Evening star., 1942-11-15
Joint War Problems
Committee ProposaI
Gaining Support
> PIon Expected to Be
Pressed When New
Congress Meets
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

Jolllt congressional committee
on war problems, offered by
Senator Maloney, Democrat, of
Connecticut and Representative
Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois,
is gaining strength on Capitol
Hill. If it Is not taken up during
the present Congress, it appears
probable that it will be pressed
when the new Congress as
sembles in January.
Senator Maloney has asked the
Senate Military Affairs Committee
to give his resolution early con-
sideration, urging hearings on the
proposal.
The authors of the plan have
made 1t clear that it is intended
only to bring about the closest CO.
operation between the executive and
legislative branches of the Govern
rnent in the war effort.
Senator Maloney has explained
that it is not his purpose to set up
a congressional committee "on the
conduct of the war" The conduct
OF the war, in his opinion, is an
executive function.
Would Make Special Studies.
The duty of the proposed COM
mittee would be to make special
studies and investigations of the
problems of the war arising under
all acts of Congress; to confer with
the President and with the heads of
various executive agencies regard
Ing these problems; to consult with
other committees of Congress, and
to report from time to time to both
houses of Congress its findings and
recommendation for legislation.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
Of Michigan is a strong supporter
of the joint committee proposal AS
long ago as December Is, 1941, a
week after the Pearl Harbor attack,
he wrote to President Roosevelt,
asking his views on the creation of
a joint committee of Congress to
cooperate with the Chief Execu-
tive. He did not reveal either his
letter or the reply of the President
until last Monday. The Presidents
answer under date of December 81.
194l, said among other things that
he was in hearty accord with the
apparent objectives, adding:
IF the Congress believes greater
cooperation can be had by the ap-
pointment of such a committee. I
will be only too happy to consult
with and seek the advice of the
members of the committee"
The President referred to the fact
that he has consulted with the ma
iority and minority leaders in Con-
gress and the particular committees
charged with specific subjects. If
the proposed new committee is to
take the place of these consultants,
he said, Congress should make it
clear and he questioned the prac-
ticability of the plan If the Joint
committee is merely to be an added
conSultant.
Standing With Public Seen.
In the opinion of Senator Maloney,
Joint committee of Congress. repre-
senting the entire group. would have
a standing with the public. with
Congress and with the Chief Execu-
tive that would transcend in i'm
portance the regular standing COM
mittees or individual members,
whether majority and minority
leaders.
The country would have con-
fldence in such joint committee"
he said yesterday, pointing out that
1t would be strictly bipartisan
committee, under the terms of his
resolution, composed of six Senators,
elected by the Senate, and six
Representatives. elected by the
House. 1t provides that not more
than three Senators so elected shall
be .of one political party. and the
same rule would apply to the House
members.
Senators Maloney and Vanden-
berg have taken pains to point out
that the proposed committee was
not an attempt to give Congress
power to conduct the war, nor was
it move in criticism of the admin
istration. They explain that the
purpose was solely to aid in the
prosecution of the war.
In the House, Minority Leader
Martin has expressed himself fav-
orable to the plan. The Democratic
leaders of the House and Senate
have vet to express themselves.
However. there is a growing feel
ing among Democratic as we'll as
Republican members of Congress
that the legislative branch OF the
Government has valuable contri-
buttons to make toward the prose-
cution of the war, and that joint
committee would be in a position to
aid the President with sound advice
on the measures to be taken-not
military. but of a character closely
bound in with the questions of pro-
EVICTION, use of the country's re-
urces. including manpower.
functions of Proposed Group.
THE Joint committee would be de-
eicned not only to give advice, but
also to act as a liaison between the
White House and the Capitol. 1t
would be in position to keep in close
touch with all developments in the
war, but with the understanding
that it would closely guard all mill
tary secrets. At the same time 1t
would be expected to sift out all rec
ports and statements regarding the
prosecution of the war.
It would be to such committee
that the recent speech of Repre-
sentative Mas, Republican, of Min
nesota, criticising the conduct of
military operations in the Pacific,
would be referred for investigation,
for example. Senators Maloney and
Vandenberg have insisted that this
address of the Minnesotan, who
recently served as Marine Corps
colonel in the Pacific. should not be
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