Evening star., 1944-02-20
baruch' 5 Plan
Hit as Usurping
Congress Rights
Rocky Rood Forecast
For Chonge-Over
Blueprint
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,

A sharp division of opinion In
Congress yesterday foreshad-
owed rough days ahead for the
Baruch blueprint" for recon-
version OF the Nation to peace
time pursuits, with two leading
Senators contending the plan
placed too much power over the
economic future of the country
IN the hands of the executive
department.
Chairman George of the Senate
Postwar Committee expressed the
sharpest criticism of the report, say
ing 1t was irreconcilable with the
plan of his committee on the basic
issue OF whether Congress or the
Executive should set policies for the
Nations change-over to peace.
That point of view was backed up
by Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
OF Michigan, also member of the
postwar committee, who said the
committee is not willing to leave
such decisions to executive lieu
tenants" but will insist on estab-
llshment of an overall authority
accountable to Congress for its ac-f
tions
Two Methods Compared.
The Baruch report would do the
whole job by executive order under
Justice Byrnes," Senator George
said. The Senate Postwar Commit
tee would do the job through an
agency created by Congress which
would be accountable to the Execu-
tive but would be required by Con-
gress to carry out the broad gen.
eral policies laid down by it."
The Georgian said the two reports
outline the question as to whether
the country's economic destiny
should be settled by executive direc-
tive or through policies established
by the elected representatives OF
the people" He added the two
points of view can never be recon-
ciled' The issue will be thrown
into Congress this week when Sena-
tor George introduces bill to carry
out his committees demobilization
plan.
Most of the other members OF
Congress asked about the Baruch
plan expressed general approval of
its proposals.
War Production Board officials,
meanwhile, interpreted the lengthy
report as giving a clear road" to
Chairman Donald NJ. Nelson to con-
tinue with his reconversion plans.
They had awaited the report with
uneasiness because of past differ
ences between Mr.. Baruch and Mr..
Nelson. Although the chairman
withheld comment pending further
study of the blueprint" other Off
cials expressed satisfaction with its
terms.
Important Job for WPB.
1t was recalled that WPB was
given an important job by Mr.. Ba-
ruch in almost every phase of his
planning for peace and that the
report subscribed TO the opinion that
the agencies that modified the Ma
ton for war should handle the de-
mobiliZing.
Although Mr.. Baruch picked WPB
for a major role in reconversion,
there were some who felt he would
still like to see the top job in the
agency handled by Executive Vice
Chairman Charles E. Wilson rather
than Mr.. Nelson. During news
conference Friday, Mr.. Baruch said
he did not want to deal in PERSONAL
tiles. but he would be glad to select
the men for the top postwar spots
if he were so requested
Senator George said newspaper
accounts of the Baruch report in
dicated it followed rather closely
the Senate proposals other than on
the basic issue of whether Congress
or the executive should establish
policies.
Senator Murray, Democrat, Of
Montana indorsed the report and
warned the Nation will be unpre-
pared for the impact of curtailed
war production unless Congress
enacts broad demobilization legis-
lation by June. The Senator, who
is chairman of the Senate Small
Business Committee and a Military
Affairs subcommittee on contract
termination, said even if victory
over Germany does not occur until
l945. it is imperative the legisla-
ton be enacted by June
Baruch Meets With Committee.
While I am not prepared to
indorse all of the details in the
Baruch proposals. he continued. sit
is essential that Congress give
green light to rehabilitation legis-
lation"
Mr.. Baruch spent more than an
hour yesterday in executive session
with the House Postwar Plannirk
Committee. headed by Representa-
tive Colmer, Democrat, of Missis-'
sippi. The committee had asked
his advice
Mr. Colmer said the financier was
questioned generally on postwar
problems. but his reconversion report
was not discussed because members
of the committee had not had time
tSee BARIJCH Page A-12D