Evening star., 1943-04-11
Continued From First Page


bonuses to workers for extra OUTPUT
above a normal prescribed mini
mum; of paying more money for
more pieces produced over an es-
tablished standard.
800 Increase Held Possible.
Some experts have placed as high
as 80 per cent the overall increase
In output which could be attained
IN this way. This extra effort could
be used in two ways. We could
either produce 80 per cent more
than we are at present with the
same labor force and machines, OF
we could produce at current levels
with 80 per cent less manpower and
great savings of machines and
facilities.
American industry is 50 vast that
any investigation of conditions
within 1t might be termed cursory
The Star, however. feels it reached
a fair cross-section of industry,
labor and Government. In forma-
ton obtained will be treated both as
composite pattern of opinion and in
individual way.
Specific cases, as nearly proven as
possible, will be cited to indicate
what is wrong ip industry. Violent
exception undoubtedly will be taken
to many parts of this story by man.
agement. labor and Government.
Whatever opinions expressed are not
those Of this newspaper, but rather
the opinions of that part of America
included in the investigation.
America built up terrific early war
effort momentum by lavish ex-
penditure of its three most plentiful
resources, money, raw materials and
manpower. In many cases we did
not make the right things to prose-
cute the war successfully. We were
extravagant, wasteful. But, We got
started quickly.
That was important early in the
war effort. America. the world s
greatest peacetime industrial Ma
ton, had no experience in producing
for modern war. The early object
was to get under way. We could
learn through trial and error, iron
out sore spots as they arose.
Schedules Readiusted
The country learned early that
raw materials were insufficient to
supply the home front with full
stock of peacetime goods and still
furnish the weapons needed by our
armed forces and allies. Later, the
country learned there were not
enough materials even to supply
various branches of the armed forces
with all the weapons they wanted
We set about to readjust production
schedules so as to produce weapons
our military leaders believed would
bring greatest impact on the enemy
The readjustments, based on battle
experience of allies, enemies and our
own forces. as well as on geographic
cal location of theaters of war, hurt
j. and slowed industry.
Great progress has been made in
conserving the Nations material re-
sources, although there Is still much
to be done Materials are flowing
TO the right plants at the right
time in much more orderly fashion
now than in the days of many plant
shutdowns last summer. There are
still some spots where plants are
compelled to slow down or stop due
to lack of materials.
The time now has come when
America "is scraping the bottom OF
the barrel Of its manpower re.
sources. The country still is ex-
pending its manpoWer eXtrava-
gantly and wastefully. We have
more than reached that point where
we must take stock and dole out ou,
manpower in the same careful FASH
ion We are trying to handle copper
aluminium, steel and food.
The Stars investigation showed
the Nation has made little progress
in conserving its manpower. Fur
thermore. few steps apparently have
hoen taken in the right direction
Any movement toward a solution o1
sthe problem Is being made tot
sssIewly. almost imperceptibly, al.
~tMough our leaders have had enough
time to get some favorable results
Must Continue to Pay.
> There must always be waste ir
war. That nation. however which
sr1iAkes most efficient use Of its re.
ssotrces, holds waste to a minimum
stas Z head start toward victory
All agree that America must make
1xery man count If We are to have
setiough men at the battle front and
retain q force Of manpower at home
11equate to supply the needs of war
stlolne front and goods for which on,
sxIlies are dependent on us. In the
suA&tter Of conserving cash. the con-
s1asus seems to be that we must
sntinue Ito pay through the nose
s1or what We get in this war.
.ssSLabor. management and Govern
~1nent nearly all agree that We an