[Victory : Official Weekly Bulletin of the Office of War Information. V. 4, No. 16]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
“BULLETIN
OFFICIAL WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION
WASHINGTON, D. G
APRIL 21, 1943
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 16
OWI Reports on Food Supplies, Predicts Inconveniences
Even Though Goals Are Reached
Civilians Will Get Less Food
An understanding of the fact that civilians must expect inconvenienceslrom time to time is most important in comprehending the food situation in this country, the Office of War Information declared in its report on the wartime food situation. The report which was issued last week pointed out that while the food situation is not entirely predictable, the kind of food troubles that will affect most Americans will not menace life and health.
The OWI predicted exasperations arising out of the feeling that the food supply is not being fairly shared. It pointed to the possibility of black market racketeering in the distributive trades and said some consumers, either deliberately or through negligence, will buy from black market dealers, getting more than their fair share of the total supply of some foods.
Rationing Inequities
Some rationing regulations will apply inequitably at times, the OWI said. The estimates of probable future supplies of food and the requirements for them will not always hit square in the center of the mark and there will have to be quick revisions in the amounts available to civilians, to the military services, and to our allies. This was attributed largely to probable transportation difficulties. Places closest to the centers of production are expected to get (per capita) more of some foods than the places farthest away.
Situation Serious
The basic facts about the prospective civilian food supply and the wartime program for managing its distribution fairly and economically were outlined by the OWI as follows:
522121°—43
“Like other wartime problems, the food situation is serious. This country broke all past records in food production in 1942, and is trying to break them again in 1943. Even if farmers and food processors succeed in this difficult task, the ôutput won’t be big enough to meet minftnum military requirements and at the same time satisfy the extraordinary demands of American civilians, more of whom are making good money than ever before in history.
“The food management program calls for reserving for American civilians enough food for a healthful diet. The success of this program depends on the cooperation of many groups—large production by farmers and Victory gardeners, good planning and administration by the Government, careful buying and cooking by housewives, enlargement of the farm labor supply from many sources, and many other forms of cooperation. Assuming complete success for the program, there still will be more or less severe civilian shortages of certain foods from time to time, and we must be prepared to accept and face them.
Shortages Expected
“There will be more or less continuous shortages of some kinds of food—such as canned fruits and vegetables, dehydrated eggs and milk, meat products, etc.—which are especially adapted to military use and overseas shipment. There will be intermittent shortages locally of several different kinds of food resulting from transportation difficulties, unusual emergency demands of the armed forces, the initial dislocations resulting from institution of and changes in rationing and other programs, and, until they are suppressed, from black markets.
“Conservatively, and roughly estimated, and assuming average weather, civilians will have about 3 percent more food than in the pre-war years but about 6 percent less than in 1942. There will be little fancy food; but there will be enough if it is fairly shared and conserved. Food waste will be intolerable.”
Supply and Demand
For the last 6 years American farmers have turned out and food processors have put into final usable form record volumes of food, the OWI report said. The total food production in 1942 was 28 percent greater than in the average year of the 5 pre-war years—1935 to 1939. Despite difficulties in the way of labor, equipment, supplies, and transportation, the farmers and the food processors are going after a new record in 1943. They have set their goal at 8 percent more than 1942.
The preliminary indications on April 1 were that they would make at least 3 percent more than 1942, and, if the weather were favorable and adequate labor and supplies were provided, could reach the 8 percent goal. Military and
(.Continued on page 439)
—Mats available.
425
426
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
In This Issue w.» 3-^ A
Page
OWI Reports on Food Supplies__________________425
Rationing in Occupied Countries---------------426
The War Last Week_____________________________427
War Bonds Help Check Inflation----------------428
Congress Last Week____________________________429
War Agriculture
Victory Garden Supplies Available------------430
Corn Price Ceilings Raised___________________, 431
War Rationing
Food Rules Simplified-----------------------432
Rationing Reminders_______________________ 433
Whiskey Rationing Unnecessary_______________433
War Wages and Labor NWLB Interprets Executive Order_____________434
War Transportation CAA Liberalizes Plane Restrictions__________435
War Manpower
Commission Stops Job Transfers______________436
McNutt Urges Hiring of Aliens________________437
Priorities_______________________,____________438
Selective Service
Fathers May Be Inducted Soon_________________439
War Facts_____________________________________440
War Production Nelson Relaxes Steel Plate Tests____________441
War Prices
OPA Rules on Durable Goods__________________442
Retail Vegetable Prices Set_________________443
Motion Pictures; Publications_________________444
Appointments__________________________________445
War Releases___________________________ 445-447
Demonstrations Aid War Nutrition______________448
EDITOR’S NOTE
The material in VICTORY BULLETIN is prepared from releases of OWI and other Federal agencies and statements by Government officials. This material has been supplied to the press. Articles in this Bulletin may be reprinted or used by speakers without special permission, and the editor asks only that when excerpts are used their original meaning be preserved.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN of the Office of War Information. Published weekly by the Office of War Information. Printed at the United States Government Printing Office.
