Evening star., 1942-10-23
Plane Output Slowed
By Divided Control
OF Army and WPB
Showdown Held Nearing
By Nelson Spokesman;
War Heods May Win
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
A lack of delegation of respon-
sibility specifically to either the
War Production Board or the
Army to control the flow of ma
terials into factories is interfer-
ing seriously with the aircraft
production program, it was
learned today.
The situation in some phases
Of the aircraft program currently
is mess" an official Of the WPB
stated, and will force a showdown
soon as to whether the military or
the civilian-controlled board will run
the vital program.
The Army, the official said, was
fighting for complete control of air
plane production. He added that it
would not be surprising should the
Army eventually wrest the program
away from WPB and operate it
themselves in the way they now
handle ordnance.
The spokesman explained that as
matters now stand WPB and the
Army operate independently, each
assuming that it has authority to
run the airplane program. Actually,
he said, their jurisdictions have not
yet been defined definitely.
Dislocations Caused.
When q shortage of materials oc-
ours in an important plane plant
he said, both the Army and WPB
rush in to rectify the situation. This
results in a dislocation of the sup
plies of materials and components.
1t is the old grab for materials, he
added, the same which, it Is assert
ed, has thrown the war production
program out of balance.
How the issue will be settled fin
ally the WPB spokesman did not
know. He said a decision could not
be postponed much longer because
of the depressing effect of the split
jurisdiction situation on plane out
put. Presumably, Production Chief
Donald M. Nelson has the power to
settle the controversy. He will act
probably, it was said, through his
two new vice chairmen of the WPB,
Ferdinand Eberstadt and Charles
E. Wilson, who have charge of the
handling of materials and produc-
ton respectively.
WPB is expected to have its new
plan for ALLEGATION of materials
completed early in November. Un-
der this plan the overall war pro-
duction program will be co-ordinat-
ed with the supply of materials ano
facilities in such a way that Of
f1cials are hopeful of obtaining near
ly perfect balance. 1t should bring
about complete industrial mobiliza
ton of the Nation for war. Thi:
should solve such problems as are
now encountered in aircraft.
The new plan to make the pro-
duction program and materials sup.
plies fit probably can not be put into
effect before the second quarter O.
1943, however. This means tha
some action must be taken mean.
while to rectify just such disloca'
tions as are reported to exist in tn.
aircraft program.
1t was said the WPB material!
ALLEGATION scheme now being draft.
ed in final form would use the best
features of the contract contro
plan, the suggestion advanced by
the automotive industry which
places control of materials in in.
dustry on an end-product basis, ane
the steel quota plan under which ar
apportionment is made far in ad
vance on a materials basis.
Under the new plan materials anc
contracts would go along together
for the first time. There would bt
no need for priorities.
Wants to be Made Known.
WPB, it was said, would Obtain
bills of material needs from manu-.
facturers OF civilian items as vel
as from munitions makers. BY Civ
ing materials to certain manufac.
turers in certain industries, WIPE
would be putting into effect the in.
dustry concentration program nov
being worked out.
Presumably list of civilian man
ufacturers who will be permitted tt
get metals will be drawn up. If {
manufacturer does not appear or
the list his business will be closee
for the duration of the war. Manu-.
facturers of civilian goods now OBJ.
tain materials through the prioritie!
| system.
The plan Is in line with state.
ments made at a press conference
yesterday bv Mr.. Nelson. He statec
there was no such thing as civil.
ian" production: this is a war econ.
omy. He added that essential pro.
duction for the civilian popula tior
must be scheduled in the same wa,
as production for the armed serv
ices. All materials, theoretically
would be placed in one giant stocl
pile and apportioned for militar,
and civilian uses on the basis O
need.