Evening star., 1944-06-19

q
since the report *
was made, Con- ~
gress seems
about to recess A Rs1lk
without doing Frank 4. Kent.
anything at all. And, except by
proxy, the President hasn't done
anything either.
It does seem that this is a state
Of affairs about which somebody
ought to get pretty mad. 1t was ir
the fall OF l943 that the President
asked Mr.. Baruch to study the
problem of postwar conversion anc
make recommendations. The vita
importance of this study to the
Nation as whole was generally
recognized.
It was clear to even the moSt
casual thinker that, unless some
means were devised to cushion the
termination of war contracts, pre-
pare an orderly method of con-
version and tide over the inevitable
unemployment period following the
early demobilization. a degree OF
economic chaos such as had not
been seen before in this country
would almost surely ensue
Mr.. Baruch, with his associate
Mr.. John M. Hancock, went prompt
ly to work. After several months
of sweating they produced a report
the soundness and clarity of which
was generally recognized through
out the country. Republicans as
well as Democrats commended it,
Except for the early suggestion
that the report "by-passed Con-
gress" no concrete fault was found
in it-and that suggestion very
quickly was dropped because it
turned out to be wholly unfound-
ed
Here 1t was conceded, was a plan
which If adopted would avert ca
lamitous confusion and render i'm
possible repetition on a very great
scale OF the extremely painful thing
that happened following the de-
mobilization of the last war.
There was general breath of re-
lief throughout the Nation that a
way had been found to avoid the
economic dangers which so clearly
loomed ahead. Literally, no one, in
Congress or out, has raised any real
objection to the Baruch- Hancock
proposals. Nor has any one disputed
their necessity. Yet they have been
allowed futilely to dangle since Feb
ruary, when they were put in the
hands of the President and sent to
Congress.
It is true that, largely through the
efforts Of Senator George, head of
the Special Committee on Post
war Employment. the Senate has
passed bill which would make
operative some of the Baruch- Han
cock recommendations. But this
is far from adequate action and the
House has not acted at all.
On May 12-more than a month
ago-Mr. Baruch and Mr.. Hancock
wrote letter to Mr.. James F.
Byrnes pointing out the situation,
stressing the danger and urging
action. They repeated their recon-
mendations and detailed again the
legislation needed and said, For
the good of all of us, but mostly for
the sake of our soldiers and sailors.
let us hurry, hurry, hurry, not only
in winning the war but in being
ready for the peace. Delays jeop-
ardize both these objectives."
On June IL Mr.. Byrnes went
before Senate committee and
strongly urged action. Senator
Georges committee simultaneously
submitted 16 legislative obligations
along the Baruch lines, accompany
lng them with the statement that If
Congress discharged its obligations
I'VE can well have what Mr.. Baruch
called an adventure in prosperity
but If Congress failed. then I'VE can
have economic chaos"
Delay Called Inexcusable.
That is the record. It is one of
inexcusable and perilous delay
Some blame Congress, which to
some extent has been affected by
the querulous attitude of organ
lied labor, though why organized
labor should oppose is hard to
understand. One would think it
above all others, would want action
Some blame the President, who
strangely, has never put his weight
behind the report, never sent mes
sage about it to Congress, never
shown any interest in it, actually
never has done anything to help
Mr.. Byrnes has helped, but not Mr.
Roosevelt. When it is considered
that it was made at his request, the
Presidents inertia is very hard to
explain.
Others think some blame is at
tached TO the War Production
Board, which delayed long in set
ting up the machinery proposed in
the report.
But, whoever is to blame and
whatever the reasons, the fact is
that in four months the simple
steps to put this vital plan into
effect have not been taken. More
over, the prospect is that they will
not be taken before Congress re-
cesses, which means that they can
not be gotten through much before
November.
In brief, II, as is hoped, the wal
with Germany is over by Novem.
ber, this country will be utterly un-
prepared for peace. Great Britain
is prepared, and so is Russia, but
not the United States. Our leaders
in White House as well as Congress
are letting us down and very great
deal of easily averted trouble seems
sure to come
Two years ago, when he came
down here, Mr.. Baruch resolved
not to let anything any one said Of
did to him make him get mad
Plenty was said and done, but HI
didn't get mad. He knew he hac
real things to contribute to thu
winning of the war, and no one viii
say that he hasn't made his con.