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pared with appeal. I am asking that in a general sort of way. am not even attempting to answer my own question. And, Dr. Peck, I would also like to say that we are grateful to you for your help on the Pacific coast and for what you have done for us in Washington. We certainly appreciate that help to make this hearing a success and for bringing out the facts. We were fortunate in having Mr. Wilson and Mr. Appley also, as well as the witnesses from our own section. We appreciate that.

Mr. PECK. I thank you.

Senator DOWNEY. Now, there is one other witness?

STATEMENT OF DAVID WHATLEY

Senator DOWNEY. Proceed with your statement.

Mr. WHATLEY. My name is David Whatley. I am a member of the D. C. Bar, doing primarily advocate work with an avocation leaning toward social invention.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this brief time to present a couple of suggestions and proposals that I feel may possibly obviate or alleviate the impending labor shortage and the proposed labor draft or the military drafting of women, or any similar compulsions, which it is my profound conviction would impair our system of democratic government and more seriously our war production to an extent which may be disastrous to the war effort.

I would like to propose new legislation and organization which I believe has not thus far been suggested. First, I propose a Federal system of licensing of all business of every size, then the establishment of a complete system of labor priority, expanding the system now in force, and the seriatim restriction on employment of various classes of citizens according to their capacities, success, draft status, and age group.

Second, a Nation-wide registration of every person above the age of 15 not in active military service, to be undertaken about January 5. This would be first to obtain the basic data on our human resources to be used in vocational guidance subsequently, particularly in the schools. At first, this would be valuable for war production, the civilian Government service, and the military service. This would become a system or avenue throughout the Nation as a deterrent to crime, subversive activities, and other reasons already enumerated.

Next, obtain the tax returns for the previous year, with the first payment still to be made as now provided on March 15 subsequently, and, next, to obtain any miscellaneous data such as may be required at the time for consumer rationing.

Next, the replacement of the present unscientific system of jurisdiction by local draft boards over the determination of the relative importance of each occupation, by the transfer of that function to a new division of the War Manpower Commission in consultation with the Congress and military authorities, to be used ruthlessly and scientifically with, of course, due regard to the public relations aspect. As regards this point, it seems to me that the public will now accept this move because of the acknowledgment of the extremely critical

labor market and the possible deterrent to production now impending and because the public has not objected thus far to recent directives issued this week by the Selective Service regarding the restriction on the power of the local draft boards to that extent.

Next, the establishment of a joint legislative council on the personnel or on the manpower to do research and joint consultation on (1) Selective Service policies and directives; (2) War Manpower Commission policies regarding labor priorities, nondeferrable occupations, restrictions on manpower, and so forth; (3) recruiting policy; (4) labor utilization; (5) increased methods of securing labor production, labor incentives, housing, and so forth; (6) perhaps also including every phase of the personnel administration for the armed services, to advise with their consent with the proper officials in that regard. This would be the sole agency of Congress on these matters and would replace the present functions of the Senate and House Committees on Military and Naval Affairs, Labor, and so forth, that have been somewhat confused in studying these matters.

Next, a joint legislative executive council on community facilities to replace the present loose control by the various congressional committees and the present Executive Committee on War Facilities, this to become a permanent organization operating to promote the war effort and after the war to promote the coordination of community facilities, this having to do with the direction of the construction of all public works and community facilities. Each Congressman and Senator could very effectively intervene and consult with this organization as to his local needs. He could intervene with the local and State governmental authorities in securing the more adequate cooperation of all agencies in connection with compliance with suggestions emanating from Washington, whether it be the establishment of additional health facilities, change in shipyards, or whatever it may be.

Next, the full consideration of all measures already suggested by various experts on the subject looking toward the reorganization of our agricultural production, including the shifting as a permanent policy agriculturally of production requiring low labor cost, a small proportion of time spent annually in production in proportion to the economic benefits of the product, and the assigning of this production to our good neighbors to the south. This Nation's economy cannot prosper permanently either half slave and half free or with a high-living standard and a very low-living standard.

Next, the increased temporary migration of agricultural workers to alleviate the labor shortage in strategic agricultural production.

I appreciate this time, Mr. Chairman, because I feel this may be one of the last occasions on which these proposals might be submitted for the record and its consideration by the Congress.

Senator DOWNEY. We are very glad to have given you the opportunity. We regret that because of the pressure of time we could not give you more time. Your statement is certainly very comprehensive, although a good many of the issues are outside of the jurisdiction of this committee. I thank you.

This concludes the hearings of this subcommittee on the particular

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and then should be applied with great care lest they may do more harm than good. IX. That the curtailment of any present civilian or war production in Washington, Oregon, and California should be accomplisned without hasty action, only after careful consideration, and only when it is certain that resultant confusion and disruption of business may not injuriously affect national production.

X. That the representatives of the Smaller War Plants Corporation should advise and participate in any plan looking to the elimination or curtailment of any small plant or business.

XI. That immediate action should be taken by the Federal Government to sufficiently increase housing and municipal facilities on the Pacific coast.

XII. That additional amounts of labor-saving machinery should be allocated to West coast industries.

While some of the foregoing recommendations may seem to embody extreme measures it should not be forgotten that war production on the Pacific coast is now demoralized and not meeting its national quota. There is a reasonable probability that Germany will collapse within the next 12 months, and a certainty that such a collapse would shift many war activities from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and thereby greatly multiply strains and difficulties there. The Pacific coast is not now adequately prepared to carry its present-day burdens. It will be relatively far weaker when those burdens will be increased by greater efforts against the Japanese. It is to cure present-day weaknesses and help prepare for greater burdens hereafter that the foregoing recommendations are made by this subcommittee.

SHERIDAN DOWNEY, Chairman, Subcommittee.

X

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE

SEVENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

S. 1543

A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR PAYMENT OF MUSTERING-OUT PAY TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES,

AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

931 55

DECEMBER 1, 1943

Printed for the use of the Committee on Military Affairs

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1943

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