Evening star., 1942-03-15
Public Is Dissatisfied
With Arms Progress,
Survey Said 10 Show
Official Back Yord Check
Echoes Complaints Made
To Congress Members

By the Associated Press.
The Government is making
back yard check of the publics ideas
on the war program
Responsible authorities disclosed
that the opinion of all sections of
the Nation would be sampled in
formally. The poll is to get the
peoples views on such controversial
issues as strikes, wage controls,
price fixing. longer hours in war
plants and even on the conduct Of
the military campaigns.
Results of the survey may be used
as basis for new laws and eXecu-
tive orders to change some aspects
Of the war program.
Arms Progress Held Slow.
While the survey was said to be
for from complete, an influential
member of Congress said there was
no doubt that extensive dissatis-
faction had been expressed with
the progress of the military pro-
duction program. This dlSSatis-
faction was said to center on strikes
and lack of materials as factors
contributing to the slowing Of pro-
duction
Members of Congress also have
been receiving an increasingly large
number of complaints. Senator
Thomas, Democrat. of Oklahoma,
declared in letters he addressed to
Donald M. Nelson, war production
chief, cabinet members and other
officials
Asked to Appear.
Asking the officials to appear be-
fore a Senate Appropriations Sub
committee for general questioning,
Senator Thomas said it was obvious
to him the public thought the 40
hour week law "eXorbitantly high
prices being paid for labor" and the
prevalence of strikes were retarding
the war effort.
President Roosevelt told his press
conference Friday that the question
of wage controls as a war measure
was under consideration. Most ad-
ministration supporters in Congress
concluded that if legislation of this
nature was asked 1t would be in
form linking wages to the cost of
living
Dealing directly with the question
Of strikes. Senator Mead, Democrat,
Of New York, made public report
from Secretary of Labor Perkins to
the Senate Labor Committee. 1t
showed that the number of walk
outs in war industries had increased
from - in January to Is in Feb
fuary.
Figures of Days Lost.
Secretary Perkins said that last
month 47,830 man-days were lost by
14,o85 workers. compared with 10,660
man days lost by 2,415 workers in
January
She said none of these strikes was
authorized by national unions and
most of them were short.
Urging caution in any restrictive
labor legislation. Senator Mead said
he was informed by the War Labor
Board that not single new de-
fense strike had been certified to
it since the group was formed re-
Gently.
Senator Thomas said in his letter
to Mr.. Nelson and other officials
that Congress and the administra-
ton were being condemned for not
repeating the 40-hour week law and
for not enacting legislation outlaw
ing strikes. He listed a long series
of charges he said the officials would
be asked to answer.
Cites Complaint Causes.
These included complaints that
1900 shipbuilders were idle In
California while there was a great
shortage of ships. that machines and
tools were idle in defense plants 8
to 16 hours a day and that defense
strikes were increasing.
Senator Thomas said Congress
members were being asked why men
were not drafted for defense in
dustrial work, why many workers
were required to join unions before
they could get war plant jobs, why
1t was necessary to pay overtime for
any war work and why plants could
not be operated around the clock
Representative Gore, Democrat, Of
Tennessee, sponsor of an overall
price control bill, said: Nothing
short OF an overall ceiling over
prices, profits, wages and rents
would be either effective or fair.
The present situation is fast getting
out of hand. It requires drastic ac-