The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-06
Observations
Navy Not Pleased
at Prospects Over
Single Command
BY Helen Essary

The Army's proposal for a merg-
or OF the armed forces into a single
organization under one cabinet Off
Ger hardly is calculated 10 cut down
the rivalry between the Army and
the Navy. The Navy, In fact. is
viewing the proposal with a highly
suspicious eye.
so IL looks as II a battle over the
proposal is in prospect in Con-
gress. with. stormy debate ahead.
Representative Carl Vinson Cd OF
Georgia, chairman of the House
Naval Affairs Committe, already is
on record as opposed>to the Army
merger plans, which call for setting.
up separate land, sea, and air forces
under central direction.
In effect. the Army then would
be split into two parts-the land
and air forces-and thus would
have two legs OF the national de-
tense tripod to the Nays one.
Navy men fear the Army would
dominate il. with the Navy losing
its individuality as a distinct organ
iZatiOn. coequal with the Army.
But the Army Is pushing the plan.
High-rankiug officers have piled
the House Committee on postwar
military policy which is holding
hearings on the matter. with leng-
thy and acknowledgement argu-
ments on the need for a unified
command under one department.
Indications are that the Admin
istration hopes 10 Jam through a
resolution continuing the Office OF
Price Administration and price con-
trolls without any weakening amend
ments after June 80. when the pres
ent act setting up OPA expires.
Although Administration officials
have talked vaguely about minor
changes they have not come for.
ward with any specific proposals.
Moreover. Administration support.
ers on congressional committees
have given clear evidence OF an in.
tention 10 resist amendments.
The argument is, that although
many Mistakes have been made
in control of prices and wages, the
a
law so much as the way operating
heads do their job. And. It is con-
tended, wrinkles have been
smoothed out by the trial and error
method.
Tremendous pressure Is being sp-
piled 10 OPA's Chief Chester
Bovles and Fred Yinson, economic
stahilizer. for a boost in milk prices
10 the producer. Bowles fatty says
mo price Increases Best bet-and
the only alternative II anything is
done az ail-is that dairy subsidy
payments will be boosted IN GER
tain critical areas in the northeast
10 compensate producers for in.
creased var production costs.
Insiders OF the War Production
Board are concerned lest an old
style, full-dress row develops be.
tween WPB Chairman Donald NJ.
Nelson and his,eXecutive vice chair
man, Charles f. Wilson, former
president Of General Electric. who
stayed on at WPB a few weeks ago
az the express request OF President
Roosevelt.
Relations between the two men
have cooled appreciably recently
and Nelson has received reports
that Bernard Baruch and Jimmy
Byrnes were after his scalp, both
repeatedly desiring Wilson 10 han.
die the forthcoming reconversion
assignment.
Nelson survived the storm, how
ever, but the incident did no good
10 aWPB harmony. Returning a few
days ago from a brief rest in Florl.
ia, Nelson was greatly disturbed
over several important orders that
had been issued in his absence az.
fecting civilian production.
One OF these, placing rigid cell
Ing over authorizations for civilian
manufacturing, was said to have
been issued by one OF Wilson's
aides. Subsequently. the latter or.
der was revoked, presumably at
Nelson's direction.