Evening star., 1950-07-24
Syn1ingion Asks
War Conversion
Plan BeSped
Civil Defense Poses
Munpower Problem,
He Tells Congress
Bv ]. A. O'LeoU

py }. A. OLeoy
The need for civilian defense in
this atomic age adds new factor
to the manpower shortage in this
Chairman w. Stuart
of the National Secur-
ity Resources Board told Congress
today.
He went before the Senate Bank
ing Committee this morning to
urge prompt passage Of the ad.
ministration's f1ve-point bill to EN-.
power the President to mobilize
industry and credit for the defense
program.
Other highlights of his testimony
were:
l. Rationing and price control
of consumer goods, which are ex-
cluded from the bill, should not
be Immediately necessary" If pam
ic buying is avoided.
2. Prices of % basic commodi-
ties have risen 10 per cent since
the invasion of South Korea.
3. It is President Truman's de-
sire to have existing Governments
departments handle as many Of
the new functions as possible and
to hold down the number Of new
agencies.
Progress Made on Civil Defense.
Mr.. Symington, whose board has
direct charge of civilian defense,
said 1--WE have made a lot Of
and expect to have ready
by September l a plan for the
guidance Of Governors and Of
Mayors. He testified that civilian
defense will "have to be largely a
grass roots program-it cannot
succeed by coming down here to
Washington"
The committee announced it
will hear Secretary of Commerce
Sawyer in open session tomorrow
morning and Gen. Omar N. Brad
ley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Of Staff. in closed session tomor-
row afternoon. It will call in
Bernard M. Baruch. who handled
mobilization in World
War I, Wednesday morning.
Stresses Manp0wer Problem.
Although the defense produc-
ton bill does not touch employ.
ment contracts or manpower prob.
lens generally, Mr.. Symington
called attention to the part that
subject may play in future months.
"Manpower shortage in this
emergency will be more pressing
than ever before" he said. There
will be military demands on the
men and women working in the
factories, on the farms and in
such fields as transportation. Also,
however, there is great new ad-
dltional manpower requirement
which for the first time has be-
come very real and practical to
the security of the United States
in this air-atomic age-civil de-
fense.
Mr.. Symington told the Sena-
tors the question of "how warm
is the cold war" is the theoretical
today, but added this warning:
I'VE know now that members
of the international Communist
movement will not hesitate to
shoot down any who stand in the
way of their often expressed in
tention to first defeat the peace
loving democratic nations and
then destroy their way of life.
Red Power Growing.
"It is now also clear that the
power of these Com
munists is organized, very great
and growing rapidly; and there
fore if this Nation is to survive.
it must increase promptly its
own military stature as well az
that of its allies"
AS former businessman now
in Government. Mr.. Symington
said the Presidents desire to
have existing Government depart
ments gear themselves to emer-
gency problems to hold down new
agencies will pay of in speed
and efficiency.
II don't knoW-it certainly will
come later if necessary" Mr..
replied.
Under Title I, the President
could require industry to give
to defense work and
could allocate supplies to achieve
this purpose.
Could RequiSition Property.
Other parts of the bill would
the President to requisi-
;icn property at fair prices; to
private loans or make
lirect loans for industrial expan-
ion; to control consumer credit,
md to issue any regulations nee
.ssary for carrying out the fore
,oing powers.
Senator Capehart, Republican,
# Indiana, wanted to know why
he President left out rationing
md price control.
Mr.. Symington replied that Mr..
Truman is anxious to put on only
hose controls Immediately neces-
=