Speech of Senator Harry S. Truman in the United States Senate

(Not printed at Government expense) avod and diww adt stavito Congressional Record United States of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 77th 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- serious at that time, was the widespread SPEECH sands of Government employees auditing diffusion of authority, with the attend- OF these construction jobs, and the commit- ant conflicts of jurisdiction, and inabil- tee wants to see results. ity to act because of the necessity of HON. HARRY S. TRUMAN 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 presented to the Senate a detailed report to agree to any proposed action. As September 14, 1942 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 Tauthority 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 repert. 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 The Baruch committee found, as did to have the force of public opinion in committee called Mr. Nelson before it this committee, that the most crying need order to insure results. 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 this committee, administration by one in the defense program as it was being 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 be appointed for that purpose, and the particularly waste on construction jobs. 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. not been with the man or with the gen- construction. The committee recom- Mr. Nelson has tried hard to do his job, eral powers conferred on him, but with mended that camp construction should and the committee expresses only admi- the fact that the several governmental be transferred from the Quartermaster ration for his intentions and his abilities. agencies have not been forced to recog- branch of the War Department to the The committee does not want anyone to nize those powers. This must not be al- Engineer Corps. This was done, and a make the mistake of thinking that it is lowed to happen again. In addition, it substantial improvement was obtained. critical of Mr. Nelson. It is not. But Mr. must not be allowed to continue, as it But I am sorry to say that waste was not Nelson encountered, and is still encoun- does continue in many important situa- eliminated either in camp construction tering, because of obstruction not only in tions, of which that relating to rubber or in the construction of defense plants. the various Government departments, is only one. I am sure there is not a Member of but also in the armed forces, many diffi- Another situation of vital importance Congress who has not received a number culties in assuming and exercising the is that concerning steel. The committee of letters from the people back home re- powers which the President and the made private investigations and held ferring to the wasteful and extravagant members of the committee, and I think public hearings, as a result of which it methods of construction. Such abuses the entire Congress, desired that Mr. became apparent that increases in pro- undermine the confidence of the people Nelson should exercise. duction had not been well handled, and in the war effort, and such waste must As an example of those difficulties, I that faulty distribution of steel is imper- stop. We do not have critical materials need only to refer to rubber. After iling the whole war program. More than to waste. weeks of investigation of the rubber sit- 5 weeks ago Mr. Reese Taylor, former It is not sufficient for those in charge uation, this committee submitted to the head of the Iron and Steel Branch of the of construction to render lip service to Senate some 4 months ago a report on War Production Board, promised the the principles of economy enunciated by rubber. It was privately assured by the committee that prompt action would be the committee. To make real progress various governmental agencies having to taken. The committee believes that he they must make examples of those con- do with rubber that they were in agree- tractors who permit waste and ineffi- ment with the committee's report, and tried his best, but the fact is that instead that they were prepared to take action of the situation being remedied, Mr. Tay- ciencies. Instead, I regret to say that 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- - A 484563-22642 U.S.