Subscription rates by mail : 750 for 52 issues ; 500 for 26 issues ; single copies 50, payable in advance. Remit money order payable directly to the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.
Germany Takes Food Supplies From Occupied Countries
Rationing Figures Released by OWI Show Malnutrition Prevalent
Germany is draining the occupied countries of most of their foods above the barest minimum, according to rationing figures released by the Office of War Information. These figures, the latest obtainable, reveal sharp differences between the condition of the conquered lands and the situation in the United Nations still free, but ration figures alone cannot give a complete picture of the food situation in every country or in all localities within these countries.
The extent of food exactions by Germany varies according to the severity of occupation measures taken against the civilian populations. While the French and Norwegians, for example, must suffer from malnutrition, the Poles, Greeks, and Czechs face actual starvation. The Danes, with a slight degree of nominal independence, fare better than the people in most of the occupied territories. In general, workers in*heavy industries everywhere get larger rations because the Nazis, who need the products of forced labor, must maintain the workers’ capacity to produce materials for the Axis war machine.
Rationing in Greece virtually does not exist for the simple reason that there is so little food to ration. Although Red Cross ships carry into Greece 3,300 tons of various foods in addition to 15,000 tons of Canadian wheat every month, the amounts are not enough to support a rationing program, except for bread, which was rationed at the rate of two ounces a day per person before the wheat arrived and is now slightly larger. These figures for bread may be compared with 20 ounces per week in Jugoslavia, 55 in Belgium, 62 in Czechoslovakia, 63 in the Netherlands, 70 in Luxembourg, 82 ounces for Denmark, and 60 for France.
Over-All Diet Rationing
A larger bread ration, however, is by no means indication of a good food supply, for in many of these countries to a great extent it takes the place of more nourishing diet items. The bread allowance, therefore, must be balanced against the rations of meat, butter and fats, milk, and vegetables.
Except for the small Red Cross shipments, none of these items are available
in Greece, although small quantities of green vegetables and fruit are to be had intermittently in certain localities. As regards meat, it is rarely available in Norway, is rationed at 6 ounces in Belgium, and 6% ounces in France—when available—and 10% ounces in Luxembourg. In Czechoslovakia, the heavy worker gets 10% ounces. The meat ration in the Netherlands is 4% ounces, in Jugoslavia, 5% ounces. Meat consumption in Denmark is restricted but not rationed.
Butter is so scarce in occupied Europe that its place is generally taken by other fats. The ration for all fats in Belgium is 3% ounces; in Czechoslovakia, 5% ounces; in the Netherlands, 6% ounces; and in Norway, 8 ounces. The fat ration is 3 ounces in Jugoslavia (Croatia), when fats can be obtained; 2% ounces in France, 7% ounces in Luxembourg, and 10% ounces in Denmark.
Little Milk Available
Throughout the great part of occupied Europe milk in any form is so scarce that it either is not rationed, or is given only to children as skimmed milk. In Norway, however, the ration of skiihmed milk is 27 ounces a week for adults. Norway also has a fairly high ration of grains, cereals and other starches. In France a ration of 2% ounces of legumes a week is allowed.
Small quantities of substitute coffee give the average consumer in occupied lands from 2 to 3 ounces a week, one of the lowest rations being in France, where 1% ounces are granted. Sugar rations range from 4% ounces in France to 10% ounces in Denmark.
