Evening star., 1950-09-10

tention on industrial prepared
ness and military material re-
quirementS in the United States
I'VE wanted to make certain,
they said, that we are not con-
tinuing to demobilize with one
hand while trying to mobilize
with the other
In it's effort to speed the slack
ened tempo of the postwar
period in and out of Govern
ment." the subcommittee came
up with evidence that caused the
General Services Administration
recently to freeze the sale of all
Government-owned proper
previously declared surplus.
In its first formal report and
the infrequent public and private
comments of its members and
staff. the subcommittee often has
employed fighting" language. In
this it has been referring to itself
as much as to Korea.
Stirs Munitions Board
"The subcommittee, it says,
has fought at every Government
level for reactivation of our syn
thetic rubber-producing program
The word fought is used ad-
visedly."
Furthermore, it has waded into
what could be a first-rate feud
with the Munitions Board.
Complaining that it has not yet
received a satisfactory reply to its
inquiries about establishing a
firm, aggressive acquisition pro-
gram for natural rubber" the
subcommittee stated last week:
Either the Munitions Board has
a program or it has not. If it has
a program it could readily be
described. If it has no program
it should be candidly admitted
In any event, if the diligence tc
which the Munitions Board ad-
dressed itself to our inquiry is any
measure of the manner in which
it attends to its other duties, It's
competence would seem to leave
something to be desired"
In any event, the subcommittee
says it's suggestions so far have
been needed by several key agen-
cies. And, it indicates it has just
begun to fight wherever it believes
necessary to cope not only with
shooting in Korea but with the
distinct threat Of a war of attri-
ton in which the total resources
and the total productivity of the
Nation must be kept constantly
available"
Modest Headquarters
For such a far-f1ung battle line
the subcommittee at present main
tains GHQ in one room off the
Armed Services Committees suite
in the Senate Office Building.
i Besides it's chief counsel, Don.
aid c. Cook, it has staff of only
two secretaries but avails itself oi
specialists from the full committet
staff. With an appropriation o1
$25 900, it manages to save money
also by calling on specialists from
lol ,;e%,. %;x,o
Widely known in Washington
as vice chairman of the Securi.
ties and Exchange Commission
Mr. Cook began his Government
career II years ago on the SEC
staff in the legal and public utili
ties divisions.
From 1943 to 1945 he was spe'
cial counsel to the old HouS,
Naval Affairs Committee. Aftel
a year as executive assistant tx
the Attorney General, he became
alien property custodian in 1946
He returned to private practic,
of law here for two years befor,
going back to SEC as vice chair
man.
Whatever idea the subcommit
tee had of beginning with lei
surely look into the Defense De
partment and related matters wa
= soon dispelled. That, accordin,
to members, does not mean tn,
> subcommittee dashes about in al
directions.
; Many Similarities
Nor does it mean, they assur,
fellow members of Congress, tina
the subcommittee will necessaril!
, collide with other congressional
, watchers" or investigators. TIL,
House Armed Services Committee
for example, has more than a hal
dozen subcommittee checking OF
various phases of the national de.
fense conditions and planning.
In the public view, however, tn,
preparedness subcommittee is fal
more likely to be compared con
, stantly with the Truman Commit
tee. or at least the wartime phas,
of that committees record.
Many similarities are obviou
already to any one who remem.
, bers the work of the former com
mittee, and especially the polio,
that the then Senator Truman
laid down against investigator,
matters of military strategy O.
{ tactics.
Further resemblances may de
velop when and if the prepared
ness subcommittee reaches tn
!, stage Of public hearings or adopt
> the lease system" generally fol
lowed by the old war investigat
ing committee.
!. But the times have change,
and the subcommittee seem
Y bound to change with them. TIL
r studies it is making and on whicl
C it will report from time to tim
carry echoes from the early 1910.
= but they touch on yet wider an
moro fr01Ih1ocoy,oo fSnnicc