Evening star., 1943-09-10

tndt our own leaSe-lenQ supplies Will
materially help to produce the mu-
nitions of Britain and Russia. A
large proportion of our present Army
now is in the United States If it is
ever to be utilized, we will have the
almost incalculable burden of trans
porting it many thousands Of miles
to hundreds of different bases and
there maintaining and supplying it.
Because of the foregoing facts, I
doubt the ability of the American
people to incl ease its armed forces
beyond their present strength with
out a corresponding breakdown in
production
Representative May spoke after
Charles E. Wilson, War Production
Board vice chairman, told the sub
committee that WPB is urging West
Coast industries to try incentive
wage plans as one means of raising
the output of existing workers.
He also testified that from
now on efforts will be made to
hold down on changes in design of
implements of war, which the air
craft companies have cited as one
factor slowing down output.
Generally, he said, the changes in
design complained of have been the
result of battle experience and de-
sirable in the main Nevertheless,
he indicated further changes would
be held down.
1--WE are continuing to urge on
coast industry the use of production
incentive wage plans of one kind
or another" Mr.. Wilson continued.
Cites Big Turnover.
He was called to outline a new
plan that has been worked out to
set up five area committees on the
West Coast to determine the pri-
ority of different types of jobs in
which more men are needed.
Citing the difficulty of holding
workers on their present jobs, the
witness said there is an outrage
ously high rate" of turnover on the
West Coast In the shipyards it is
worse than 10 per cent month"; and
in aircraft more than per cent.
Il can't conceive of anything more
wasteful than 100 per cent turnover
year." said Mr.. Wilson. They are
not going out of war production, but
jumping from one place to another"
Senator Downey agreed that is
wasteful, but attributed it to poor
housing and lack of other COM
munity facilities.
Col. Keesling had recommended to
the Military Affairs Subcommittee
late yesterday that the Wheeler
bill, to postpone the father draft
order until January, be taken from
the Senate calendar and sent back
to committee for further hearings.
Downey for Further Hearings.
Senator Downey. subcommittee
chairman, Is still unconvinced of
the need for drafting fathers, but
favors further hearings to give the
military leaders chance to present
their arguments.
Il am of the opinion the present
number in the armed services is suf-
flcient," Senator Downey said, after
Col. Keesling had testified. I'VE
have several million men in the
United States who have been trained
for l8 months or two years."
His comment came at the end Of
day in which the urgent need for
more workers in shipyards, aircraft
factories and foundries on the West
Coast was pictured by Harry T.
Kranz, regional director for the
Civil Service Commission in San
Francisco, and Don H. Roney Of the
War Manpower Commission regional
Office on the West Coast.
The high light of the day, how
ever was the strong stand taken by
Col. Keesling against the Wheeler
bill when he declared:
Il am convinced, after giving this
matter most careful thought, that
before the Wheeler bill is debated
on the floor OF the Senate the
members of the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs should receive
and consider full and complete in
formation, which has not yet been
presented, from the War Depart
ment, Navy Department and high
command concerning the necessity
| of having an armed force of the
planned size in order to carry out
strategic war plans, together with
information from the respective
services as to what they are now
doing and contemplate doing with
respect to maximum utilization of
nongeneral service personnel, wheth-
er it consists of limited service, over
age or women
Cites Grave Responsibility"
This testimony comes within a
few days of the reconvening of Con-
gress next Tuesday, when Senator