Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23

OF the war in increasing the amount Of
contracts held by small plants from 8
to Is per cent in the case of Navy pro-
curement and from IL to "a per cent in
the case of the Army. It is stressed.
however, that these benefits consisted of
larger ALLEGATIONS of orders to existing
small businesses rather than an increase
In the number of small business enter
prises, and in any case the improvement
came only near the close of the war.
Maverick has pointed out repeatedly
the little-realized fact that the SWPC
as Government agency represents
about IS per cent of business and plants
by number and 40 per cent or more of
the manufacturers in volume 1T is
obvious that for the welfare of the
country and for the free enterprise sys-
tenn, all these little businesses should be
encouraged, and not be allowed to fall
by the wayside in any hysteria and rush,
where the big people will get the seats
with the little people left to stand and
wait" he has warned.
100 Corporations Handle Bulk.
crat of Wyoming, who has served as
chairman Of the Temporary National
Economic Committee, sounded repeat
ed warnings during the early part of the
war that wartime requirements were
leading to a further concentration of
business in the Nation. Between June,
1910, and March, 1913, more than ITO per
cent Of the value of all Government
contracts had gone to 100 corporations,
he said, and during the first year of
active war production these corporations
had received more than So per cent in
value of all Government contracts.
The Small Business Committee of the
Senate on July IA, 1914. reported that
the chief factors leading to a decline
in the activities of small business dur
ing the war were (a) a drastic shift in
markets from individual to Federal pur-
chases, (b) need for rapid conversion of
plants to war production, &c, curtail-
ment and regulation of supplies, Cd
manpower shortages, (e) need for cap
ital to finance conversion and to cover
expanded operational needs, % in
volved detail work incident to Federal
controls over manufacturing and distri-
button.
The Smaller War Plants Corp was
set up under a. act approved on June
IL, 1912, to lend funds to small plants, to
acquire facilities for them, and gener-
ally to assist them in overcoming the
difficulties of wartime operation. 1t
recently recommended to Congress a
major three-point program to bring
about the regeneration of small BUSH
ness in the postwar reconversion era:
Cd Resumption by the the Government
of a strong antitrust policy to prevent
giant corporations from gobbling up
small business, ca the granting of pri-
GRITTY purchase rights to medium sized
and small business of publicly-owned
war plants under direction of the Sur
Plus property Board, CD strengthening
the ability of small business to COM
pete by making available financial as
sistance at reasonable interest rates
and by providing Government technical
assistance.
Seek to Guard Little Fellow.
The latter two proposals have been
incorporated, partially in measures en-
acted to aid small business during re-
conversion. The Surplus Property Act,
signed October 3, 1914, gives the At
torney General authority to halt the
sale of any Government owned produc-
ton facilities if necessary to prevent
perpetuation of monopolies. The Re-
conversion Act, adopted year ago, as
sures small business participation in
production of restricted items during
reconversion. and projects an equitable
ALLEGATION of civilian items on a quota
production basis. Finally, provision
of the CT Bill of Rights, enacted June
(See BUSINESS, Page C-9)