Evening star., 1950-05-14
Sm,ington Energies Resources Board
New Administrator
Is Born Salesman,
Quick Thinker
By Raymond P. Brandt

During the past three weeks
the National Security Resources
Board. the body that drafts plans
for coordination Of military, in
dustrial and civilian war mobiliza-
ton, has been revitalized by
Chairman w. Stuart Symington
of st. Louis. dynamic former Sec
retary of the Air Force and for
mer administrator of the War
Surplus Property Board.
Even the dark Railways Of the
old State Department building
seem lighter and NSRB officials
and employees walk faster now
that the 48-year-old industrialist-
turned-public servant has taken
over the management of the
powerful planning group that
will advise the President on how
American manpower, money and
materials can best be switched
from civilian to war production.
Under Reorganization Plan No.
Is which President Truman sent
to Congress, Mr.. Symington would
have greatly enlarged power. The
functions" of the board would
be exercised by the chairman. and
the several cabinet members, sup
posed to direct the boards opera
tions, would become advisers.
The plan, which will 60 into effect
within 60 days unless either house
vetoes it. also provides for a vice
chairman at $4,000 a year.
The reorganization proposal in
dicates that Truman and the pres
ent board have realized that the
existing setup, first headed by
Arthur M. Hill, transportation
executive, as chairman and then
by DR.. John r. Steelman. assistant
to the President. as acting chair
man, could not meet the demands
of the cold war or plan for the
possibilities of a shooting war.
Potentially Powerful Group
Mr.. Truman said that "the tre-
mendous responsibilities of the
National Security Resources Board
and the heavy workload on the
chairman fully warranted" the
appointment of a vice chairman.
Although President Truman in
the past has persistently under
valued this agency, created by the
National Security Act of 1947, 1t
is potentially one of the most pow
erful groups in Government.
Should there be war, its recon-
mendation would determine how
much every American would eat.
work and earn, and what per-
centages of every vital resources
would be devoted to war and to
civilian production.
Under the reorganization plan,
Mr.. Symington. as chairman,
would have the practical direction
of the board, composed of Secre-
taries Acheson, Snyder. Johnson,
Chapman, Brannan. Sawyer and
Tobin. This. in effect, is war
cabinet representing the State,
Treasury. Defense, Interior, Agri-
culture, Commerce and Labor de-
partments.
Mr.. Symington will also be an
active member of the top policy
making National Security Council,
headed by President Truman and
composed of Vice President Bark
ley and Secretaries Acheson and
johnson and himself. Other
cabinet officers and agency heads
are called in when international
problems affecting their jurisdic-
tions arise. He will also attend
cabinet sessions on appropriate
occasions" meaning when war
questions are up for discussion.
He will work closely with the
Defense Departments Munitions
Board, headed by energetic HUI
bert Howard, Chicago industrial
ist, which has to arrange for the
use of Americas great industrial