Evening star., 1942-11-28
Eberstadt Will Explain
Inner Workings Of
WPB 10 Senate Unit
Air Forces Reported
Siding With Nelson
In Production Row

Ferdinand Eberstadt, program
vice chairman OF the War Produc-
ton Board, will appear before 8
Senate subcommittee in executive
session this afternoon to explain
the inner workings of the WPB, Its
relationship with the armed services
and to answer some intimate ques-
tions he declined to answer at yes
terday's open session.
Some Of the things Mr.. Eberstadt
will tell the committee privately to-
day are expected to have direct
bearing on the current struggle be-
tween WPB and the Army and Navy
over control of war production
scheduling. Yesterday, Mr.. Eber.
stadt, pointing out that scheduling
powers now rest with the services
denied that the new controlled ma
terials plan for distributing raw
materials, which he helped draft
left scheduling to the military forces
He declined to make public his views
on the controversy and suggested the
closed session.
Air Forces Side With Nelson.
| In the meantime the Army Air
Forces were reported last night to
be lined up on WPB Chairman
Donald Nelson's side in his strug-
gle with the military services for
control Of war production.
Informed persons suggested that
the air forces aim to increase the
output of planes by curtailing the
now Of materials to manufacturers
Of ordnance and heavy ground
equipment.
Aircraft supplies are the RESPONSE
bility Of the Army Air Forces Ma
teriel Command, headed by Mai
Gen. Oliver P. Echols. who was
named by Mr.. Nelson as a War
Department representative on q
new aircraft production board to
be headed by Charles E. Wilson,
WPB vice chairman.
There have been indications that
| despite the huge size of the goals
for aircraft production, the allo.
cation of raw materials has been out
of balance, with airplane manufac-
turers until very recently getting
fewer top priority ratings than
their overall share of the arma-
ment program would indicate.
Outlines Materials Plan.
Mr.. Eberstadt appeared before q
committee headed by Senator Pep
per, Democrat, of Florida, which Is
conducting hearings on the Pepper
Tolan bill for establishment of an
of1ce OF war mobilization. The ONCE
to be civilian-operated, would con-
troll manpower, war production and
procurement.
The WPB official spent most OF
yesterday outlining the controlled
materials plan and the function OF
the Army and Navy Munitions
Board, which he headed until late
September. He answered questionss
deliberately and clearly and ap-
parently made a profound impress
sion on the Senators. He studiously
avoided commenting publicly on any
questions tending to show conflict
within WPB or between WPB and
the Army.
Chairman Pepper asked the wit
ness If he had heard of secret meet
ings held at secluded clubs" by
representatives of the steel industry
in which industry policy was set
especially with a view to taking
care of old customers and fixing
postwar position" Senator Pepper
said he was informed such meetings
were held every month. Mr.. Eber-
stadt replied that he had not heard
of the meetings and if he had he
would not sanction them.
Receives 1943 Claims.
Senator Pepper asked the vice
chairman if the WPB Steel Division
was not composed of representa-
tives of the large steel companies
dollar-a-year men"-whose in
terests might be with their COM
panies rather than with Uncle
SAM" Mr.. Eberstadt replied that
the division necessarily must be
made up of the best men in the in
dustry, but added that he would
tolerate no favoritism of private in
terests.
In discussing the new materials
plan, Mr.. Eberstadt said he had
already received tentative programs
Of the Army, Navy and other claim
ant agencies, for all of 1943, furnish
ing an approximation of the need
for materials next year.
He declared the plan was drafted
following a breakdown Of the pri-
critics system and the failure of the
current production requirements
plan to balance the war production
program. Mr.. Eberstadt admitted
that there had been overbuilding OF
facilities for manufacture of some
munitions.