Evening star., 1942-11-19
ManpowerSh
ToArmy:Studied
By Roosevelt
President Considers
Plan to Center Job
Under One Agency
Bv JESSE O, IRWIN,

SOllSl CSSlOlldl SOulCCS SdlO w.
day that President Roosevelt is
considering a proposal by the
military high commands to place
control of all civilian manpower
operations in the hands of the
War Department.
The concern with which the
White House is reported studying
this proposal, the sources said, is
the primary reason the chairmen OF
five congressional committees inter-
ested in the manpower situation
went on record publicly this week in
favor of a unified control of the
non-military economy by putting
production, manpower and supply
under one civilian roof" and in
command of a single director.
Senators Kilgore of West Virginia,
Murray of Montana, Pepper of Flor
ida and Truman of Missouri and
Representative Tolan of California,
all Democrats, said they planned to
have a bill ready setting up GEN.
trail office of war mobilization by
December 7.
Consult With Baruch.
The proposal is responsible, con-
gressional sources said, for the ap.
pearance of Presidents William
Green of the AFL and Philip Muir
ray OF the CIO and Julius Luhrsen,
director of the Railway Labor Exec
utives' Board, before a hurriedly
called session of the Senate Educa-
ton and Labor Committee within
"a hours after discussing the man
power situation with Mr.. Roosevelt
for the purpose of indorsing a CEN
trail control agency headed by d
civilian" q
The proposal also is responsible,
congressional sources admit, for the
statement by Senators Kilgore and
Pepper and Representative Tolarl
that they planned to consult with
Bernard M. Baruch, World War
Industries Board director and
author of a recent book which ad-
vocates central civilian control
agency to act as an arbiter of con-
f1lcting war industrial demands.
The proposal also is responsible,
congressional sources said, for what
they termed the slow progress now
being made by War Manpower
Chairman Paul V. McNutt in for.
mulating policies and setting up
a field organization for the mobili-
zation and utilization of the Ma.
tlon's manpoWer.
Army's Progress Cited.
1t is reported to be linked with
the branching out of the Army's
civilian manpower organization
which, congressional sources said, is
''unhampered by lack of funds and
personnel and commanding the
prestige of the Army uniform - is al
ready several long steps" ahead Of
the War Manpower Commission in
the labor supply field.
The military high commands
proposal, reported submitted to the
President late in September, calls
for consolidation of all civilian man
power organizations, including those
operated by the War Manpower
Commission, the Selective Service
Administration, the Army, the Navy.
the War Shipping Administration,
the Civil Service Commission and
the War Production Board, under
the Army's Services of Supply,
headed by 1t. Gen. Brehon Somer-
veil.
The objective is to end the exist
ing manpower confusion and con-
filct, 1t was reported, by placing
under one command, which holds
the purse strings" on the majority
OF war contracts. This command
would be responsible for the formu-
lation of policies and the develop
ment OF programs for the effective
utilization of civilian manpower,
The command also would formulate
plans for the speeding of mobiliza-
tlon OF labor for the prosecution Of
the war production effort, and to
supervise all labor supply efforts and
activities.
Formed Personnel Office. ,
Gen. Somervell organized an Of
flce of Civilian Personnel before the
creation Of the War Manpower
commission. AS the Navy's civilian
manpower organization is reported
TO be small the Army's manpower
branch, on request, is assisting it in
carrying out its labor utilization
program.
j. P. Mitchell, a civilian, is in
command of the Office of Civilian
Personnel. He is quoted by con.
eresSlonal sources as saying: The
indirect employment of one-fourth
OF the Nations labor force on Jobs
TOR the Army makes Army produr-
tlon plans and Army policy on en-
ployment standards one of the major
determlnants of the national labor
supply policy. Only through an Or
ganlzation which can devote full
time to these problems can Services
OF Supply handle manpower probs
lens adequately"
Dean Barker, representative Of
the Secretary of the Navy, also is
quoted by congressional sources az
saying "as the labor pool gets tighter.
relations between naval procure
ment and the Army's manpower
branch will become much closer.S
Efficient Balance Sought.
The Senate Defense Investigation
Committee, headed by Senator Tru-
man, maintains that the high mil
itary commands must check their
war strategy plans, insofar as man
power and production are con-
cerned, against the total civilian
manpower resources to make sure
an efficient balance Is achieved. It
also suggests that the agency re-
sponsible for manpower mobiliza-
ton have q voice in and knowledge
of these war requirements in order
to do an effective job.
This view is supported by the
WINGS Management-Labor Policy
Committee, which has recommend
ed to the President that authority
and responsibility for the apportion-
ment Of manpower be centralized
In the chiefs Of staf1, the lease.
(See MANPOWER, Page A-4D