Evening star., 1943-05-29
Shift Of Byrnes
Spurs Pleas for
Other Changes
Senators Propose
New Steps to End
Domestic Confusion
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Encouraged by President
Roosevelt's order placing James
F. Byrnes in command of the
home front, members of Con-
gress hastened today to propose
additional moves to cut through
the confusion" many of them
contend has marked the domes-
tic war effort.
Ranging widely in variety and
subjected to immediate controversy,
these suggestions included:
l. Passage of compulsory man
power control legislation to "vitalize"
this aspect of the far-reaching pro-
gram outlined for the new Office of
War Mobilization headed by Mr..
Byrnes.
2. Creation by Congress of a sep
arate civilian supply agency having
equal claim with the Army and
Navy on resources and materials,
and its representation on Mr..
Byrnes' Mobilization Committee.
3. Reorganization and consolida-
ton of civilian war agencies, with a
25 per cent reduction in "unneces-
sary" personnel and the elimination
Of duplicating efforts.
Byrnes Gets Vast Powers.
4. Operation of the Mobilization
Committee-Which includes Secre-
tary Of War Stimson, Secretary of
the Navy Knox. Chairman Harry
Hopkins of the Munitions Assign
ment Board. Chairman Donald Nell
son Of the War Production Board,
and Justice Fred NJ Vinson of the
United States Court of Appeals,
who succeeds Mr.. Byrnes as stabili-
zation dlrector-as an actual war
cabinet to resolve disputes without
public controversy
Director Vinson took the oath Of
office shortly before noon today In
the White House office of his fellow
Kentuckian. Marvin H. Mcintyre,
one of the Presidents secretaries.
The oath was administered by
Justice d. Lawrence Groner, chief
justice of the United States Court
of Appeals. in the presence of Mrs
Vinson their sons, Fred M, jr.. and
Jimmy, and a large party of friends.
Mr.. Byrnes, whom Mr.. Vinson is
succeeding, shook his hand as the
oath taking was completed, saying,
This is a happy job-happy for me
to turn it over to you" Mr.. Vinson
laughingly responded, Il am smil-
Ing today for the last time"
Mr.. Byrnes is to take the oath
OF his new Office this afternoon.
indicating his intention to grapple
with the problems facing him, Mr..
Byrnes told a press conference yes
terday he would have full RESPONSE
bll1ty over the home front, with
poWer-subject only to Mr.. Roose-
Velts approval-to formulate policy
as well as to direct operations.
He Will direct. he said, programs
entaillng the maximum use of nat
ural and industrial resources for
military and civilian needs. the
effective utilizatio of national man.
power outside the armed forces.
and the stabilization and adjust
ment of the civilian economy to
wartime demands.
Will Relieve President.
"As I see it," Mr.. Byrnes said,
this should save the President
from many burdens. His time must
necessarily be devoted to the con-
duct OF the war and conferences with
the staffs concerned with the mill
tarv program. This order provides
a place where all the various Gov
ernment organizations and agencies
can go to settle things around the
conference table,
The scope of Mr.. Byrnes' power
to make policies was indicated when
ne said, In response to queries as to
his specific authority over prices,
food, production. procurement, trans
portation, distribution and labor
disputes:
If it's in the Government. it's in
the war mobilization picture"
This centralization of authority
was hailed in Congress by such men
as Chairman Truman of the Senate
War Investigating Committee, Mi
nority Leader McNary, Chairman
Murray of the Senate Small Busi-
ness Committee ana others.
Manpower problem Seen.
But from Senator Austin. Repub-
lican. of Vermont. came the asser-
ton that if Mr.. Byrnes is to do a
competent job he must have the
greater statutory authority over
manpower that is proposed in a
compulsory control bill he and Rep
resentative Wadsworth, Republican.
of New York, have authored.
While Senator Austin said the
Presidents order appears to put into
effect many OF the proposals of that
bill, Senator Ferguson, Republican,
Of Michigan said he hoped the
President is not attempting to as
sumo compulsory manpower control
at this time.
I'VE need guidance and direction.
but I am not in favor of complete
regimentation because I feel q de-
nocracy OF free men and women can
win this War more quickly than a
completely legimented people," Sem
ator Ferguson declared
Senator Maloney, Democrat, OF
Connecticut said he regarded the
Presidents action as removing any
further objections to the creation of
separate civilian supply agency as
he has proposed in bill. He
pointed out that there SIN = -
civilian representation IN the top
Mobilization Committee, other than
that Mr.. Byrnes himself can give
along with all his other duties.
Chairman Byrd of a Joint Com
mittee on Reduction of Nom Essential
Federal Expenditures proposed that
Mr.. Byrnes give early attention to
eliminating overlapping activities Of
Government agencies.
There ought to be a top-to-
bottom reorganization OF many Of
these agencies with a reduction Of
not less than 25 per cent in admin
iStratiye personnel" he declared