Among the British Commonwealth of Nations, food rationing depends on the availability of supplies in particular countries. Only sugar, coffee, and tea are rationed in all of them. Australians may get 1% ounces of tea a week, Britons and New Zealanders, 2 ounces. Canadians may. choose between an ounce of tea or 4 ounces of coffee. In New Zealand, the sugar ration is 12 ounces; in Great Britain and Canada, 8 ounces, and in Australia, 16 ounces a week.
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
427
The War Last Week 1 • <
Battle for Tunisia Moves
Toward Climactic Phase
Eisenhower Declares Allied Armies Ready For Final Action in Tunis-Bizerte Area
Since the occupation of Sousse by the British Eighth Army and the fall of Kairouan to a combined Allied force, the battle for Tunisia has moved out of the cat-and-mouse phase into a phase of siege. The race up the coast, which began on April 6 when the British drove Rommel out of his Mareth Line defenses, has ended, and Rommel and Von Arnim are now entrenched in the mountainclad triangle of Tunis-Bizerte.
Storming these defenses is the immediate job facing the Allies in Tunisia, and it is not likely to be an easy one. The so-called Enfidaville Line, which runs, roughly, from Enfidaville on the east coast west to the mountain range (the Grand Dorsal) and then north to the Mediterranean coast, is a mountainous one, with natural defenses that Allied tanks and armored divisions will find hard to penetrate. Along this line the Allied armies are massing for a full-scale, concerted assault.
Already some very important hill positions have been taken from the Axis. Fighting has been particularly severe in the Mejez-el-Bab sector, where the enemy has lashed out with a series of counterattacks intended to cut the Allied threat to these mountain passes.
French forces have also been in for some bitter hill-fighting, holding, as they are, the west flank of the Enfidaville Line.
Allies Ready
At a press conference last week General Eisenhower said the Allied Armies were “ready” for the climactic final phase of the battle of Tunisia. The American Second Army Corps under General Patton has taken 4,680 prisoners and diverted 35,000 Axis troops from the coastal front. But in accomplishing this. General Eisenhower said, the Second Army has lost 5,372 killed, missing and wounded.
In the course of the campaign the Second Army has knocked out of battle 69 tanks (30 of these completely destroyed), captured 150 field pieces, 150 machine guns, and an enemy dump of 45,000 mines and bombs in the El Guettar and Maknassy sectors.
In Washington, the War Department announced that during the week ending April 9 the USAAF in North Africa shot down 89 German and Italian planes, and in addition got 23 probables and at least 100 other Axis planes destroyed on the ground. Our losses during the same period were 6 planes lost and 16 missing. The most recent over-all air score was given out the day Sousse fell (Monday, April 12). Allied headquarters at that time announced that over 1,250 Axis planes had been shot down during the campaign in this theater. This figure includes planes brought down by Allied antiaircraft gunners as well as those destroyed in combat by the air forces.
Campaign on Schedule
Summing up the air campaign, General Eisenhower said that 50 percent of Axis supplies en route to Tunisia by sea and air had been sunk and that the campaign was working out “according to schedule,”
Another casualty score came this week from General MacArthur’s headquarters
’’After all, we have gained territory today.**
”Ja, Herr General, but not enough to bury our dead.”
—Two-column mats are available.
in Australia. Allied casualties in New Guinea up to April 1 have totaled 10,531— 4,319 of these Americans—while Japanese casualties are estimated at 38,000.
News of the despatch of a nine-ship Japanese convoy to the New Guinea port of Wewak, and the quick, effective smashing of this convoy by General MacArthur’s airmen, was followed by a Navy report of another tremendous blow to Japanese naval power.
Unlike the New Guinea action, the Navy operations were carried out by submarines. But the total of Jap ships taken, as disclosed in both announce-^ ments, was gratifying. The Army planes destroyed three of the Wewak convoy’s six supply and transport ships, and went back the next day for more. The submarines sank five Jap ships and damaged two. As of Saturday, the announced total of Japanese ships sent to the bottom of the sea since the outbreak of war is 148.
Hangars at Kiska
Kiska in the Aleutians has figured prominently in military news this week— the unhappy recipient of 43 American air attacks in five consecutive days. Major objectives of these raids were the land plane runways and hangars which the Japanese have been rushing toward completion.
Secretary of the Navy Knox said the American raids have been “raising a good deal, of havoc,” and indicated that the planes raising this havoc are operating from points quite close to Kiska itself.
