Evening star., 1944-08-23
Demands in Senate
For Disposal Board
Stir Congress Battle
BY the Associated Press.

Stir Congress Battle
BY the Associated Press.
Strong demands in the Senate
that a policy board direct the
disposal of upward Of $10O, ,O0O,-
100000 in surplus war goods col
lided head-on today with House
tnsistence on one-man control.
On the heels of House passage
late yesterday Of its long debated
disposal bill setting up single ad-
ministrator, the Senate Military
Affairs Committee recommended
that Congress adopt instead drasti-
cally revised machinery built around
a board Of eight members represent
ing various geographical areas and
economic interests.
The Senate arranged to start de-
bate today on its own bill. Indica-
tions were the conflict might lead
to a prolonged dispute rivaling the
still-unsettled controversy over State
vs.. Federal control over unemploy-
ment benefits to war workers.
In the background of the fight
was Will L. Clayton, Houston CTex)
cotton exporter, temporary War
Property administrator by ap-
pointment of President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Clayton is backing the House
bill and has been considered in line
for appointment as permanent ad-
ministrator should the one-man
plan be adopted.
Would Abolish Clayton Post.
Mr.. Clayton's post would be abol-
ished by the Senate bill. Some
members of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee have been criti-
cal of his policies.
While the House bill would leave
Mr.. Clayton free to delegate prop
erty disposal to Government agen-
cies of his choosing, the Senate bill
would place surplus lands disposal
under the joint control of the In
terror and Agriculture Departments.
1t would make War Food Admini-
strator Marvin Jones the final ar
bitter of policies governing disposal
Of surplus foodstuffs and cotton and
woolen goods.
Otherwise the board, appointed by
the President subject to Senate
confirmation, would have full con-
troll over disposal policies, with four
members of Congress-two from
each House-sitting in on its meet
ings as observers.
Senator O'Mahoney. Democrat OF
Wyoming. said the Senate commit
tee felt that surplus property dis
posal involved sucn complex prob
lens that "the authority was too
much to place in one man
The committee felt" said Sena-
tor OMahoney. that all sections
and economic interests in the coun-
try should have voice in the
policy-making.'
Committee Vote Unrecorded.
He said the bill came out of the
committee without a record vote.
The House remained adamant,
however. in refusing to accept the
board theory. 1t first voted down
last week an amendment which
would have substituted a board for
the single administrator. Again
yesterday it squelched such an
amendment, l42 to 38, and then
ment on to pass the completed bill
by voice vote.
Senate leaders hoped to pass a
surplus property bill by the end of
this week, after which Senate and
House conferees must work out diff
ferences.
Meanwhile. the dispute over the
unemployment compensation phase
of reconversion developed a new
complication. The House Ways and
Means Committee voted to scrap a
section of the Senate approved
George bill providing for retraining
and unemployment of war workers,
with the Government to pay up to
5000 to transport stranded" workers
back to their homes or to new Jobs.
Representative Mills, Democrat, of
Arkansas then laid before the COM
mittee another amendment which
would eliminate the George bill pro-
vision making an estimated $500 900
Federal employees eligible for unem-
ployment compensation payments at
Federal expense. A committee vote
on that amendment was scheduled
for today.
Veteran Preference Voted.
Policies set down in the House.
approved legislation require the sur
plus property agency to give public,
governmental, educational and
charitable institutions an oppor-
tunity to obtain surplus war prop
erty. give returning veterans a
chance to establish themselves as
businessmen by purchasing some of
the equipment, and allow property
owners priority to reacquire what
the Government conscripted or OBJ
tanned by condemnation from them
Amendments require congressional
approval before the Government
may dispose of any synthetic rubber
or aluminium plant or any of the
big oil pipe lines; require approval
of an advisory board before any
plant costing more than 100000
to build may be sold. and grant
small business a priority to obtain
surplus property in small lots.
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