Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-20
Postwar PIunninu

The Senate special committee on
postwar planning has a great duty
to perform and a great opportunity
for service. Senator George of
Georgia, chairman of the committee,
placed finger squarely on the chief
issue which confronts the committee
in a national radio forum address
Wednesday night. THE committee
is the creature of unit of the legis-
lative branch of government" he
said, land without apology it will be
concerned primarily in the preserva-
ton Of the American political and
economic system"
A plethora of planning groups are
at work already on postwar world.
Among them are agencies OF the
Government. of industry, labor and
the farmers. A danger, as Senator
George pointed out, lies in fostering
too many divergent views, each rep
reSentlng some particular interest.
Instead of harmony and co-ordina-
where the Senate committee may
prove an effective agency of the
Congress, which in the end must
translate all planning into law.
Senator George is mindful of the
tremendous problems which will con-
front this Nation the first year fol-
lowing the conclusion of the war.
The country may have a national
debt of 100000 100000. Twelve mil
lion men will be returning from the
war services. Industry geared to
war production must be returned to
peacetime occupations and produc-
ton. Not only must jobs be found
for these returning soldiers but 90
100000 workers in war plants must
be cared for in industry. The farm
ers of the country must be planned
for, too.
1t would be the height Of folly if
the Nation is not prepared, through
wise planning, to meet the tremen-
dOus dislocation which will then be
presented. The supreme test Of
American institutions, of the Amer
lean free enterprise system, will be
at hand. 1t is not unlikely that
decision will have to be made wheth-
er the political and economic system,
OF which Senator George spoke, Is to
live or whether this country will be-
come a semi-socialist state, or per-
haps entirely socialistic.
The Georgia Senator is not one of
those who subscribe to the idea that
the American system must be
strapped in favor of Government op-
Grafton of industry and everything
else that goes into the lives of the
people. However, he is convinced
that Government must play it's
proper part in the era Of transition
from war economy to peace economy
Despite reaction against the re-
straints of war controls, which nat
urally will follow when the war is
over, it will be impossible to function
without Government aid and super
vision, at least for a time.
The function of the committee. as
Senator George sees it, is to give par
ticular attention to the philosophy
and design underlying all plans" But
beyond that the committee must, as
he said, consider specific provisions
for the rehabilitation of the Army,
the reconversion of war industries to
peace requirements, and the reloca-
ton of the army of workers. The
planning must look far enough into
the future to see establishment of
private enterprise and the freedoms
which go along with free enterprise.
1t is not unlikely that eventually
the House will appoint a special
committee on postwar planning, too.
If and when it does, there should be
the closest cooperation between the