Speech of Senator Harry S. Truman in the U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

(Not printed at Government expense) bris of -91 9dt Jonnso 9W artiem and divw bootas and noaleM bluoda staving Congressional Record United States of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 77" CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Developments in the War Program wash the failures of the contractors. In- The trouble with the rubber situation, efficiency is all too frequently rewarded which the committee found to be most with a new contract. There are thou- SPEECH serious at that time, was the widespread sands of Government employees auditing diffusion of authority, with the attend- OF these construction jobs, and the commit- ant conflicts of jurisdiction, and inabil- HON. HARRY S. TRUMAN tee wants to see results. ity to act because of the necessity of A subject of equal importance to waste holding interminable conferences among OF MISSOURI is that of the administration of the war the various governmental agencies in- IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES program. Last January the committee volved, and separately persuading each September 14, 1942 presented to the Senate a detailed report to agree to any proposed action. As concerning this subject, and recom- stated in the committee's report, such a Mr. TRUMAN. Mr. President, the mended that the administration of our situation could be remedied only by cen- committee investigating the national war effort be reorganized. In the opin- tralizing all authority over rubber in one defense program, of which I am chair- ion of many of the Senators, this should man. As further stated in the report. man, has been following with the keenest have been done by statute enacted by the Mr. Nelson specifically assured the com- interest the developments in the war pro- Congress. One member of the commit- mittee that he had done just exactly gram. The committee has been very tee, the Senator from West Virginia [Mr. that in appointing Mr. Arthur Newhall. mindful of the fact that public criticism KILGORE], introduced a bill for that pur- Yet 4 months later the Baruch commit- of major phases of the war effort might pose, but before that bill could be acted tee was appointed by the President to give aid and comfort to the enemy. Be- upon, the President, agreeing with the allay the confusion to which he may him- cause of this, the committee in recent committee that major action was neces- self have added when, perhaps face- months held as few public hearings as sary, appointed Donald Nelson, and gave tiously, he said he was not worried about possible, and the bulk of its work has been him the most sweeping powers to make the rubber situation, which statement done privately. The committee will con- the necessary changes. was made the same day this committee tinue that policy, but there are some The President should be commended published its report stating the serious- things the public is entitled to know, and for his prompt action, and for the sweep- ness of the rubber situation. unfortunately it is sometimes necessary ing powers he gave Mr. Nelson. This to have the force of public opinion in The Baruch committee found, as did committee called Mr. Nelson before it order to insure results. this committee, that the most crying need and promised him the utmost coopera- in the rubber situation was for central- This committee was organized largely tion, stating that if anyone, even a Cabi- ized authority, and recommended, as did because of the waste that was reported net member, should hesitate to carry out in the defense program as it was being this committee, administration by one Mr. Nelson's suggestions, the committee person. A new administrator will soon administered in the early part of 1941, wanted to be informed about it. The particularly waste on construction jobs. be appointed for that purpose, and the major criticisms which the committee committee has no reason to doubt that One of the first tasks of the committee has had of the war effort subsequent to he will be competent, nor has the com- was to investigate construction, and the Mr. Nelson's appointment have been ex- mittee any reason to doubt Mr. Newhall's committee found an enormous amount of pressed privately to Mr. Nelson so as to personal competence. The difficulty has unnecessary waste, particularly in camp enable him to act with the least friction. construction. The committee recom- not been with the man or with the gen- Mr. Nelson has tried hard to do his job, mended that camp construction should eral powers conferred on him, but with and the committee expresses only admi- be transferred from the Quartermaster the fact that the several governmental ration for his intentions and his abilities. branch of the War Department to the agencies have not been forced to recog- The committee does not want anyone to Engineer Corps. This was done, and a nize those powers. This must not be al- make the mistake of thinking that it is substantial improvement was obtained. lowed to happen again. In addition, it critical of Mr. Nelson. It is not. But Mr. But I am sorry to say that waste was not must not be allowed to continue, as it Nelson encountered, and is still encoun- eliminated either in camp construction does continue in many important situa- tering, because of obstruction not only in or in the construction of defense plants. tions, of which that relating to rubber the various Government departments, I am sure there is not a Member of is only one. but also in the armed forces, many diffi- Congress who has not received a number Another situation of vital importance culties in assuming and exercising the of letters from the people back home re- is that concerning steel. The committee powers which the President and the ferring to the wasteful and extravagant made private investigations and held members of the committee, and I think methods of construction. Such abuses public hearings, as a result of which it the entire Congress, desired that Mr. undermine the confidence of the people became apparent that increases in pro- Nelson should exercise. in the war effort, and such waste must duction had not been well handled, and As an example of those difficulties, I stop. We do not have critical materials that faulty distribution of steel is imper- need only to refer to rubber. After to waste. iling the whole war program. More than weeks of investigation of the rubber sit- It is not sufficient for those in charge 5 weeks ago Mr. Reese Taylor, former uation, this committee submitted to the of construction to render lip service to head of the Iron and Steel Branch of the Senate some 4 months ago a report on the principles of economy enunciated by rubber. It was privately assured by the War Production Board, promised the the committee. To make real progress various governmental agencies having to committee that prompt action would be they must make examples of those con- do with rubber that they were in agree- taken. The committee believes that he tractors who permit waste and ineffi- ment with the committee's report, and tried his best, but the fact is that instead ciencies. Instead, I regret to say that that they were prepared to take action of the situation being remedied, Mr. Tay- some Government officials do their best along the lines recommended by the lor has quietly resigned, without com- to conceal the inefficiencies and white- committee. plaint, and returned to his private busi- 484563-22642 hown A