Evening star., 1941-09-05
New Agency Ordered
To Get Small Plants
Into Defense Work
Borueh BIuntIy Critieizes
Administration Program,
Coils for Single Head
b, the Associated Press.

3, the Associated Press.
A new Federal agency set out to-
day to enlist even the smallest in
dustrial plants in the national
armament manufacturing drive, but
one of President Roosevelts princi-
pal advisers asserted his conviction
that single administrator is
urgently needed for the whole de-
fense production program.
Bernard M. Baruch, who con-
quered a similar military production
problem a years ago, called not
only for a single defense chief but
for q blanket ceiling on prices.
Last night, q few hours after Mr..
Baruch's blunt criticism, the Presi-
dent announced creation of . divi-
sion of contract distribution In the
Once of Production Management,
to be headed by Floyd B. Odlum,
New York financier.
A White House statement said the
new agency was formed to further
"a determined move on the part OF
the administration to help the
smaller business units Of the coun-
try obtain q fair share OF the de-
fense orders, and to prevent, so far
as possible, dislocation OF industry
and unemployment Of workers In
plants where production has been
curtailed by priorities and material
shortages"
Faltering Step Forward.
Tall, white-haired Mr.. Baruch had
no immediate comment on this de-
velopment. But he was no more
than out OF the White House door
after lunching with the President
yesterday when he told reporters in
plain words what he thought should
be done to speed vital production.
Mr.. Baruch saw the new seven
member Supply Priorities and Allo-
cations Board, headed by Vice Pres
ident Wallace, as only = 'faltering
step forward" He expressed the
hope 1t would work and paid COM
pliment to its personnel, but he as
serted:
The one thing this picture needs
is one-man authority"
Back in World War days, when
he headed the War Industries Board,
Mr.. Baruch had-and used-the
fullest power in throwing the Ma
tion's entire productive capacity be-
hind the military effort. So sue
cessful was he IN marshaling
industry that Germany's Marshal
Won Hindenburg admitted the war
was won in the American industrial
centers. They understood war" He
spoke of the ruthless efficiency with
which the War Industries Board
operated.
1--WE wrote the book on mass pro-
duction," Mr.. Baruch added.
"Mechanized warfare is right down
our alley"
The Presidents friend and eoun-
selor made 1t very clear that he
didn't like the administration s
pending price control bill. He said
he would 90 before the House Bank
ing Committee next week to kick
the everlasting life" out of 1t.
"I believe universal ceiling
should have been put over all prices
as soon as they began talking about
priorities," Mr.. Baruch said.
The new contract distribution Of
fee will have branches in various
States and become one OF the most
important divisions OF o. p. NJ, the
White House stated.
Duties Of New Board.
It's principal duties, as outlined in
the official statement. are:
Il. The breaking down of large
orders of supplies into smaller units
and spreading the purchases among
more Arms and in all localities pos
sible.
u. Providing assistance through
the Labor Division of o. P. NJ in
retaining and obtaining re-employ-
ment for workers who are unem-
ployed as q result of the shutting
down of some plants or reduction
of their output.
'3. The effective distribution OF
defense contracts to the smaller
business enterprises, as yet largely
unused, through an expanded use
of subcontracting, contract distri-
button and the pooling of plant
| facilities.
=. BY providing a staff of indus
trial and production engineers to
formulate and execute specific plans
for the conversion of non defense