428
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
War Bond Investments
Help Check Inflation
Americans Paying Lower Taxes Than British and Canadians
Americans today are confronted with the choice of now laying aside their surplus spending power in taxes, war bond investments, and savings or else letting inflation destroy not only this surplus but a great deal more.
With this warning against unnecessary spending, the Office of War Information reviewed the home-front advantages of investing in war bonds and other government securities. There is no reason for economic defeatism, OWI stated, if Americans at large will only use their basic common sense and realize that the protection of their present high purchasing power lies in their own hands.
In 1940, OWI recalled, total income payments made to all American citizens amounted to about 76 billion dollars. Total personal taxes—including income, estate, gift, and property taxes on owner-occupied homes—paid by individuals, with State, Federal, and local added together, amounted to around 3 billion dollars.
Bonds Are Weapons
In 1942, total income payments to Americans were about 115 billion, an increase of 39 billion in this 2-year period. Total personal tax collections in 1942, however, drained off only between 6 and 7 billion dollars.
For 1943, OWI further warned, individual income payments are expected to reach 135 billion dollars (in current prices), but personal taxes to be paid to all taxing authorities are estimated at only 13 to 15 billion dollars. Dramatizing the drastic necessity for absorbing more of this surplus income through individual investment in war bonds and stamps, OWI highlighted this 3-year survey of income and taxes in this way: from 1940 to 1943, individual incomes in the United States increased by 59 billion dollars, yet personal taxes rose only about 10 to 12 billion.
Thus, after paying their expected taxes in 1943, the American people will still have nearly 50 billion dollars more income than they had left after paying their taxes in 1940.
In this battle against inflation on the home front, bond buying, OWI said, has
a weapon value comparable in a great degree to its usefulness in financing actual war supplies for Americans fighting on war fronts all over the world. Too, inflation can prove a real saboteur of war production for, if the whole scale of costs rises, so, too, does the cost of war supplies.
Until recently, OWI continued, it could hardly be said that Americans had really begun to pay for the war. Higher taxes and living costs did not make themselves greatly felt because millions of people were earning more money. There was no cut in average living standards.
Money After Taxes
The even higher taxes of 1943 will be spread more widely than ever before, among about 45 million taxpayers. Yet, even counting in State and local taxes, American citizens still will be paying lower wartime taxes than the British and the Canadians. And, despite the fact that the Revenue Act of 1942 is “the biggest tax law in our history,’’ it still will leave the American public with more spending money' than it has ever had before.
The advantage of Government borrowing from the people rather than from banks, OWI further said, is that in this method no new money is created. Borrowing from banks would cost the Government less in interest, but it is worth the difference to keep living costs as well as war costs down.
Up to now, OWI said in conclusion, there have been two things wrong with public bond-buying. Despite the generous and typically American response to bond appeals, not enough persons are investing systematically in bonds. Second, not enough persons have bought bonds with money that they have saved by reducing their current spending.
The simplest way of overcoming this situation is for every American possibly able to do so to invest more of his current income in bonds and other Government securities, in the Second War Loan, “the greatest financial wartime drive in history.”
Treasury Procurement To Recommend Plants
Will Examine 7,000 Firms
For Army-Navy "E” Award
An arrangement whereby the Procurement Division of the Treasury will nominate war plants to receive the coveted Army-Navy “E” award has been completed. Henceforth Army and Navy officials will consider for the award eligible contractors recommended by the Procurement Division.
Clifton E. Mack, Director of Procurement for the Treasury Department, announced that the Division will examine the cream of approximately 7,000 firms, large and small, whose production includes manufacture of the “nondra-matic” articles of war—articles such as hand tools, agricultural implements, trucks, and miscellaneous articles supplied to foreign nations under the lend-lease program.
“The philosophy of the plan is that thousands more manufacturing concerns of all sizes, whose splendid production records may heretofore have not been closely examined, will now gain a better opportunity to shoot for the country’s highest production achievement,” said Mr. Mack.
Under the plan, Procurement Division field inspectors will initiate recommendations from “on the spot” observation of plants making war goods. These will be forwarded to the Procurement Division “only after the most stringent and rigid examination of applicable plant factors.”
Upon receipt in Washington, the recommendations will be reviewed by a committee of Division specialists whose activities cover the entire range of Government wartime procurement.
