The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-11-15

The house OF representative LeSI4
started a similar quiz yet, but
Congressman John NJ. Coffee is
calling for one.
The argument in favor of such
probes is that the Sl-per-yearlings
mostly have business connections
independently of their emergency
posts, that their jobs with Uncle
sam places them in position TO
shoot some pretty juicy contracts
in the direction of concerns that
they're personally interested in,
and that maybe more or less Of it
has been going on.
It isn't definitely charged that 1t
has. but Senator Truman, Repre-
sentative Coffee and various other
legislators are dubious enough to
think the matter ought to be thor
oughly delved into.
or the S1-per-yearlings Director
William S. Knudsen Of the Office of
Production Management was one
Of the first and perhaps is the most
conspicuous of the bunch in Wash
ington yet. Drafted by President
Roosevelt for the position, he gave
UP his salary from General Motors
for an annual one buck from the.
United States treasury. and 1t isn't
with a very good grace that the
government asks him any questions
concerning the disinterestedness Of
his handling of his present task.
256 Are Listed
Emergency agencies haye been
created and manned so rapidly
that the investigatorially inclined
lawmakers themselves don't know
exactly how many Of the s1-per-
yearlings there are in Washington.
Definitely listed, however. are 256.
Bill Knudsen's OPM has 1s6 of
them.
Apart from the question Of these
conscripted functionaries' respec-
tive outside relationships, the
speed with which their agencies
have been set up has resulted in
the development Of a Washington
situation well calculated to drive
visitors, with government business
to transact, to strong drink.
No such visitor has the least
idea what official is the proper one
to see relative to the subject he's
anxious to discuss, and he simply
is shunted from one to another in
definitely.
It isn't entirely buck-passing,
either. The vast majority Of the
officials themselves are uncertain
as to what their various duties are.
The unfortunate visitor is as likely
as not to apply to the right one,
but the latter doesn't know that he
is the right one.
The long established executive
departments-state, treasury, war,
navy. ct cetera know themselves
apart, but the emergency outfits
are practically fluid; one thing one
day and something else the next.
There isn't even available a COM
plete list Of the newer setups.
Confusion isn't relieved by the
circumstance that it's so generally
the fashion 10 designate the newly
created Offices BY initials alone
Nearly everybody's aware that
ICC stands for Interstate Com
merce Commission. IVA for Ten
nessee Valley Authority and sew
eral other such, but OPM, SPAB
and the like haven't yet had time
to soak in effectively.
Head Writers Do II
Newspaper head writer's are
mainly responsible for the initiali-
cation puzzle Yet you can't great
ly blame EN-. supply Prioritie'
and ALLEGATION Board is a mid
ding hard title to fit into news
paper column in head letter,
SPAB isn't so difficult.
The new agencies are suppose
70 be temporary but, OF COURSE
nearly all Of EN- will survive o,
into eternity. Government setup,