Evening star., 1951-10-07
Clio Informs Wilson
ills Disturbed Over
Delays in Production
By jones Y. Newton

1t was seriously disturbed by
failures and mistakes" in the
running of the defense production
program.
The labor organization called
on Defense Mobilizer Charles E.
Wilson to develop an overall pro-
duction plan which it said is es-
sential to avoid "a serious failure"
in the mobilization effort and
eliminate a present waste OF
manpower and skills."
This was done in a letter to
Mr.. Wilson from Emil Rieve,
chairman of the CLOS Committee
on Economic Policy.
Production Delays Assailed.
Mr.. Rieve pointed out that Mr.
Wilson's quarterly report issued
last week stated that the sched-
uled peak level of defense produc-
ton had been pushed back from
three to six months. He said that
delays in reaching the production
targets represent "a failure to
meet our obligations in a critical
period of world history"
Instead of reaching the peak
of our defense build-up in mid
1852, as previously scheduled, you
now indicate that the peak will
not be reached before the latter
part of that year." Mr.. Rieve told
Mr.. Wilson.
1T would be a serious failure
on our part as a nation, if we
slowed down the defense produc-
ton effort any further. A sub
Stantial weakening of the mobili-
zation effort would undermine cur
own strength and that of the free
world"
Planning Criticized.
Mr.. Rieve said that CIO in the
past had predicted a slowing
down in the pace of production
schedules if proper steps were not
taken to minimize the difficulties. +"
He added his organization is dis
mayed by the apparent failure of
the mobiliZa ton agencies to en-
force the necessary precautionary
measures"
AN overall defense produc-
ton plan has been slow in getting
started" he continued. THE shift
in the scheduled pace of defense
production is undoubtedly due to
a great extent to the failure TO
plan the effort properly"
AS an example of the imbalance
in the program to expand indus
trial capacity, Mr.. Rieve quoted
from the Wilson report that steel
works and rolling mill programs
are now about 35 per cent built.
while only 19 per cent of the more
urgently needed blast furnace
capacity is in place" He also
mentioned Mr.. Wilson's state
ment that a shortage of structural
steel is a major bottleneck cauS-
ing a widespread showdown in
many scheduled defense projects.
Serious Manpower Problems.
The imbalance in the steel ex-
pansion program has economy
wide ramifcations, Mr.. Rieve
said. 'Yet. an important cause of
the shortage-the disparity be-
tween the expansion of ingot pro-
ducing and rolling mill facilities
could not have arisen as major
issue, had the mobilization agen-
cies operated on a planned pro-
gram"
Lack of planning also has
caused serious manpoWer prob
lens, Mr.. Rieve said. Defense
production is not moving fast
enough to take up the slack
created by reductions in the use
of steel, copper and aluminium
for civilian production.
Mr.. Rieve charged that failure
to dovetail curtailment orders
with defense production is in part
responsible for substantial un-
employment in several large IN
duStrial centers.
Complimented for Frankness.
Unemployment at this time of
national emergency is indeed a
tragic paradox" he said. I'VE
cannot afford such waste of man
power and skills. Idle plants and
equipment represent a drain on
our national economy.
1T seems essential that the
Office of Defense Mobilization per-
form the task of meshing together
the individual programs in the
light of long-range defense emer-
gency requirements and resources
without which there can be no
efficient planning. A key to the
problem appears to be the need
for more effective direction of de-
fense production, in order to ex-
pidite it and to integrate it with
material curtailment orders, avail
able manpoWer and civilian re-
quirements. This can be ac-
complished only by overall long
range planning and program de-
velopment."
Mr.. Rieve complimented Mr..
Wilson for the "frankness and
honesty" of his report. He added
that I'VE of the CIO recognize the
difficulties inherent in the mobili-