Evening star., 1943-02-12
going to hold It," Senator Barkley
exclaimed on the floor

gOlrI 10 nOlQ II, senator barkley
exclaimed on the floor.
1T is my opinion that a majority
Of the members of the Board of
Directors of the corporation desire
to carry out the intention of Con-
gress and help the small business
man. But in my judgment they
have been handicapped, hobbled and
restrained. The reason the corpora
ton hasn't functioned is because it
hasn't been allowed to Junction.
Chairman Truman of the Senate
War Investigating Committee told
the Senate that the biggest busi-
ness monopoly in the history OF the
world had been created by channel
ing 70 per cent of war purchases to
100 ,arge firms. Senator Truman
declared the Government corpora
tion was without procurement
powers and had received little or no
cooperation from WPB and the
armed services.
AZ Per Cent Of Large Orders.
Sixteen corporations held war
contracts totaling $l,OOO000.O0O or
more in November, 1912. the War
Production Board reported in the
meantime yesterday.
Their orders made up AZ per cent
OF all the contracts above S50,OO0
awarded by Federal war agencies
as well as defense-aid awards of
the Treasury. The announcement
did not name the companies.
One hundred contractors held 70
per cent Of the dollar volume OF
prime contracts, or $59,557 300 900
worth, on the same date. This was
only slightly changed from last
June, when the top 100 firms held
II per cent of the prime awards.
In September, 194l, however, S3
per cent were in the hands of the
top 100. WPB reported.
The distribution of war work is
widened to the extent that these
large firms subcontract jobs to
smaller plants. WPB said. but on
the other hand, large part of the
subcontracts awarded by all other
prime contractors goes to the 100
corporations.
Opposes Military Control.
Senator Truman said he is op-
posed to having businessmen in
military uniform placed in charge
of civilian agencies Of the Govern
ment.
Objecting to a change In the
Craftsmanship of the Smaller War
Plants Corp, in which Col. Robert
w: johnson Of the Army Ordnance
Department succeeded Lou Hol-
land, Senator Truman said:
If that kind OF thing is going to
be permitted, we will gradually be
placing all functions in this country
under the military. contrary to the
principles Of the Constitution"
Subject to Army Orders.
Remarking that Col. johnson
may be a fine gentleman for all I
know" Senator Truman said he felt
that Mr.. johnson was a businessman
who was subject to orders from
the Service of Supply of the Army"
II do not object to businessmen
being retained in the Army and
Navy to handle procurement" Sen
ator Truman said, because we all
know that procurement is business
function and not military func-
ton at ALL and that only business
men can handle the job Of placing
orders and obtaining factory pro-
duction. But I do object to such
men parading in uniform. I believe
that uniforms should be reserved for
the purpose for which they were
adopted; namely. to distinguish the
combatants on the field of battle"
Senators Lucas, Democrat, Of Illi-
nois; Pepper, Democrat, Of Florida
and Stewart, Democrat, OF Tennes-
see also assailed WPB's attitude
toward the Smaller War Plants
Corp. Senator Stewart agreed with
Senator Barkley that 1t might be
well to divorce the corporation from
WPB, of which it is a subsidiary.
Senator Pepper said procurement
officials in the armed services took
the easy way by steering contracts
to large firms.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, observed that bigger companies
had representatives in Washington
and were better entertainers.