Evening star., 1950-12-17

M HULOS.
tons capabilities in the way of
raising a large armed force with
out Gripping agriculture and in
dustry.
The second is the continuing
objective of seeing that the in
dustrial mobilization program au-
thorized by Congress is carried out
expeditiously and without waste
so there will be guns and tanks
and other equipment for the men
called into the services.
I Since the subcommittee was
formed, 1T has issued three re-
ports. They did not mince any
words. In straight and hard
hitting language they took some
Government agencies to task for
disposing of surplus war plants
and equipment needed in the de-
fense effort, for failing to stock
pile rubber and for failing to build
up reserves of wool in the face
now of threatened shortage.
Truman Precedent
All the reports were unanimous
and the members of the subcom-
mittee, Democrats and Repub-
licanS alike, want those in the
future to be the same way. In
that way the subcommittee is fol-
lowing the tradition set by Presi-
dent Truman when, as Senator,
he headed the Senate War In
vestigating Committee during
World War II.
One of the first actions of the
subcommittee after it was ap-
pointed was to call at the White
House for a conference with Mr..
Truman. The conference took
place in the cabinet room and the
President offered two pieces of
advice.
One was to get as chief counsel
the best lawyer obtainable. The
other was to stay away from mill
tary strategy and leave politics
outside the door," In both respects
that advice has been followed.
To head it's staff the committee
picked Donald C. Cook, brilliant
41-year-old lawyer, accountant
and member of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. In the Sc
lection of Mr.. Cook the committee
had its one gesture of interference.
A cabinet officer passed along word
that the young lawyer shouldn't
be selected as he was "too tough"
Bridges Backed Cook
That word came to the commit
tee in it's organization meeting as
the members were checking over
reports of several lawyers under
consideration. After the re-
ports were exhaustively studied
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire moved that Mr.
Cook be selected. That pleased
Senator johnson for he was we'll
acquainted with Mr.. Cooks ability
from his work with the House
Naval Affairs Committee during
the war and knew there was no
one more capable of filling the
position.
A staff of about 10 has been
assembled and is hard at work.
It does the preliminary work and
from what it learns and from
closed hearings held by the COM
mittee usually drafts the reports.
But the final report is the work
of the committee as a whole.
Each man goes over each report
and often late at night, when
other lawmakers have left the
Capitol, the members will be por-
ing over a draft. Senator John
sons day, for example, begins
around 7 am. and often extends
to midnight.
The committee is regarded as
one of the ablest in Congress. Ir
addition to Senators Bridges ano
johnson, the members are: Sen
ators Chapman of Kentucky, Hun
of Wyoming and Kefauver OF
Tennessee, Democrats, and Morsc
of Oregon and Saltonstall of Mas
sachusetts, Republicans.
In one way or another all are
specialists on matters bearing or
the preparedness program. Al
have demonstrated their effective
ness in committee work.
The committee strives hard t
be scrupulously fair. Any agenc
being criticized In q report Is given