Evening star., 1944-02-19
Buruch
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lem dealt With-emphasized three
principles to guide officials through
the difficult readjustmcnt period:
Release to the public of complete
information on every phase of the
transitional operation: that the
Government should drop controls
over business and itself get out of
competition with business as soon
as possible. and a warning to be-
ware of pressure groups" defined
as groups organized for selfish in
terests."
On the subject of keeping the
public Informed of official actions.
the report states in the part dis
cussing property disposal: Sell as
IN goldfish bowl, with records al
ways open to public inspection. "
Again in discussing cutbacks in war
production and termination of con-
tracts, it was stressed the public
must be Informed of each move.
The goldfish bowl" policy for Off
clal Movement is recommended
throughout the report.
Time and again the report en-
phaslzes the Importance to the sue
cessful and healthy completion of
reconversion for avoidance of Gov
ernment competition in business
with private enterprise.
Civilians should be given what
ever materials are not needed in
the prosecution Of the war, the re-
port stated, and production Of the
things most needed by civilians
should be started wherever it will
not interfere with war production.
In addition to rehabilitation of
War personnel and disposal of sur
pluses, problems dealt with in the
report are
l. Settlement of terminated war
contracts; immediate 100 per cent
payment for all completed articles:
lO0 per cent on "factual" items of
uncompleted contracts such as labor
or materials; 60 per cent on others
though negotiation by contrac-
tors and procurement agencies.
Local banks would be authorized to
grant T (termination) loans, guar
anteed by the Government, to all
contractors and subcontractors, as
insurance against delays in settling
claims. Review powers of the Con-
troller General would be limited to
fraud with every administrative aid
Tor detecting fraud The Controller
General, Attorney General and
WPB should be added to the Joint
Contract Termination Board, now
composed solely of procurement
agency representatives.
2. General tightening of the en-
tire Government war machine for
both mobilization and demobiliza-
ton; cutting down agencies as their
work dWlndles: sweating out" un-
necessary requirements in war pro-
grams; review of raw materials pro-
duction to avoid output beyond
need; strengthening of WPB's in
dustry advisory committees.
3. Advance planning for * day.
(end of war with Germany through
cooperation between the armed
forces and WPB; estimate cancella-
tlons in advance; tentative selection
OF industries and plants to be freed
Tor peacetime work; all competitors
to be treated alike in the resump-
ton OF civilian production.
4. Prompt extension of price con-
troll laws, WPB powers and reouisi-
tioning and other war powers of the
President.
5. Army and Navy to inform WPB
OF possible cancellations or cutbacks
as soon as possible.
6. Early cancellations for small
business where it can be recon-
verted; special credit to aid small
business in the changeover; relaxa-
ton OF nuisance" type production
controls first; disposal of surpluses
in small lots to enable small as well
as large business to participate.
7. Drafting of postwar tax law
now to be laid on the shelf for use
at the end Of hostilities; the law to
provide for reduction of the ma
tional debt, but to make known in
advance reduced tax rates to en-
courage new enterprises.
8. Early planning of a public
works program to be used if needed
Peace Planning Defended.
Although it did not discount the
size of the war job still before the
Nation, the report took sharp issue
with current military thinking that
postwar planning or talk now will
cause people to become complacent
divert them from the task ahead
1t stated: THE American people
will face the facts courageously II
the Government deals frankly with
them"
After outlining some of the tough
est reconversion and rehabilitation
in their letter of transmittal to Mr..
Byrnes, the authors give this op-
timistic note:
There is no need for postwar
depression. Handled with compe-
tence, our adjustment, after the
war Is won, should be an adventure
in prosperity. Our soldiers will not be
let down. They are our chief con-
Germ. No pressure groups of SELF
seekers will take our thoughts from
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