Evening star., 1944-01-27
|Baruch' S Leadership
Sought by House Uni
Ion Postwar Plans
BY the Associated Press,

Vii TV9IW0l lUIIS
By the Associated Press.
Bernard M. Baruch, 73-year-
old adviser to two wartime
Presidents, will be asked to head
the staff of the newly-created
House Economic Policy and
Planning Committee, set up yes
terday to help get the country
back on a peacetime basis when
the time comes.
Chairman Colmer announced he
would invite Mr.. Baruch to head the
committees staff, If not actively,
then in an advisory capacity"
II know Of no man better fitted
for the job," Mr.. Colmer said.
Was Adviser to Wilson.
Mr.. Baruch was head Of the Wal
Industries Board in the World War
advised President Wilson on eco
nomic policy, and now is head OF
President Roosevelt's advisory unit
on war and postwar policy.
Meanwhile, Congress was told to-
day by Gov. John w. Bricker, OF
Ohio, candidate for the Republican
nomination for the presidency, that
he believed the primary responsible
|ity for adjusting postwar economy
rests on private business, and ad-
vised minimum of governmental
interference. His views were ex-
pressed in letter-to Chairman Lam
ham Of the House Public Buildings
and Grounds Committee, which also
is studying postwar problems. Gov.
Bricker had been invited to appear
before the committee.
The new House committee will
take over many of the activities en-
visaged for Mr.. Roosevelt's National
Resources and Planning Board
which was abolished by Congress
last year.
Mr.. Colmer told the House that
a paramount aim would be to bring
about cessation OF wartime regi-
mentation Of the people" and to
guarantee "the continuation of free
enterprise.
18 on Committee.
Serving with Mr.. Colmer are nine
other Democrats and eight Republi-
cans, as follows:
Democrats-Representatives Coop
er, Tennessee; Thomason, Texas:
Walter, Pennsylvania; Zimmerman
Missouri; Voorhis, California; Muir
dock, Arizona; Lynch, New York;
OBrien, Illinois, and Fogarty, Rhode
Island.
Republicans - r Repre entatives
Fish, New York; Clifford, Massachu-
setts; Reece, Tennessee; Welch,
California; Wolverton, New Jersey;
Hope, Kansas; Wolcott, Michigan,
and Dewey, Illinois.
The committee, Mr.. Colmer said,
will study and make recommends
tions on such factors as equitable
termination of war contracts, dis
position Of surplus war commodities
and Government-owned plants, de-
velopment of new markets, both
foreign and domestic; demobiliza-
ton and unemployment Of former
soldiers and war workers.
Gen. Bricker wrote, II believe that
the most effective way of building
confidence and providing high en-
ployment is through a free and
constantly expanding agricultural
and industrial system. This sdoes
not mean that Government Will
cease to protect the public interest
Regulation will be necessary to pre-
vent abuses. That is one of the
purposes Of government =.
Government Must Take Part.
while the primary responsibility
Of providing jobs should rest with
private industry, Government must
also supplement the job-creatine
efforts Of private enterprise through
worthwhile public works wherever
necessary. I believe that it Is the
duty Of State and local government
as well as the National Government
to build up reserves for postwar
needs"
Gen. Bricker said Ohio has a sur.
plus Of $74,000,000 in its treasury
Of which $24,000, 900 has been sci
aside for postwar construction o1
buildings for welfare and educa-
tional purposes.
Generally speaking" he said
"the States will be in better posi-
tion to carry the burden of postwar
public works than the Federal Gov
ernment."
Douglas Whitlock, president Of
the Producers Council, a national
organization Of manufacturers OF
building materials and equipment
presented his organizations post
war program to Mr.. Lanham's COM
mittee. Il urged discontinuance OF
"the use of Federal funds for the
erection Of new housing"