The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-06

SnOWlQg IltIllSelNeS ao AeoouASeAu and inventive in newspaper and con- lobbies as they were with the slde-rule, the test tube and the microscope.
 On the first anniversary of the atomic age it is worth while to re- state the reasons-the scientists own reasons-for their long cam paign.
 l. For purposes of reaching
 an international agreement to
 outlaw atomic weapons, control
 should be vested in civilian
 agency, not in a military pro-
 ject which inevitably suggests
 war and weapons more than
 peace and progress.
 2. Even If an international
 agreement is not reached in the
 near future, the cause of world
 peace is better served by putting
 atomic policy-making matters
 in civilian hands. Additionally,
 the raw materials of War-food,
 power, metals, fabricating plants
 have been made subject to
 civilian control and civilian de-
 cisions in America.
 3. Development and eXploi-
 tation of the peaceful uses of
 atomic energy are clearly civil
 ian jobs.
 4. Even if worst comes to
 worst, and atomic energy must
 remain a military weapon, big
 ger and better-or rather worse
 atomic bombs can be made if
 the project is in civilian hands.
 This sounds contradictory, but
 all of the principal new weap-
 ons by civilian scientists under
 civilian direction.
 The scientists insist that tlleil experience in working under tht Army on the bomb project iron 1942 until VJ-day proved that the! cannot operate effectively in sci entific research under the military They simply declare that the Army way may be the right way fo, running a division in battle, but i is hopeless for running a team o brains in a laboratory.
 The campaign began last Fall when there emerged from the Wa Department piece of atomic con trol legislation introduced into tn Senate by Sen. Johnson D.-Col. and into the House by Rep. May (D.-Ky). It provided for a Gov ernment monopoly over all atoni matters, to be directed by a part time commission of nine men and full-time administrator under then
 The bill contained a special ex emption from a law on the Fedora books since 1870 prohibiting an ac tive Army or Navy officer iron holding a civilian Government jot
 The Federation of American (for merly Atoraic) Scientists started roaring campaign against the bil Rep. May had attempted to shu off hearings after only a day or S of testimony. Actually, he close hearings after less than one weel Undertaken by McMahon
 In response to great public agita tion, the subject was undertaken fc detailed study by special commit tee of the Senate, headed by Erie McMahon (D.-Conn.).
 The history and proceedings ( that committee are unique. Ft four solid months the eleven men bers listened to testimony fro Americas leading scientists, indus trialists and military men Four fa volumes of testimony were con piled. Then the committee vel over a draft bill prepared by i chairman. The members went ovt it line by line, time and again.
 They emerged with a bill providir for an exclusively civilian commi; sion of five men. But they prt vided that there be military lia son committee, comprising Arm and Navy officers, with full power know everything the commissic did that related to military aspec of atomic energy, and power
 make recommendations to the cor mission and to appeal any actio proposed action or lack of actit , to the Secretaries of War or Nav Either of these two officials cou appeal to the president, the Cor mander in Chief. His decision wou , be final
 This was the bill which the scie lists endorsed almost unanimous It represented the continuation their fight for civilian control, defanging the force they had be called on to devise. It got the su port of the President and of t Secretary of War. And then it we back to the House, where pro | sionS to increase the militar voice were put back in.
 But at this late date the issu had been too clearly and careful drawn for the fight to be droppt AS the bill went to conference, St | McMahon announced that Sena
 conferees would stand firm on t, | original civilian control provision