The Committee will review the inspectors’ recommendations according to definite standards, including a determination of the plants’ production against total possible maximum; its. safety record and precautionary equipment and program; its absentee record, employee morale and numerous other factors.
“Only those plants passing an exceedingly rigid and careful check of the record will be voted on,” said Mr. Mack. “Even then, a unanimous decision of the Committee will be necessary before the Procurement Division will indorse the plant to the Army-Navy Production Standards Board, where final approval must be given.”
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
429
"War Spending Rate Reaches New Peak
Retail Trade Levels Off
As War Output Rises
War expenditures in March attained a new peak, approximating an annual rate of $84 billion, according to an article on the business situation appearing in the April issue of the Survey of Current Business, monthly publication of the Department of Commerce.
Continued gains in war output last month were accompanied by additional restrictions upon the civilian economy. Production indices generally continued to advance on a seasonally adjusted basis, with the Federal Reserve index climbing an apparent 2 points—-due almost entirely to further advances in the durable manufacturing industries.
Controlled Prices Steady
Wholesale prices also continued their steady rise, advancing 0.8 point during March as prices of farm products and of foods, the elements in the price structure under less effective control, rose appreciably. Prices of industrial products, under more effective control, re-mained virtually steady.
Retail trade, following the heavy buying wave in February, returned to more normal levels in March but remained above the same period in 1942. Led by near panic buying of apparel, February retail sales exceeded $4.5 billion, an 18 percent gain over the same month last year and an all-time peak in terms of the seasonally adjusted index.
The index of apparel sales jumped more than 60 points—more than 20 percent—from January to February. Since supplies of consumer goods are already dwindling, it is pointed out that the effect of such a high level of sales is to bring nearer the date on which additional action to restrict consumption may have to be taken.
The outlook for food supplies was somewhat brightened by reports that acreages planted in certain crops this year were running well ahead of last year. This is indicative of the serious efforts farmers are making to meet 1943 farm output goals.
Tax Collections Up
March 15 saw income tax returns filed by an estimated 38 million, individuals, about 19 million of whom were making returns for the first time. March collections, both of personal and corpo-
The Congress Last Week. . .
Senate Approves Land Army Of Domestic, Alien Workers
Committee Bill Would Abolish FSA, Also Crop Insurance Program
Congress continued its struggle with the many-headed farm problem last week. The Senate passed and sent to the White House a bill appropriating $26,100,000 for recruiting and transporting farm workers to harvest this year’s crops. Under present terms of the measure, alien farm laborers would be admitted into the country and would be issued identification cards which would permit them to migrate through the country in search of farm work.
The Senate Agriculture Committee has directed its chairman to make a written request to the State Department that arrangements be made for Committee representation at the International Food Conference, to be held next month. The Committee wants its representatives to .attend the Conference, although not as official participants. In another action, the Agriculture Committee reported favorably a bill permitting small growers of burley tobacco a minimum allotment of one-half acre on the 1943 crop. This bill was designed to give small growers a bigger cash income in hopes of encouraging farmers to turn to production of food and feed for war.
Agriculture Bill Reported
The House Appropriations Committee reported a $707,040,844 Agricultural Appropriation bill for the coming fiscal
rate income taxes, were approximately 40 percent greater than in the same month of last year. This advance is declared to have been too small in dollar terms to contribute substantially to the alleviation of inflationary pressure.
With expenditures for munitions approaching the peak, the pressure on industries vital to the war effort naturally increases. The article discusses in detail how two such industries—steel and lumber—both close to the war program, have been affected by recent developments and how they are likely to fare during the remainder of 1943.
year. In its present form, the bill would: abolish the Farm Security Administration; abolish the Federal crop insurance program; prohibit Government loans to farmers where credit is obtainable from private lending agencies.
Bathers Go Last
The House passed and sent to the Senate the Kilday Bill, which determines the order in which men are to be drafted as follows: 1. Men without dependents; 2. Single men with dependents; 3. Married men without children, providing the relationship is bona fide and the marriage took place before December 8,1941; 4. Men with wives and children or children alone, maintaining a bona fide relationship, whose marriage took place before December 8, 1941.
The Senate has passed a bill extending the Treasury’s $2,000,000,000 stabilization fund for 2 years. The measure, which now goes to the House, was approved after it had been separated from the question of extending the President’s authority to devaluate the dollar. The devaluation power expires June 30.
