Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-11

schools and in industry must be
adapted, and retained for the pur-
pose OF preparing men to assume
Jobs in industry after they are re-
leased from the Army or NAVY.
We shall not be content this time
to give each man $50 In cash and
ticket home
Every reasonable provision will
have to be made to insure that these
young men shall be enabled to take
up their places in civilian life with
only the inevitable loss of time
which their service will entail. Also,
protection OF the insurance rights
OF service men. under our social
insurance systems, not only for those
who left covered occupations to en-
ter service. but for those who enter
covered occupations after the war,
must be guaranteed In all these
problems We have the benefit of
Canadian and English experience,
Where many such provisions are al
ready written into law. In addition
TO such provisions for the appro-
/ pirate groups of men. it is possible
that the idea of a dismissal wage or
/ allowance. proposed in relation to
those employed in industry, is also
applicable to demobilized men from
the armed forces.
Many Would Be Affected.
what Of the other. even larger.
/ problem of the rehabilitation of our
clVlllan employees in our war indus
tries? 1t is arguable that it would
be less Wasteful to continue some
war production beyond absolute
military necessity rather than to
halt 1t all precipitately at the same
time. Not alone would the imme-
! dlate worker in war industries
! thrown out of work be affected bv
nasty industrial rehabilitation but
transportation workers and the sup
pliers of raw materials for war pro-
auction would also be affected. It
Is possible that some whole indus
trles created to meet the Nations
need will appropriately be the Ma
tlon S charge as they retool and con-
vert Tor peacetime pursuits.
A dismissal wage, possible to be
paid In installments, over a period
of time, may seem a wise national
safeguard. Nationwide extension
and liberalization of our unemplov-
ment compensation system might
accomplish the purpose without the
introduction of new machinery. Use
OF the projects for public works,
which are described later in this re-
port, to fill in any gaps in employ
ment opportunity and to make wider
ana more efficient use of national re-
sources, may be appropriate in the
period of Adjustment
Plans for rehabilitation must take
precedence over longer-range objec-
tlVes because the ability to meet the
immediate postwar situation wisely
Will determine whether we shall
have the opportunity to pursue an
orderly progress toward our long
range goal.
Studies now under way by this
board and by various Government
agencies will provide much of the
factual material needed for D-dav
plans.
b. Rehabilitation of War Plants,
Machines and War Contracts.
Among the various policies for
terminating and converting war
plants to peacetime use, the follow
ing are recommended for considera-
ton:
l. Arrange for the orderly con-
version to civilian use of unneeded
war production facilities, through:
tA) Procedures to dispose of Gov
ernment-owned plants TO private
operators willing and able to pro-
coed with conversion of plants to
peacetime use and to early opera
ton.
tB) Prevention of monopoly con-
trol Of plants in the interest of a
single group or industry. Large
Government-fnanced war produc-
ton plants. especially those produc-
Ing basic metals and materials.
should be distributed among num-
erous operators to encourage health
full business competition.
Co Planning for a more desirable
regional distribution of manufac-
turing from the standpoint of ma
tlonal defense and local diversified
ton, by retaining in operation selec-
ted plants, financed in new industrial
areas during the war by the defense
plant corporation or directly by
Government allowance of rapid de-
probation.
Cd Technical assistance to pri-
Vate operators of war plants to find
the most appropriate peacetime use
for their buildings, equipment and
labor skills in making products
which could be economically dis
trlbuted from the community in
which the plant is located. Gov
eminent should help plan the forms
Of industry conversion by supplying
the probable patterns of consumer
demands and the related pattern of
demands for durable producer goods.
Government Project Orders.
tE) Placing of Government orders
for new major development projects,
especially in the fields of urban re-
construction. river basin develop
/ AhASAil' q 81 iSbit4lC ana
modernization of transportation, by
Government agencies, the Recon-
struction Finance Corp. or the modi-
fed form of Federal Development
/ Corp. suggested below. CThe pro-
cedure would stimulate activity in
such basic industries as steel and
light metals, other construction ma
terials, machinery and machine
tools, as we'll as in the construction
industry itself
'F9 Provision for plant rehab bill
tatlon grants TO be used for CONVEX
SION OF plant to peacetlme produc-
ton, and with grant contingent on
actual conversion TO production OF
peacetlme goods within a specified
/ period. This procedure might be
/ appropriate for industries with
which Government agencies would
not be likely to place orders under
e. above, but where dislocation
OF whole communities and con-
sequent losses Of public and private
+ investment might be avoided by
. 0lick conversion