Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-02
Nelson Retains
Control Over
War Production
Compromise Reached
With SomeryeII on No.
Output Supervision
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

ported by authoritative sources
as maintaining overall super
vision of scheduling and the mill
itary retaining the right to carry
out the work.
This agreement. somewhat of A
compromise between Donald M. Nell
son, WPB chairman. and Lit. Gen.
Brehon B. Somervell, chief of the
Army Services of Supply, was hailed
by WPB officials as a victory. It
ended two week controversy which
was touched off when Mr.. Nelson
announced that he was placing
WPB Vice Chairman Charles z.
Wilson, former General Electric Co.
president, in charge of all produc-
ton, with special powers to handle
the aircraft program.
What the agreement between
WPB and the armed services means,
1t was said. is. that WPB actually
will shoulder all responsibility for
seeing that production programs are
met. The Army and Navy will con-
tlnue to say what munitions and
ouPPIlSS AIlCN "dIlI anu "llt1l lIltN
want them. Actual work of schedul-
ing production will remain with the
hundreds of thousands of supply
and production officers here and in
the field. but under delegation
of authority from Mr.. Wilson.
Military PB Dispute Settled.
President Roosevelt disclosed late
yesterday that the military WPB
dispute had been ended by negotia-
ton, though he refused to give
details. Mr.. Roosevelt minimized
the dispute. saying it involved what
he termed the fringes between WPB
and military supervision of pro-
duction. He reminded reporters
that he had previously told them
how the problem would be settled
by telling those involved to get
together in room and not leave
until agreement had been reached.
He said that had been done.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that while there
wasn't much of story in the con-
troversy, the big news was that it
had been settled without slowing
munitions production The problem
was settled before it reached the
/ factories. he added.
Some people. the President con-
tinued, endeavored to raise the con-
/ troversy into a star of the first
magnitude. He evidently referred
to reports that the production dis
/ pute was the start of a battle be-
/ tween the military and civilian for
control of the Nations economy.
He indicated that he had never
considered it question of great
importance.
Knudsen May Join Board.
Meanwhile. it was learned that
1t. Gen. William S. KnudSen, former
General Motors head who preceded
Mr.. Nelson as director of production,
might be added to membership Of
| the new aircraft board. Mr.. Wilson
| will head the board, described as a
little WPB for aircraft. 1t was the
refusal of the Army and Navy to
concur in formation of the board
which led to the dispute just settled.
| Other members of the group are
Maj. Gen. Oliver P. Echols. chief of
the Army Air Forces Materiel Divi-
sion; Rear Admiral Ralph Dawson.
assistant chief of the Bureau OF
AeronauticS, and Harold E. Talbot,
chief of the WPB Aircraft Division.
Mr.. Nelson was expected to make
formal announcement of the boards
personnel within a few days, as
we'll as officially make public de-
tails of the scheduling agreement.
Plans already are underway, it
was understood. to call first meet
ing of the group which will have
overall charge of aircraft pro-
duction.
While authority for maintaining
production of all munitions will be
| centered in Mr. Wilson, it was said
that WPB does not plan to set up
high commands" similar TO the
Aircraft Board for such items as
tanks, ships and guns Aircraft ia
treated independently it was said.
because of its Importance in the
war and because schedules of air.
plane production had become more
out of balance than the other pro-
grams.
Concentrates on Planes.
Mr.. Wilson is expected to devote
more of his attention Immediately
to aircraft than any other weapon.
| An official pointed out, however.
that since tanks. guns, ships and
planes all compete for the same
materials it would be impossible for
Mr.. Wilson ito do a Job" of seeing
| that schedules are met for one
without having control of all
The executive order establishing
WPB gave Mr.. Nelson control over
/ both procurement and scheduling.
He delegated these powers to the
military in March. 1t was the reluc-
lance of the services to turn back
scheduling powers which started
the dispute. The official said that
WPB does not wish TO run procure
ment or the actual operation OF
scheduling. He pointed out that
these are tremendous tasks which
require the efforts of hundreds OF
thousands of officers.
With WPB directing scheduling
operations, we will get really WELL
Knit armament program" the Off
cial said. This agreement clears
away a lot of smoke and will enable
us to really do good job. We have
Shouldered much of the blame in
the past for the tagging production
program without having the respor-
sibllity. If production is poor from
now on, it will be definitely WPBs
fault-Mr. Wilson's fault"
Balances War Program.
The agreement will enable WpB
the Army and Navy to work more
closely together than ever before.
the official declared, adding that 1t
was absolutely necessary for WPB
to have supervisory scheduling
| powers in order to obtain a balanced
war program. because "you can't ex-
(see PRODUCTION Page AID