Evening star., 1952-12-03
BY the Associated Press

Secretary Of Commerce Sawyer
expects to hand over bundle of
answers, as well as a lot of prob
lens, to incoming Commerce Sec
|retary Sinclair Weeks when the
Eisenhower appointee takes over
the vast Government department
that overseas the Nations busi-
mess.
The two men, besides both be-
ing businessmen, have at least one
other thing in common: They are
both optimists.
Mr.. Sawyer pooh-poohed pre-
dictions the war would be fol-
lowed by economic collapse. and
was right. Lately, he has voiced
Optimism about business prospects
after defense spending slacks off.
Mr.. Weeks, a Boston indus
trialist, took much the same tack
as Mr.. Sawyer has in an inter-
view yesterday, less than "a hours
after his appointment by Presi-
dent-elect Eisenhower to preside
over the Commerce Department.
IT am optimistic by nature" he
told reporters, land believe that
the present level of business can
be maintained if we do the job
right. This country does not have
to be dependent on war work"
Now Has $1,000 Employees.
The department he will take
over is radically different from
the one the Republican, relin-
pushed in 1882. 1t then had
81 900 employees. and now has 58,-
900, with a billion dollar a year
budget. 1t now contains such bu-
reaus as the Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministration, the Weather Bureau,
Public Roads, the Maritime Ad-
ministration and the Natural Pro-
duction Authority, which we're
Elsewhere or not in existence in
1882.
The main answer Mr.. Sawyer
expects to have ready for Mr.
Weeks is on the much-debated
subject of the economic outlook
after the defense program de-
clines. A report titled Markets
After Defense Expansion" will be
made public between Christmas
and New Year. 1t will be written
by Department of Commerce econ
omists, whose assignment was to
dope out about when defense
spending will reach its peak, how
long it will stay at high level,
when it will slack off and how and
where private business can rake
up the slack.
Mr.. Sawyer expects to make a
major contribution of his own to
the report, which he regards as
his croWning achievement as Sec
retary of Commerce. He made a
fall swing through the West and
Midwest, talking to businessmen.
He fingered only shortly in Wash
ington, then took off for a 30
day, ne-country survey of busi-
ness in Europe. He is homeward-
bound now, expected in New York
December 8. and repeatedly is
busy aboard ship writing his per-
sonal report on the foreign trade
and aid outlook.
Data Available to Eisenhower.
| 1t was learned that he will
make the report available to Gen.
Eisenhower and Mr.. Weeks at the
same time he sends it to the
White House.
How much weight Mr.. Weeks
will give to Mr.. Sawyer's valedic-
tory report remains to be seen.
In his interview yesterday Mr..
Weeks said the new administra-
ton would be a fair umpire and
not taskmaster" to business.
In yesterdays interview he said
he was:
l. In general sympathy with the
reciprocal trade agreements act
(aimed at lowering tariffs.
2. In favor of some portions of
the point four technical foreign
add program but was doubtful
about some others. not named.
3. OF the opinion that the ex-
cess profits tax should be wiped
out unless absolutely necessary for
revenue.
4, OF the opinion that the Com
merce Department should do all
it can to help small business.
Here is a brief survey of De-