Evening star., 1943-10-14
House Investigators
To Extend Probe Of
NaW's Headaches
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Further evidence that Con-
greSs wants an accounting of
war expenditures was given to-
day by a House Naval Affairs
subcommittee, which indicated
Its inquiry into the production
failures at the Brewster Aero
nautical Corp. would be extended
to other naval procurement
Headaches"
From Undersecretary of the Navy
Forrestal and other high naval pro-
curement officials, the committee
drew declarations that Brewster's
delays in turning out fighting planes
and bombers could be attributed
Jointly to labor troubles" and weak
management"
But members of the committee
natly served notice that the Navy
itself would be held to an accounting
Tor the situation at Brewster and
would be required to explain in detail
why it has not cracked down on the
labor difficulties or
Cancelled its contracts long ago.
Mas AssaiIs Waste.
Representative Mas of Minnesota,
the committees ranking Republican
member, angrily assailing waste of
manpower" at the Brewster plants,
declared that there had been scan
dalous loafing on the job, men shoot
Ing craps openly, and sleeping in
unfinished planes"
From ArtemuS L. Gates. As
slstant Secretary of Navy for Air.
came an acknowledgements that he
had seen such reports from naval
inspectors from time to time, but
We were looking for results, rather
than the causes
Mr.. Forrestal remarked that the
company's accounting and material
control systems were in such bad
shape that there was perhaps some
tustlflcatlon for inability to keep
the working 1orce employed.
Where were your inSpectors?"
demanded Mr.. Mas. 1t ought to
have been matter Of concern, with
the manpoWer shortage what it is
today. You ought to have taken
steps"
In reply to repeated questions as
to why the Navy had not taken
more vigorous action, Mr.. Forrestal
explained that the Navy had once
taken over the plant. twice watched
1t change management with i'm
provement in recent months in pro-
duction," and that the Navy's hands
were tied because it would take
much more time to get production
from another or new company equal
to the amount Of which Brewster
is capable.
A Continuing Headache.
"Brewster,' said Mr.. Forrestal,
has been a continuing headache.
Although the Navy's bomber pro-
ductlon was to have been completed
by June, 1912. the first acceptable
bomber did not come off the pro-
line until October, 1912. and
the work will not be finished until
next December-l8 months behind
schedule.
Brewster delivers its first fighter
In June, l943. 1t had been scheduled !
almost 10 months earlier"
But, he added, we need Brewster
built planes. That is why the Gov
eminent has invested more than
100000 in facilities at Brewster
and has guaranteed the company a
V-loan amounting to S55 100000
That is why We have continued to
deal with the company in the face
OF poor production, weak manage
ment. labor troubles and high cost"
Rear Admiral S. M Kraus. general
naval aviation inspector for the
Eastern district, told the committee
that the union at the corporation
Local 1868, United Automobile Work.
ers tCIO)-had led with its chin"
In gaining some of its demands from
BreWster's frequently changing
He told Of receiving reports of
workers "loating on the Job" of
union Stewards on BreWster's pay
roll, but emphasized that labor alone !
was not at fault and that the COM
pany's system of accounting and of /
controlling materials was partly to
blame.
Union Pampering Charged.
simultaneously, he said, Brew /
sters was not the Navys only pro-
duction "headache."
Mr. Mas Immediately demanded
that if the Navy has other and .
more scandaious" headaches than |
that at Brewster. it produce them
Immediately so that we can look /
into them" His request was sup
ported by other members of the
take said MI Mas, was in max /
ing it's contracts with Brewster: it |
should have made its contract with
De Lorenzo Tom de Lorenzo. presi- !
dent of the UAW locaN and perhaps
you would have got some produc-
ton
Chairman Drewry contended that
the Navy had power to force a
change in the management-la labor
relations by threatening to cancel
the contract.
"1nstead,' he said, YOU began
to pamper the union by changing
managements."
Union Trouble Over Kaiser
Tells Brewster Workers
JOENSUIJJ Z Do Oct "a I'D,