The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-11-02
An Atomic Dictatorship

The ayJ bill for the control of the atomic bomb
research clearly demands much careful
sderaon than has yet received from the public from con-
gress from the president.
In an article elsewhere this page Mr. Stephen White
staff of this remarks that is not difficult
to imagine the Atomic Energy Commission which the bill
would create becoming ultimately powerful than the
government that brought into being This is
ton The nine members of the commission would be appointed
and would be rremovabe except by the
president by him only for inability neglect maeasance
for of national interest Nearly all the of
the would actually be discharged by peculiar
official called the administrator who would be removable
only by the commission and thus largely beyond any control
whatever.
To this agency administrator the bill gives
sweeping grant than known history They
given plenary supervision and control all
energy and all matters concerned with research
in the subject Their expenditures cannot be dallowed by
the General Accounting Office they may hire and fire with
out regard service laws make modify contracts
without regard to the law contract With approval
president thew may utilize direct the services officers
any agencies They need publish their
regulations if they consider publication Inconsistent with
curty virtually unlimited of condemnation
only horum and uranium but min
erals real property mines facilities, technical
information and patents patent rights the acquisition
of which they may deem essential to performance of their
functions under the act.
They have power conduct nuclear research we'll
license conducted by others This that they could
mprson entire effort in this field within the bounds of
rigid monopoly lacking adequate responsibility
They could fire employee who objected to the way was
being conducted they could fine of 100000 ten
years Imprisonment for who spoke out of turn hat
who violated their security regulaons) against the
which they dschargng their duties and would
consequence possess unparalleled power of censorship
general public discussion of their stewardship this mat
ter which of such absolutely vital to
our future only in war but in peace.
the background out of which this remarkable bill
has President Truman said that he would
control of atomic power
turay expected congressional debate and thought the sub
ject Actually the MayJ ohnson bill prepared in the
department. introduced the day of the presidents Oc
tober message received ve-hour hearing before the
house military affairs committee. AS result of protest it
received other hearing largely devoted to at
tempts suppress criticism and railroad the through
as quickly as At least the scientific prom
nenty with the atom project impressed by the great
dangers unreguated activity in the field have supported
bill number of Others impressed by the creative
possibilities research and the dangers the
partmens obscurants military approach to the whole matter
oppose vigorously They having great difficulty in max
ing themselves heard through the barriers censorship
security already imposed by the military method.
is of far too great Importance every respect
to be decided by the department in bill hastily struggled
through congress without opportunity for public discussion
On the necessity for control of this sweeping
revolutionary character with its omnous implications for
foreign policy and its threat to attempt the impossible
astrous aim putting scientific knowledge
military security there is certainly agreement 1t is
imperative that the Macpherson bill be subjected