Evening star., 1943-08-07

hombers which
are so much y 9s
needed on every David Lawrence.
battle front are of in production by
percentages that are truly appalling
The exact figures have not beer
revealed, in fact it is doubtful
whether Washington yet knows the
full story of what has happened In
the last 80 days on the production
front, but the most conservative
estimate in certain aircraft units
puts the figure of decline at SO pei
cent and the most extreme estimate
puts it as high as IS per cent.
This means that in the last sc
days we have produced in a certain
sector of our production front only
half as many units as we did in
each of prior months, and If the
extreme figure is correct then we
have produced only about one
sixth of each of previous months
this year.
Various Reasons Seen.
Why has this occurred? The sit
uation has been developing for the
last six weeks and various explana-
tions are advanced, among them
labor troubles, absenteeism, the
bungling of the Selective Service
System, which has either inducted
necessary workers or threatened to
take them; increased strain on man
agement due to renegotiation and
tax troubles, and last, but not least,
some recent suits filed by the JUS
tice Department alleging faulty
workmanship, which, it is said, has
in turn demoralized management
and workers and produced such a
tight inspection as to slow down
production.
How does it happen that this sit
uation was permitted to develop?
Has the airplane industry no cham
pion inside the Government who
can keep it free from these harass-
ments? Have prosecutions been in
stituted even though defects already
had been cured, and was such q
drastic policy necessary in the mid
die Of war, especially when the small
number OF defects have not been
proved to be out OF line with the
inspections hitherto accepted as
practical? ~.
The whole problem demands a
thorough inquiry and it is disap-
pointing that Charles e. Wilson,
who was brought to the WPB es-
pecially to step up airplane produc-
ton, has proved himself unable to
keep production up and instead
seems to have been confronted with
lower production than in previous
months Of this year.
Duties Increased.
It may be that Mr.. Wilson has
been given too much to do. 1t will
be recalled that when Donald Mel
son removed Ferdinand Eberstadt,
the duties of Mr.. Wilson were in
creased to the point where he sub
sequently became executive vice
chairman Of the whole WPB. Yet
his primary job was. to care for
airplane production, and here the
Nation at q critical time In the war
is confronted by what might really
be termed a major disaster.
These developments have come
about not without warning. Under
secretary Patterson of the War De-
partment said he was not satisfied
with the WPB setup when Mr..
Nelson removed Mr.. Eberstadt. 1t
was emphasized at the time that
the specialized job of caring for
aircraft production must not be
neglected.
The whole West Coast aircraft
situation now is being described as
in a pretty bad shape, comparative
ly speaking. The record production
Of previous months has suddenly
been cut down. One aircraft manu-
facturer pleaded for occupational
deferment for some $4,000 employees
Of various aircraft plants and the
Selective Service System has finally
been compelled on orders from the
President to pay some attention to
the oeferment demands of this all
important industry.
Mr.. Roosevelt has called in James
r. Byrnes, who in turn has dumped
the problem on B. M. Baruch, his
adviser, and the public may rest as
sured that an inquiry is already un-
der way. But can Congress stay in
recess while such breakdown on
the home front has developed 1t
would be a constructive step If
either the Republican or Demo-
cratic leadership promptly sum-
monsd Congress back to Washing
ton to revise existing laws and
practices that are interfering with
aircraft production and especially
the output Of Flying Fortresses and
heavy bombers.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)