Evening star., 1942-01-16
Nelson Given
Absolute Power
Over Industry
Executive Order
Grants Conclusive
Authority to Chief
Text of Executive Order on
Page A-11.)
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Broad and conclusive authority
over the Nations wartime pro-
gram is vested in the War Pro-
duction Board, and particularly
in Chairman Donald M. Nelson,
in an executive order issued by
President Roosevelt this after
noon.
The order specifies that Mr.. Nell
son shall determine policies. plans.
procedures and methods of Federal
departments concerned with war
procurement and production.
Announcement was made in Chi
cago about the same time, that Mr..
Nelson had resigned his position as ,
executive vice president of Sears
Roebuck & Co, and as a member Of
the firms directorate.
Mr.. Nelson attended his first cab
met meeting this afternoon and said
he expected to be present regularly
in the future.
Granted Full Power.
Obviously intending that Mr.. Mel
sons authority over procurement
matters should be absolute, the order
reads:
Federal departments. establish
mentS, ard agencies shall comply
with the policies, plans, methods and
procedures in respect TO war pro-
curement and production as deter
mined by the chairman; and shall
fin iSI 70 no
nation relating to war procurement
and production as he may deem nee
essary for the performance of his
duties"
The order directs that the board
shall function within the Office of
Emergency Management and should
be identical in personnel to the
Supplies Priorities and ALLEGATION
Board. The latter agency is thus
supplanted.
After specifying that the chair
man shall exercise general direction
| over the war procurement and pro-
duction program, the order specifi-
cally gives him the authority for
determining all phases of depart
mental wartime purchasing
Included in the scope Of this over
all control will be the drawing of
specifications and plans for con-
version. requisition or expansion of
industrial plants.
Will Supervise o. r. NJ.
Specifically. the chairman is di-
rected to supervise the Office for
Production Management in the per-
formance of its responsibilities and
duties, and direct such changes in
its organization as he may deem
necessary"
1t was further specified that the
Army and Navy Munitions Board
shall report to the President through
the chairman of the War Produc-
ton Board. The chairman is au-
thorized to exercise his powers
through such officials or agencies =
and in such manner as he may de-
termine; and his decisions shall be
final"
The President based his action on
authority vested in him by the Con-
stitution as President and as COM
mander in chief of the Army and
Navy.
The S. P. A. B. personnel taken
over by the new board includes
Secretary of War Stimson, Secretary
of the Navy Knox. Jesse Jones, Fed
eral loan administrator: William 5.
Knudsen and Sidney Hillman, as
sociate directors of o. P. M: Leon
Henderson. price administrator:
Vice President Wallace, who is
chairman of the Board of Economic
Warfare, and Harry L. Hopkins.
presidential assistant supervising
the lend-lease program.
Talked to Budget Director.
The executive order was issued a
short while after Mr.. Roosevelt had
conferred with Budget Director
Harold D. Smith, who has been en-
gagged in drafting the authority.
Mr.. Knudsen was lunching with
the President at the time the order
came out.
In Chicago Gen. Robert f. Wood.
chairman of the board of Sears,
Roebuck, issued this statement:
1T is with great regret that we
today received and accepted the
resignation of Donald M. Nelson as
executive vice president and direc-
tor of Sears. Roebuck g. Co., but the
resignation is accepted with even
greater pride in the patriotic achieve
ments of one of our colleagues and
in the outstanding service which he
has been able to render in behalf Of
our country"
Mr. Nelson thus ended a period Of
service with Sears, Roebuck that
began in 1912.
He was granted a leave of alb
sence June /, 1910, when he came
to Washington to serve as director
of procurement in the Treasury De-
partment. and later in a succession
of defense jobs leading to his pres
ent assignment.
In relinquishing his job with the
mail order firm, company spokes-
man said Mr.. Nelson sacrifices q
Low