Evening star., 1941-04-07
Bigeers Requests
'AII-Out' Effort
On Production
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

John D. Biggers OF the Office
of Production Management told
the House Military Affairs Com
mittee today that American in
duStry is about 100 days from
real production management" of
defense supplies and that every
industrial manager, every work.
er, every citizen should realize
that the safety of the Nation
and the future of all the things
that are so precious to Americans
may depend on what we all do
in the next 100 days"
A dollar-a-year man who is in
charge of production for the
o. P M, Mr.. Biggers testified az
the committee began an inquiry
into the defense program.
Mr.. Biggers said 1916 planes
we're produced in March and that
100 tanks of the 13-ton size will
be produced in April Mass pro-
duction of the 26-ton tanks. ne
added. will be reached in two or
three months.
HOarding Charged.
Mr. Biggers declared that some
manufacturers were boarding un-
warranted stocks of strategic ma
terials through 'SelfishnesS." and
thereby were creating defense
shortage, and added:
Some union leaders. also prompt
ed by selfishness. are sponsoring
unnecessary strikes. They also are
impeding our program.
Mr.. Biggers called on all persons
to Danish selfishneSs' and put the
interests of our country above our
own"
The production chief called the
United States the greatest mass
producer in the world" and said that
"a great deal already has been
achieved but that a great effort
still was necessary.
We should not waste a day or
an hour" he declared. There must
be maximum cooperation.
Mr.. Biggers said he thought a
lack of understanding of the ur-
gency and Importance of this situa-
ton" is in back of much of the cur
rent employer -employe trouble.
Miss Perkins First Witness.
Mr.. Biggers took the stand after
Secretary of Labor Perkins, the first
witness, expressed the view that
labor and employer had RESPONSE
bility to cooperate in avoiding de-
lays and Interruptions in defense
production.
Giving figures to show that strikes
at present are not as widespread as
they have been in recent years, the
Labor Secretary warned against the
danger of "overemphasizing as well
as underemphasizing the situation"
A stormy session followed Miss
Perkins testimony. with Representa-
tive Thomas, Republican, of New
Jersey, charging "whitewash" as
Chairman May of the committee
postponed croSs-examination of Miss
Perkins until Wednesday.
During Mr.. Bigger's testimony,
that when manufacturers take a
defense contract they are RESPONSE
BILE for delivery, and that unions
are not responsible for losses re-
sulting from stoppage of work.
Representative Shafer, Republican,
of Michigan. asked :
do you think labor should be
made responsible by legislation?"
L don't feel that in a democracy
We should force anybody to do any
thing until all other means have
been exhausted" said Mr.. Biggers.
Selective Service Mentioned.
Representative Short of Missouri
broke in to observe that Congress
compelled 100000 men to register
for the draft and left them no
choice as TO wages or working con-
ditions.
mo choice" Mr.. Biggers replied,
but isn't it true you felt you had
gone as far as you could with vol
untary enliStment?"
Mr. Short did not agree to this
conclusion.
Mr.. Shafer pressed for an answer
to his question whether labor should
be made responsible.
Mr.. Biggers insisted the question
could not be answered yes or no,
and countered by asking Mr.. Shafer
how he would go about making
unions responsible
by incorporation, the Repre-
sentative answered.
Mr.. Biggers said he had studied
that suggestion and saw no reason
why unions should hesitate about
(See INQUIRY, Page A-3)