Evening star., 1951-06-10
Sees Initiation Aiding
Russion Aggression
Writer BIumes Administration
For Lack Of fWuge-Price Control
BY Fronk R. Kent

'
A few days ago two pieces of informa-
tion were given the American people
which did not get large headlineS-but
hould. For. better than anything else,
hey made clear the sort of havoc the
Russian menace is creating in our in
ternal economy. They also go far to
sustain the theory that real Soviet
strategy is not to precipitate a general
war but by series of threatening acts
lust short of war force us into an expan-
sion and expenditure so gigantic and
prolonged as ultimately to break down
our Federal fiscal structure.
The first of these pieces of information
came from Defense Secretary George C..
Marshall who told Senate committee
that the unchecked imitation of the past
year has taken more than ST billion out
of the $35 billion authorized for pro-
curement of hard and soft goods and
military construction during 1851. This
is in line with the statements of Chief
Mobilizer Wilson and Deputy Defense
Secretary Lovett that armament costs
have risen more than 20 per cent, and
it has not been contradicted. To drive
home his argument Gen. Marshall as
serted that the Army estimates the
increase in beef prices alone will boost
the Army's food bill by $3.50 million
this year.
The other piece Of information came
from Senator Harry F. Byrd of Virginia,
who. as chairman of the Joint Committee
on Reduction of Non-essential Federal
Spending, announced that the cost of
the Federal civilian payroll now has
passed $8.3 billion year. The increase
in citizen jobholders during April was
at the rate of $500 day. Seventy
Federal agencies reported an aggregate
payroll for the month Of March of $685.
235, 1000. In cost as in number the level
now has reached the peak of the World
War II period and both are mounting
daily. For 10 consecutive months civil
ian employment has increased an aver
age of more than 1000 day.
Apprehension and indignation have
been expressed over the alleged aid and
comfort given the Russians by revela-
tions at the Macarthur hearings. But,
it can be most convincingly argued that
our enemies derive vastly more SatiSfac-
ton from these Marshall-Byrd state
mentS which so clearly show our failure
to do the elementary things essential to
our economic strength and stability
Gen. Marshall and Senator Byrd revealed
no secrets in those statements They
told the Soviet leaders nothing they did
not know. All they did-and it was their
clear duty to do so-was to confirm the
obvious fact that since the national
emergency arose we have exhibited a
shocking incompetency to manage our
own affairs and have inflicted a damage
upon ourselves that can only be reck-
oned in the billions and is reflected in
less armament for defense and an
enfeebled support for our armed forces
in the field.
1t is difficult to imagine a more humil-
iating confession for Americans than
is involved in the Marshall-Byrd state
ments. They mean that after year Of
facing a great crisis we have utterly
failed to do the two vital things which
practically every one agrees are essen
tial to a successful defense effort-first,
price control; second, elimination of all
non-essential expenditures. Literally,
there is no defense for this failure. It
comes close to a record for administra-
tlon cowardice and stupidity. And the
reasons are so clearly political as to be
shameful. Mr.. Truman is fond of de-
scrlbing himself as a fighting man."
Yet, in this crisis he has f1inched from a
hight with the labor bosses who are his
political allies and permitted a calami-
tous 20 per cent imitation.