Evening star., 1946-08-10
Scores Fired
In WAA Move
To Speed Sales
Slow HondIine Of
Surplus Rodios
Brings Shokeup
By Robert K. Walsh

DlSSa tlSfled with slow and
costly handling of surplus radio
and radar equipment, War As
sets Administrator Robert M.
Littlejohn today ordered drastic
changes and disclosed that scores
of employees have been dis
charged. The changes call for
shifting the WAA electronics di-
vision to the office of aircraft
disposal, and putting contracts
on a sales for profit rather than
sales for storage" basis.
Mr.. Littlejohn announced estab-
llshment of special priorities Of
flee to speed movement of surpluses
to 10000 veterans who seek radio
testing and similar equipment for
radio repair businesses.
His four point move included:
Complete reorganizat ton OF the
lelectronics division under a new di-
rector, George H. Moriarty. formerly
IN charge of aircraft parts. He sue
ceeds Robert S. McCurdy who re-
Gently resigned
Adoption of short cuts In the
handling of inventories so that the
equipment would be hurried to vet
erans and other applicants rather
than put into storage as repeatedly
has been done by some dealers in
the expectation of later profit.
Readjustment of sales agents
agreements.
A new basic contract system
more compatible with the public
| interest"
Old Method Abolished.
i Mr.. Littlejohn announced he has
abolished the cost plus fixed fee
method of paying agents to locate,
recondition and dispose of surplus
radio equipment. The revised
agreements" he explained. will be
signed with agents capable of mar
keting the material and they will be
paid fair commissions"
He added that the emphasis on
fair commissions is to discourage
the practice of some agents who held
surplus property for long periods
in expectation of higher prices.
This practice and other obstacles
under the former system, a WAA
spokesman said today, contributed
to backlog Of more than IS 900
patches of radio and radar equip
ment which have been turned over
by the Army and Navy but have not
yet been sold.
i Services to Aid WAA.
Army and Navy technicians, Mr..
Littlejohn announced, will assist
/ WAA in separating commercial
equipment from critical materials at
aircraft depots. Previously, most of
such material was sent to WAA or
agencies warehouses where shipping
and supply decisions were made. Tho
depot classification and decision sys-
tenn is expected to speed up deliver.
les and disposal.
In placing the reorganized WAA
electronics division in the Office Of
aircraft disposal, which is headsd by
James A. Mollison, WAA plans to
use the same disposal procedures
which have proved successful in the
handling of aeronautical property
Criticism Is Recalled.
Another purpose of the reorgani-
cation, WAA officials indicated to-
day, is to prevent surplus radio
and radar equipment from going
to only few major concerns for
ultimate sale to the general public.
/ Senator Wiley, Republican, of
Wisconsin, recently criticized WAA
for apparently monopolistic" meth
ods in the disposal of such surplus
to few large corporations. Senator
Wiley demanded that more of it
be made readily available to vet
Grams and small businesses.
Although Mr.. Littlejohn did not
disclose the number of electronics
division officials and employees who
have been discharged, another WAA
official said today it runs into
scores" About so paid consultants
are reported to have been dismissed.
Most of the other dismissals have
occurred during the past week in
field Offices.