Evening star., 1950-12-22
Absenteeisn in House
Holds Up Passage
0fEmergency Bills

A major part of President Tru-
mans emergency mobilization
legislation encountered delays in
Congress today.
While the Senate speeded
through bills asked by the Presi-
dent. the House ran into holiday
jam of absenteeism which put
off until January /, at least, action
TO-, give Mr.. Truman broader
powers to speed the defense pro-
gram. /
The delay came amid these
other developments on the mo-
bilization front:
/. Charles E. Wilson, mobiliza-
ton director, predicted that 1851
will see SO to 100 per cent more
defense production than in the
first big year after Pearl Harbor.
2. Alan Valentine, director of
the onomic Sterilization
Agency. said his organization is
working on a program to sta
bilize meat prices He did not
say whether the program would
call for price ceilings on meat.
Arms Bill Also Delayed.
The House. faced with difficulty
In getting working majority on
the floor, put off until January
action on bill to give Mr.. Tru-
man authority to modify oefense
contracts and reorganize Govern
ment agencies in the interest of
the mobilization program.
The Senate yesterday passed a
measure giving the administra-
ton wartime power to revise de-
fense contracts. But it held up
for further study the Presidents
request for authority to reshuff1e
The $3.2 billion excess profits
tax bill and the $40 billion arms
bill also were threatened with de-
lay. Both bills have passed the
Senate and House but differences
remain to be worked ont in con-
ference.
Token Sessions Next Week.
Unless the Senate House con-
ferees can reach agreement by
nightfall on the two measures
they, too. will be delayed since
the House, when it quits today,
will recess until New Years Day.
Only token sessions will be held
next week.
That will leave only two days
from January ! until the new
Congress takes over January 3
for clearing up pending legisla-
ton.
Mr.. Wilson's encouraging re-
port on defense production was
given before the Joint Committee
on Defense Production yesterday
afternoon.
In his prediction. he did not ,
specify which "big year" after
Pearl Harbor he was alluding to.
In 1912, production of planes,
ships, guns and other munitions
totaled $50 billion, exclusive of
military personnel expenses. The
peak year was 1914, when the pro-
duction of war materiel reached
s57 billion.
One committee member pointed
out that. while Russia has been
making radar equipment. we have
been turning out television sets.
Engineering To Take Time.
Mr.. Wilson said the conversion
of the Nations radio and television
production to radar and other
military electronics can be very
fast" He conceded that the engi-
neering for new items of equip
ment may take from six to nine
months.
But do not think that is very
serious" he added, ''for while the
engineering Is going on, recon-
struction for production can go
ahead"
1t was brought out in question:
ing that, whereas in World War
II the Office Of War Mobilization
was not set up until May, 1943,
to coordinate and unity the pro-
duction programs, the Office of
Defense Mobilization has been
set up for the same purpose only
about six months after the Com
munist attack in Korea.
Mr.. Wilson agreed that we "are
well ahead of the game" He said
also that President Truman had
given him ample powers and that
the administrative organization is
a proper setup.
Meanwhile, the National Pro-
duction Authority issued Con
tainers and Packaging Report"
showing that demand for all types
OF containers and packaging ma
terials is at an all-time high.