Evening star., 1941-03-25
Truman EnIists Public
To Report Waste or
Graft in Defense
Senator, on Radio Forum,
Coils Cheoters on Price
Or QuoIity Draft Dodgers

The American public was enlisted
today in protective war to keep its
gigantic multi billion dollar defense
program free of graft and waste,
called into service by special Sen
ate committee which has been set up
10 police the contractual end of the
program
Invitation to any citizen to sub
NIT information Of irregularities,
based on facts, where the Govern
nnent's interests have been violated y
was extended last night by Chair
man Truman of the special commit
tee, speaking over the National Radio
Forum, arranged jointly by The Star
and the National Broadcasting Co.
CThe text of his address is on
Page B-6)
when people create delays for
profit. when they sell poor products
for defense use, when they cheat on
price and quality" Senator Truman
declared. they aren't any different
from a draft dodger and the public
at large feels just the same way
about it."
Senator Truman said public hear
ings would be started by the COM
mittee April 7.
"RumOrs Are Rife"
"Rumors are rife" he asserted,
Questioning the manner in which
contracts and the immense pur-
chases have been handled under
these (defense) appropriations.
at has been charged that the
contracts have been let to friends
and associates of the men in charge
Of the national defense program:
that plants have been located on
the basis of personal interests,
friendship and favoritism; that land
purchases have been made at out
rageous prices and that camps have
been located in sWamps; that in the
name of speed many of the safe
guards usually observed in Govern
ment transactions have been thrown
aside and overlooked, although
these safeguards would in no way
have slowed up the program.
at has been charged that certain
lobbyists have the inside track on
purchases, contracts and plant loca-
tions. Rumors of enormous fees
paid to these gentlemen persist
around the hotel lobbies of Wash
ington. Purchases have been con-
centrated among a few manufac-
turers of supplies and in some in
stances more money has been paid
per unit on large contracts than on
small ones.
TT has been charged by members
Of Congress that the manner pro-
posed for Government financing of
certain plants would result in the
Government making a gift to the
contractor or manufacturer"
Decentralization to Be Studied.
Meanwhile, publication of Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee testi-
mony on the $1,000 100000 lease-lend
Stimson, Secretary of Navy Knox
and Director Knudsen of the o. P.
NJ. promised protesting members
that increasing consideration will be
given to decentralization of the de-
fense program.
Senator Russell Democrat, of
Georgia urged consideration of the
South "in common justice" adding:
1T is very paradoXical thing.
but the effect is that the part of
the country that has supported this
entire program most earnestly from
its very inception, from the time Of
the repeal of the original arms en-
barge down through the universal
service and to this good hour, has
benefited least, has secured the
smallest expenditures of any section
OF the country.
THAT may be a pork-barrel view,
but realize that if this debt is ever
paid, the people that live in that
section, in addition to having
favored the program, are going to
have to pay their fair part of it or
as far as their means permit them
to pay It,"
Senator McKellar of Tennessee de-
nanded consideration for Tennessee,
and Mr.. Knudsen replied, well,
haven't in mind but two plants in
Tennessee, but know that Tennes-
see has had consideration"
Senator Byrnes of South Carolina
said the o. P. M had appointed a
committee to influence the awarding
of contracts in such a way as to
decentralize industry.
Mr.. Knudsen said the program had
become too big to permit centrali-
sation.
Even if we wanted to, we could
not" he said. I'VE had to spread,
otherwise we would move so much of
the labor We would have so much
labor migration, as I might call it,
that 1t would not be practical"