The Distaff Side
The Senate Judiciary Committee reported favorably a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment granting equal political and civil rights to women. The resolution was amended to give the States 5 years after ratification in which to adjust their laws to conform with the amendment. After congressional approval, ratification by the States must be effected in 9 years.
House actions last week included passing a biU which would release water and sewage systems in Colon and Panama City to the Republic of Panama, fulfilling obligations to Panama for its construction of war bases; approval by the Rules Committee of a bill authorizing construction of a million tons of auxiliary shipping for the Navy; and approval by the Rules Committee of a bill designed to curb excessive profits by commission agents who secure war contracts for independent plants.
430
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
War Agriculture . i
Plenty of Victory Garden Supplies
Animal Pest Control Advice Given
The 18 million American families who are expected to supplement their wartime food rations by planting Victory Gardens this year will be able to obtain the necessary tools, fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides, according to a supply status roundup by the War Production Board. Production of most commercial fertilizers in 1943 will be greater than ever before. Although nitrogenous fertilizers will not be so readily available as in pre-war years, the stores are carrying a special Victory Garden fertilizer, packed in 5- to 100-pound bags.
Supply of hand tools will be adequate, but styles of individual implements will be fewer and less fancy. Garden hose is still being made. The quantity produced depends upon how much of their allotments of reclaimed rubber manufacturers wish to use in making garden hose as against industrial and other types of hose. Some spray guns made of iron and steel are still available. In addition, several types of spray guns made of noncrlt-ical materials instead of all-metal aye now being introduced on the market.
There will be enough of various types of insecticides and fungicides to combat any pests likely to sabotage Victory Garden Crops.
Animal Pests
Victory Gardens can be protected from animal pests without the necessity of destroying the responsible animals, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Because so many Victory gardeners have sought information on methpds of controlling cottontails and other animal pests, the Service has prepared a mimeographed leaflet entitled “Protecting Victory Gardens from Animal Pests,” which is now available for free distribution. A copy may be obtained by writing to the Fish and Wildlife Service, Chicago, Ill.
“Cottontails are easily trapped alive,” says the leaflet, “and while this method of preventing damage to Victory Gardens may be slow, it is the best method to employ when the animals damage gardens near towns and cities.” Moles, pocket gophers, woodchucks, and field mice, which also cause some damage In Victory Gardens, are discussed in the leaflet.
FARM LAND VALUES
INCREASE SHARPLY
Farm real estate values on March 1 were sharply higher than a year ago, the Department of Agriculture said last week in giving the results of a Nationwide survey of land values by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
The Bureau’s preliminary index of average per acre values (1912-14=100) for the country as a whole was 99 on March 1 of this year, compared with 91 a year earlier, 85 in 1941, and a low* of 73 in 1933. This 9 percent increase in values in the last year is the most substantial that has occurred in any year since 1920. Most of this increase occurred during the last 4 months, as the comparable index for November 1 was 93. Land value increases during the past year were widespread, with some advance reported for each of the 48 States.
For the second successive year, sharp increases in values occurred in the East South Central and Mountain States. Increases somewhat under the substantial advances of a year ago were reported for the East North Central States, while the increases of the past year in the Middle Atlantic and West North Central groups of States materially exceeded the moderate increases of the previous year. Value increases during the past two years amounted to 29 percent in Kentucky and 27 percent in Indiana. Increases of 20 to 24 percent have occurred in 13 States; 15 to 19 percent in 16 States; 10 to 14 percent in 11 States; and less than 10 percent in 6 States.
MEETINGS SCHEDULED WITH FRUIT TRADE
A series of six meetings with representatives of the fresh fruit trade to dis-cuss proposed price ceilings on these commodities were announced last week by the Office of Price Administration.
The meetings, to be held by OPA in conjunction with the War Food Administration, are scheduled as follows: Tuesday, April 27, Sacramento, Calif.; Wednesday, April 28, Medford, Oreg.; Friday, April 30, Yakima, Wash.; Tuesday, May 11, Charlotte, N. C.; Thursday, May 13, Albany, N. Y.; and Friday, May 14, Chicago, Ill.
The trade representatives have been asked by OPA to bring information on areas and seasons of production, grading and packing costs; variety, grade and size differentials, containers used, icing and other charges.
