Evening star., 1942-01-19
:biddle Points
TO Violations
:0f Priiorities
Backs War Powers
biIIWhich includes
Enforcement Teeth
By J. A. O'LEARY.

Analysing the new war powers
bill, Attorney General Biddle told
the Senate Judiciary Committee
today that widespread and Sc
rious" violations of prioritles
and ALLEGATIONS have been indi-
Gated by investigations made by
the Priorities Division of O.P. M.
Prevented by illness from appear
ing Mr.. Biddle submitted a state
ment explaining the measure, which
contains IL different grants Of war
time power to various agencies. One
section puts more teeth in the ma
chinery for enforcement OF priorl-
ties.
Although the committee recessed
until Wednesday without acting,
Chairman Van Nuys said no serious
controversies developed at today's
executive session, and indicated he
thought the bill would be reported
out during the week.
Close Gaps in Laws.
Like the priorities section, the
II other features of the bill are de-
signed to close gaps in existing
emergency laws to push the war ef-
fort.
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas is understood to have taken
exception to one section, broaden
ing the authority Of the Treasury
Department to accept gifts of money
or property for the Government,
conditioned on a particular use.
There is a possibility this section
may be altered.
In discussing the violations Of
priority orders, Mr.. Biddle stated:
1T is true that there are various
administrative sanctions available
to the Office of Production Manage
ment. Fuel and power might be cut
of to a factory violating the prior
tiles order, as was done during the
World War on several occasions. But
administrative sanctions, although
highly important, do not provide
an adequate remedy in all cases.
For example, at a time when air.
plane production is vitality needed
1t would not facilitate war produc-
ton to curtail the supply Of alumi-
mum to an airplane company and
thus close the plant.
Enforcement Provision.
The civil and criminal remedies
provided are intended to supply the
means whereby priorities and allo-
cations can be enforced when ad-
ministrative sanctions are not ap-
propriate."
Another section removes the ban
in the existing reQuisitioning law
against the seizure of machinery
or equipment which is in actual
use and necessary to the operation
of factory or business. Mr. Biddle
said that since the requisitioning
law was passed instances have
arisen in the experiences OF both
the War Department and the
O.P.M. where machinery or equip
ment needed for war production
could not be obtained either be-
cause it was used for civilian pro-
duction or used few hours a day
on Government production which,
for managerial or labor supply rea-
sons. could not be increased" In
urging this extension Of the power
of reuuisition to cover machinery,
Mr.. Biddle observed:
II hope we have long since passed
the time when we merely talk about
an all-out effort and all-out utiliza-
tion of our resources. We must now
proceed to do the job and to do the
lob it is imperative that the Gov
ernment have the power to obtain
equipment and machinery which
recalcitrant owners refuse to make
available to the Government"
Would Extend 1. C. C. Powers.
Other sections of the bill have
these purposes:
To give the I. c. c. the same
emergency powers over motor car
riers it already possesses over rail-
road movements.
To enable the Navy to acquire land
under the same expeditions proce-
dure possessed by the War Depart
ment under an act of 1917.
To enable Federal Reserve banks
to buy Government securities di-
rectly, instead of having to pur-
chase them in the open market.
To allow the Secretary OF Com
merce to waive navigation and in
spection laws where necessary in
the prosecution Of the war. The
President has given the Secretary
such powers by executive order. but
believes it advisable to back it up
with law.
To simplify the procedure by
which aliens serving honorably in
the armed forces could become citi-
zens.