The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-20
The Cost Factor
ny ARTHUR KROCK

Army and the Navy, since he is Commander
in Chief of both services. This is, Of course
expected to bring to an end the dispute over
unification between the War and the Navy
departments which has been voiced more and
more acrimoniously before Congressional
committees and the public by the civilian ad-
rninistration and high uniformed officers of
the two departments.
One, or perhaps two, Of the contending
groups (for the Army Air Force, which sup
ports complete unificstion under one Cabinet
chief, has become a unit separate from the
Army ground forces) will be disappointed in
the Presidents plan. Therefore, the basic
disagreement, while it will be driven under
ground by Mr.. Truman's decision, will con-
tinue. and ways will be found to pursue it un-
til Congress has acted favorably or adversely
on the Presidents proposal. But the open
quarrel in the executive brsnch-with gen.
erals invariably for and adnirals invariably
against the War departments thesis-win hap
PLY be stilled.
It is true that the President could tell the
civilian and uniformed spokesman Of the de-
partments to repeat the views they have ex-
pressed, if they think the national interest
will be served thereby, until Congress has dis
posed of the issue. He very much dislikes
anything resembling muzzle, and some of
the principals III tle controversy are men OF
great consequence who have served their coun-
try notably and feel intensely on the subject
But Mr.. Truman is their Commander in Chief
and, unless he specifically exempts them, they
will take his official views as their own.
The President served as an artillery officer
in the first World War Of this century, and
thus he has some practical knowledge Of the
problem. As a Senator, as chairman of a
Special Committee that checked the war pro-
gram, and then as President he has given
much time and thought to study of its solu-
tion His finding, therefore, will have unusual
weight with Congress, and it should be espe-
cially impressed with the reasons Mr.. Truman
gives for whatever plan he may recommend.
But one point that has been elaborated by
General Somerveu and Rear Admiral de Florez
will certainly be examined by Congress with
critical closeness despite anything the Pres
ident may conclude about the general ques-
ton
This point is whether, in the words of Rear
Admiral de Florez, adequate defense in the
future,' which will stern from originality in
research and engineering" and "csn be pur-
chased only through the maintenance Of COM
petition, the fostering Of honest differences of
opinion and the pursuit Of separate lines of
attack to military problems" can be best
assured by two or three military departments
OF equal rank, or one. His answer is 1.-TWO or
three, and he added: This procedure may
seem expensive, but the, need for security is
our greatest need and we must be willing to
pay for the real thing .-.t,
General Somervell who testified today, will
not dispute the thesis that competition win
stimulate Originality in research and en-
gineering," or that this is essential But his
position is that the departmental merger pro.
posed by the Army will not prevent the com.
petitions while, at the same time, 1t will elimi-
nate the examples of waste in procurement
during the late war that ne described to the
committee. The Nays argument is that
waste OF this kind can and will be prevented
by its plan to unity without merger, but that,
even II some occurs, the cost will be insiq.
nificant when compared with the loss which
Will be Incurred by the deadening effect of a
departmental merger on the activities dis
cussed by Read Admiral de Florez.
This is one of the real cores Of the contro.
versy which the President will lay before
Congress for solution, and On the fundamental
point neither General SomerveH nor Rear Ad-
miral de Florez has been impressed bv the
other. But since it is of vast importance to
the security of the United States hereafter.
Congress must weigh this issue very care
1ully before making its decision unless the
PRESIDENT mas found way Of accomplishing
potn oDJectlveS in his plan for unifcation
General Somervell, who was the Army's
Chief of Supply, estimated that at least Is
per cent of the war costs would have been
saved II Army-Navy CONSTRUCTION REQUIRE
ments had been combined, and that this can
De achleved only by setting them up in single
department. He gave numerous examples of
.duphcations overlappings and conflicts on
Items ranging from sea-going tugs and tow.
ooats to towels, lumber, labor, medical SER
vice and 'herringbone twill"
Against this Read Admiral de Florez told
the committee that Standardization works
commercially for articles susceptible to mass
proouctlon, but not to develop tools of war
Tor the world of tomorrow which can be pro.
ouced only by independence of thought bud.
get ana action; and the Navy is technical
ana the Army manpower organization. and
neltner can do its job effectively "without
the right to present its basic concepts direct
10 the highest level and its budget to the
judgment of Congress- The examples h,
gave were OF developments in science and
ehglneerlng.-New York Times.
Editorial Cor,n,o.4