Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-27

Now II tn -
President will David Lawrence.
approve the bill introduced by Sen
ator Maloney, Democrat, of Con-
necticut and Senator Taft, Repub-
lican, of Ohio, establishing a Civ
ilian Supply Administration, such a
step will mark the beginning OF a
real approach to the regrouping Of
functions so as to achieve maximum
effectiveness in wartime.
Today civilian needs are showed
around in multiplicity of bureaus
and agencies. There is nowhere in
the Government sufficiently strong
unit functioning in behalf of the
civilian population. This does not
mean that the civilian needs should
be given one bit more consideration
than they deserve, but it does mean
that there must be somewhere a
centralized responsibility for the
proper enumeration Of civilian re-
auirements so that what can be al
located Is equitably distributed.
Nelson Sees Need for Agency.
The War Production Board is
properly concerned with the pro-
duction of war weapons. Its func-
ton is to supply what the military
establishments want, and. while this
is vital function, the WPB cannot
at the same time view the civilian
populations requirements objec-
lively. 1t is understood that Donald
Nelson, WPB chairman, recognized
the need for such separate agency
some time ago, but not until the
Maloney-Taft bill was introduced
has the question come up for con-
crete consideration.
The present Office of Civilian
Supply is subordinate branch of
the WPB and, as such, has no indie
pendent status. 1t really ought to
be co-ordinated with other claim
ant agencies, able to express its own
viewpoint and submitting to the de-
cisions of whoever is selected to UNI
pire between the claimant agencies.
Joseph L. Weiner is at present in
charge of the Civilian Supply Bu-
reau, and he has probably given more
time and thought to the importance
OF civilian supply than any man in
Washington. He submitted lengthy
statement to congressional COM
mlttee the other day and revealed
frankly and effectively the present
unsatisfactory position of civilian
requirements in the maze of govern
mental agencies dealing with the
war.
Has No Responsibility.
Today" said Mr.. Weiner, the Of
fee OF Civilian Supply is one OF many
dozen organizational units of the
War Production Board. 1t has no
statutory or executive order author
ity. 1t has no official responsibility
on behalf Of civilians for food, hous-
Ing, transportation, manpower and
other resources which are vital to the
maintenance of essential civilian
supply. Its role is largely an ad-
visory one within the War Produc-
ton Board and volunteer one else
where. Clearly, in its present posi-
ton and with its present functions,
the Office of Civilian Supply cannot
adequately represent civilians along
side the Services of Supply for the
military and the Lease-lend Admin
istration and the Board OF Economic
Warfare for the foreign supply.
This has become an intolerable
situation today when the civilians of
the country are facing serious short
ages Of civilian supplies and services
brought about by the war The stu
alton Is aggravated by the multiple
cation OF supply agencies which tear
off individual segments of the civil
ian economy. If ever there was q
time for determining essential civil
Ian needs and migrating the forces
OF Government for assuring those
needs-the time is now.
Situation Well Known.
The most practical way of pres
entity coping with the situation is to
establish now single, central, civil
ian supply agency which represents
Well-defined portions of the civilian
economy with authority at the vari-
Gus multiple supply agencies, in face
Of the impending shortages which
are ahead
What Mr.. Weiner discloseS is a
situation well known to members of
Congress who have been getting
thousands of letters describing the
disorganization of the civilian econ
omy. While much of the readjust-
ment Is necessary, the public wants
to be assured that all Of 1t is really
essential and that, if there is a more
orderly way to accomplish the same
detectives some governmental agen-
cy is making an effort to discover
that way.
The civilian front is essential to
the battle front-this is conceded.
But the indirect relationship of the
civilian front to the efficiency OF war
production is not always recognized
in Washington. War workers must
eat, must have transportation and
must have adequate housing, or
there is bound to be more absentee
ism and less production in our fac
tories.