The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-10-14
Drastic May Bill
nv ARTHUR KROCK

May, grants peacetime powers TO Government
officials and imposes restrictions on private
scientific research and manufacture beyond
any provided in the legislative history Of this
country, even when limited to the period Of
war Thus, the first effects. Of the creation
of the atomic bomb by citizens of democracy
are to establish new checks on that democ-
racy.
This analysis is not offered as criticism.
Never before has mankind been faced with
such terrifying facts and portents as those
evoked by the atomic bomb. To safeguard its
use and scientific expansion is as the May
bill relates in Section I, necessary to lad
vance the national welfare, secure the nation
al defense, insure the national safety and pro-
mote world peace to an extent and by means
which cannot now be measurd.' And, con-
versely, as the bill also sets forth, "the mis-
use of such energy, by design or through
ignorance, may inf1ict incalculable disaster
upon the nation, destroy the general welfare
imperil the national safety and endanger
world peace'' The price to democracy is high
but the excellent citizens who drafted the
measure see no prudent way OF escaping the
payment.
Consequently, the powers given to the Atom
ic Energy Commission and its Administrator,
established by the May bill, and the lin'ta-
tons imposed on science and production are
without parallel for operation in time OF
peace. The House Military Affairs Committee
is going over the measure with utmost care,
but, if it is not fundamentally amended, the
above statement will stand, as the following
summary should make plain
The President who is given the right to
appoint the nine members OF the Commission
with the consent of the Senate, may remove
any one on the ground that his continuance
in office ''would be inmical to the national
interest" and he is not required to document
that opinion.
The Commission and the Administrator may
make any expenditure, of whatever size, they
NAV consider necessary to carry out their
RESPECTIVE functions" to the limit of amounts
which Congress and the President may see
fit to provide, and the General Accounting
Office may not "disallow credit for nor with
hold funds because of any expenditure which
the Commission shall determine and certify
to have been necessary to carry out the pro-
visions Of the act"
The Commission is directed to follow pol
icy of minimum interference with private re-
search and enterprise, but it is given plenary
power over both in any activity that is in,
or in its opinion may possibly enter, the re-
mote neighborhood of any element of atomic
energy. Among its many authorities the Com.
mission may create or organize Government
corporations, their stock owned wholly by the
United States, for which no ordinary account
ing need be made. And into it's custody are
to be placed all ores, plants, elements, stocks,
processes, technical information n d its
sources, contracts, agreements, leases, pat
ents, application for patents, etc, and "other
rights of any kind" which, in the Commits
sion's view, may be required to carry out its
assignment. Also, it shall bar at all sources
any information of such activities as it may
wish to hold secret so that these cannot be
published otherwise disseminated. And the
punishment for violation is set at 500, 900 or
ten years in Jail.
Unless the President specifically approves,
the Commission and the Administrator shall
issue no licenses to a foreign Government or
a foreign citizen for the development of any
activity in nuclear fision or 'the transmit
taton of atomic species" But the Commission
and the Administrator may license any citi-
zen or company within the jurisdiction of the
United States for any work in these connec-
tons.
The Commission can impose any conditions
it may choose on these lcense-holders if it
deems them advisable and appropriate in the
national interest" But, in one of the few
passages of the bill that puts any limits to
the authority bestowed, the Commission and
the Administrator are directed to grant their |
licenses on the basis of equitable treatment
and wide distribution and in such manner
as to discourage the growth of monopoly, |
restraint of trade and unlawful competition
in the trades and industries affected. -
However, these policies need only be followed
in so far as they are feasible" and the
Commission and the Administrator are left to |
be the judges of that.
The authorities created by the bill are in
structed to interfere as little as possible with
small-scale research, especially by non-pro-
fit laboratories, and to ttutlize, encourage and
aid colleges, universities, scientific laborato-
ries and hospitals as much as they can |
When they lease or condemn private property
they are told in the May bill to make gener-
Gus payment, and the owners are given the
right to sue the United States for larger
amounts if they find the payment unsatis-
factory, asking so per cent of the offer in
the meantime without prejudice to their suits
Also, though the Commission and the Admin
istrator may without tax liability acquire
State and municipal property on which taxes
were being paid, they must fairly reimburse
the State and the municipality.
These are the outlines of document which
discloses the first effects of the atomic bomb
on American democracy and the free enter.
prise system.--New York Times.
Editorial Comment