ments combining related and un-
related bureaus whereas in war
time it is far more important to
group together what actually tltS
together on an integrated basis.
Correlation Is Necessary.
Thus price control, priOrltles and
production are parts of an economic
program vital to defense but yet
not readily claSsifable within either
the Treasury or the War or the
Navy Departments.
Likewise it is the principal Job
Of the War and Navy Departments
TO concentrate on troop training,
varship maneuvers and personnel.
the making of air pilots and ground
crews, and aerial operations.
Now the President believed that
in the o. P. NJ. he had found the
answer. But what he has really
done in the Office of Production
MANAGEMENT is TO set up what
really should be a segment OF a
broad economic department.
Likewise, though labor relations
constitute a vital part of an eco
romic program, the President has
not grouped all the activities relating
to it. but has permitted the Depart
ment of Labor, the National Labor
Relations Board, the National De-
fprse Mediation Board and the labor
division inside o. P. NJ. TO deal with
labor problems. Each has an impor-
tant task, but nobody is responsible
over all. =,
It can be said that Mr.. Roosevelt
c2n 90 the cO-Ordinatlng OF all these
tn3nas. but he is not the kind of man
who would insist on doing so if some
body could find for him a better
pan
Plenty of Time Now.
The obligation to put into effect
A. the earliest possible moment an
integrated war machine will be rec
ognized when the crisis comes, but
there will not be the same amount
of time as there is now for a COM
plete overhauling, or rather regroup-
Ing of the units that now exercise
important authority.
If it be said that the President IS
unwilling to delegate power to any
except New Dealers, then men OF
that school of thought can be found
who can administer the defense set
I'D along the scientifically sound
lines on which a functional organ
Ization should operate. Thus what
the United States Government needs
today. for example, is the following:
l. An economic ministry or depart
ment with a single administrator re-
porting only to the President of the
United States. Under such de-
partment or office should be grouped
all the agencies dealing with pro-
duction, prioritieS, price control,
effects of government policies on
consumption, credit and finance.
2. A labor ministry under which
should be grouped all the agencies of
government mentioned above which
deal in any way with labor prob
lens.
3. A general defense ministry of
which the operating heads of the
Army, Navy and Air Corps shall be
q part but with one administrator