Evening star., 1946-09-30
Slaughter Unit Urges
New WAA Methods 10
Prevent Huge Loses

Ahc AAoO0S ouA PAoo 1iOpclIy COIn-
mittee today prodded the War
Assets Administration to greater
efforts to improve its disposal Of
billions worth Of surplus war goods
in an interim report denouncing
numerous past practices and voic-
ing fears Of a huge loss If they are
not corrected.
On the basis Of investigations
and hearings that are still proceed
Ing, the committee charged long de-
lays and confusion in disposal oper-
ations. These, it found. led to ex-
cessive costs to the Government,
failure to get proper returns and in
ability of the public to get the goods
that should have been available.
Among other sharp blasts was
the charge that at least some Of
the WAA regional Offices admin
istration and operation have been
marked by "ineptitudes, confusion
and abundant opportunities for
favoritism and fraud"
To bolster this contention, the
committee summoned as witnesses
today officials of two Arms that
have been selling surpluses as
agents for the Government, A re-
port put into the record indicated
that one billed WAA for $4,571 in
expenses while selling $14 worth Of
surplus goods and the other had
$14,678 in expenses against sales
amount to $120.
Inadequate Controls Seen.
The confusion" in WAA was
blamed in the interim report on lack
of adequate controls over the re-
gional Offices which the committee
held was due to the internal organi-
zation of WAA.
Among other salient facts" the
report said stood out clearly from
early phases of the committees in
vestigations were:
Constant changes Of personnel
and policy matters have been ex-
tremely deleterious
Delays by WAA in moving sur
plus property have resulted in cost
ly warehousing, loss of profitable
markets, and deprivation of the
public of needed surplus property.
"The absence Of any inventory
rejecting the existence and loca-
ton Of surplus property is one OF
the main factors to the difficulties
experienced by the public and the
failure to date Of the WAA to dis
pose of such property quickly and
efficiently"
Loss to Taxpayers.
1t added a warning that "the tax
payers will suffer unprecedented
loss" unless a satisfactory inventory
was speedily established" The COM
mittee said "it is unbelievable" that
in business operation involving
billions Of dollars there was no
accurate inventory and said 1t "un-
reservedly condemns this sloppy and
unbusinesslike practice"
Functions of the WAA, which
only last March IS succeeded
agencies of the Reconstruction FL
nance Corporation to the surplus
disposal job, were found unsatisfac-
tory In many respects.
The committee blamed this, basi-
cally, on an over-decentralization of
control Of regional offices, on ad-
ministrative faults and on "heedless-
ness" in the operation of sales pro-
grams.
The committee said it realized a
new administrator OF WAA (Robert
M. Littlejohn) had been appointed
since the date of the activities it
denounced.
The report, sent to the clerk of
the House, was signed by Chairman
Slaughter, Democrat, of Missouri
and the four other members of the
select committee: Representatives
Davis of Tennessee and Rooney of
New York, Democrats, and Ridley
OF Oklahoma and Robertson Of
North Dakota, Republicans