Evening star., 1943-04-08
New Bureau 10 Supply
Civilian Requirements
Opposed by MeNut
Senator MoIoney's Bill
Is Too Wide in Scope,
Monpower Head Says

War Manpower Chairman Paul v.
McNutt told the Senate Banking
Committee today he is not prepared
to indorse setting up of separate
and autonomous civilian supply ad-
ministration," though he is in thor
ough accord with the policies and
purposes of the proposed civilian
supply bill,
He argued that in "mobllizing our
economy for total war we must look
at the economy as a whole and
integrate the manpower needs for
civilian supplies with other man
power requirements.
Earlier. he estimated that 5000 900
workers will have to be withdrawn
this year from non-war industries,
trades and services operating above
bedrock requirements. That would
leave those industries and services
with manpower supply of %, 400 900
for 1943. he said.
introduced by Senator Maloney,
Democrat. of Connecticut for the
Small Business Committee. the bill
would create civilian supply ad-
ministration, under the economic
stabilization director, to see that
the goods and services necessary to
keep the civilian population healthy
and functioning are provided.
Bill Is Criticized.
Mr.. McNutt said the bill as drawn
would be by way of giving a blank
check to the civilian supply au-
thorities to draw on the resources
of the Nation. including manpoWer,
to an extent limited only by their
own determinations of the produc-
ton requirements"
ITO the best of my knowledge" :"
he continued, mo other claimant
Tor manpower, not even the armed
forces, has statutory priority of
equal scope.
Our experience in the manpoWer
field has indicated to us that no
claim on our resources can be con-
sldered absolute at this stage of the
war program. Every claim is estab-
Ished in relation to other claims
equally imperative, by a process of
soo nllSt VI tlIl. W dSlllCNC Vic liOSt
effective utilization Of all resources. ="
Senator Maloney said he has &C
knoWledged that the bill requires
considerable study and possible
modification, but expressed the belief
there is no spokesman for civilian
supply at this time.
Resources Called Sufficient.
= I.
Donald Nelson, chairman of the War
Production Board, as the official to
present the needs of civilian indus
tries.
In summing up, he said
I'm reiterating my belief that the
manpoWer resources are sufficient
to meet all the manpoWer require
ments to meet the essential civilian
supply. I do not want to give the
impression that this is simple job
or that these problems will take
care of themselves. Among the in
dustries producing wholly or largely
essential civilian supplies, there are
many which are feeling the pinch
of the limited supplies of manpoWer
and the competition of expanding
war industries To prevent curtail-
ment of civilian supplies because of
manpoWer shortages, it will GER
tainly be necessary for management
In these agencies and the War Man
power Commission to adopt vigorous
and resourceful measures of recruit
ing and maintaining an adequate
labor supply. The lengthening of
work hours, where necessary, i'm
proved utilization of labor, and en-
ployment stabilization may all be
necessary and will be invoked as the
occasion demands"