Evening star., 1943-01-11
'Haphazard' Handling
0fManpowerC Charged
By ToIan Committee
U. S. Forces and Allies
Suffer Lack Of Supplies,
Report DeeIores
By the Associated Press.

Charges Of general malad-
ministration" of the war produc-
ton program, "haphazard" han
ding OF manpower and failure
to use small industry in the war
effort were laid before Congress
today by the special House Com
mittee on National Defense Mi
grafton.
Unless this country enjoys an
unusual measure of good sense
good management and good luck,
both the period Of war Immediately
ahead and the period of peace to
follow will be marked by many
difncult and trying days" the COM
mittee said in its final report.
Declaring that I'VE cannot afford
the luxury of self-congratulation"
on 1928 production levels, the COM
mittee said:
mot only have our allies suffered
severely for lack of lease-lend sup
plies we have been unable to de-
liver, but even the equipment of
our own forces is very uneven"
Economic Authority Urged.
The committee, which began its
work two and one-half years ago
with a study of the problems Of
wandering workers -" "Okies" and
turned later to those which de-
veloped with wars demands on
manpower. recommended:
l. Creation of an Once of War
Mobilization-as 1t did in a pre-
vious report-to serve as an econom-
ic high command for the co-ordi-
nation Of production resources.
2. Complete reorganization Of the
| national employment service, with
greatly increased appropriations,
under framework designed to
supply the manpower needs of both
industry and agriculture.
3. Federal regulation of employ
ment agencies and labor contrac-
tors" to prevent abuses of migrant
workers against the possibility that
there will be 1000, 900 persons mov-
ing from State to State In search
Of work after the war.
4. Revision Of social security to
provide general public assistance,
along with enactment of uniform
settlement laws to remove barriers
between the States.
Manpower Haphazard.
Notwithstanding the Presidents S
praise of the progress In war pro-
duction only last week, the COM
mittee, headed by Representative
Tolan, Democrat, of California,
bluntly asserted that the 1912
achievements reflected "the product
Of Americas unorganized might" :"
but was "far short OF our organized
productive capacity, to say nothing
Of the stated goals"
The haphazard character of our
mobilization of American produc-
ton is reflected especially in the field
of manpower," the report said.
Much Of this is traceable, as is the
confusion within production gener-
ally, to the divided counsels and
authority which this committee has
repeatedly criticized as well as the
absence of an inventory Of our man
power"
The committee maintained that
public qualification over President
Roosevelt's action in giving Paul
McNutt control over an expanded
Manpower Commission had 'ebbed"
because Of "loss of headway In re-
organizing the handling Of man
power throughout the country"
Drift 70 Cempulsion.
Meanwhile, it maintained that
demands for national service legis-
lation were based on "false prem
ises," and said that "compulsion
- permits the use OF = big stick
by those incompetent to gain volun-
tary support for = program which
commands respect and confidence"
The drift in the direction Of
compulsion," the report said, lis
an accompaniment Of the drift IN
the direction Of control over our
war effort by 4 limited number Of
large corporations, many Of which