Establishing price ceilings on fresh
Restrictions Removed From Farm Machines
Milking Machines, Blowers Freed From Quota Control
In four orders affecting the rationing of farm machinery and supplies, farm fencing and peanut pickers were removed from the group of rationed articles, pressure cookers were placed under rationing, and quota controls on milking machines, grain and forage blowers, and portable and stationary elevators were removed.
Fencing was dropped from the rationing program following the issuance of a WPB order which provides for the distribution of fencing. Present WPB regulations permit any person to purchase amounts of fencing not exceeding ten dollars in a single purchase, or 4,000 pounds in a quarter-year period.
Pressure Cookers Rationed
The 150,000 pressure cookers which will be produced in 1943 will be rationed by County Farm Rationing Committees or by subcommittees established for urban areas. Eligibility to purchase new pressure cookers will be based on obtaining the greatest possible volume of home-canned nonacid vegetables and meats. Community pools and organizations composed of several families who agree to use a pressure cooker jointly will have a better chance to obtain a pressure cooker than individual families who usually can little food, according to Department officials.
Peanut pickers, instead of being rationed, will be distributed by peanut growers’ associations in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture.
Manufacturers of milking machines may make immediate distribution of 90 percent of their authorized production but must reserve 10 percent to meet emergency requirements.
Manufacturers of grain and forage blowers and portable and stationary elevators may distribute all of their authorized production. No national reserve of any of these items is needed because their use is sectional rather than national.
fruit will be in line with OPA’s announced policy of bringing all possible foodstuffs under price control. The conferences announced today are in line with the agency’s established policy of conferring with industry representatives before issuing regulations.
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
431
Corn Fertilizer
Directive Issued
Prevents Discrimination
Against Competing Crops
The War Food Administration last week issued a directive giving the conditions by which farmers may obtain chemical fertilizer containing nitrogen for use on field corn in the Com Belt States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The chief provisions of the directive prevent discrimination against other Group B crops competing for the same type of fertilizer. They are:
Before making deliveries of chemical fertilizer containing nitrogen for use on field corn, all dealers, manufacturers, and agents must first accept any applications for fertilizer for use on Group A crops. Before any eligible applicant can receive more than 50 percent of his requirements for such fertilizer for use on field corn, all other eligible applicants must have received at least 50 percent of their requirements. Deliveries above 50 percent of the requirements shall be made in equal percentage to all eligible persons, wherever practicable. Fertilizer manufacturers, dealers and agents shall make available as high a percentage of this fertilizer for other Group B crops as for corn.
Group A crops grown in the Corn Belt include: Field crops—cotton varieties normally stapling inches or longer, fiber and seed flax, fiber and seed hemp, hybrid corn for seed production only, peanuts and soybeans; vegetable crops— dried beans, snap and lima beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, kale, onions, peas, peppers, Irish and sweet potatoes, .spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, and vegetable seeds.
Group B crops include all crops except those in Group A and certain crops on which the use of fertilizer containing chemical nitrogen is prohibited by Food Production Order No. 5.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruit growers* in some areas, particularly California, who have been accustomed to using such organic nitrogen materials as oilseed meals and tankage for fertilizer and are now unable to obtain them because of local shortages, will be permitted to obtain straight chemical nitrogen materials, the Department of Agriculture announced.
Higher Corn Price Ceilings To Alleviate Feed Shortage
Designed to Encourage Movement of Corn For Industrial Processing Plants
Maximum prices of com were raised five cents last week by the Office of Price Administration following instructions from Stabilization Director Byrnes and Food Administrator Davis. The action was an abandonment of the “escalator” method of seasonal pricing, and the new prices will continue as the top prices for the remainder of the crop year ending September 30, 1943.
OPA’s action lifts current ceiling prices for yellow corn produced in the central part of the United States, the maximum price levels at principal terminal marketing points and the peak quotations for corn futures on the Nation’s grain exchanges. Designed to encourage the immediate movement of corn, the move should relieve the present acute market shortage of the yellow cereal for feeding livestock and industrial processing. -I
No increase will be permitted in corn prices on either east or west coasts. However, in order to “hold the line” on poultry and dairy feed prices in the New England area, Atlantic seaboard and Southeastern States, and yet continue the normal movement of corn to these points despite unchanged corn price ceilings there, Commodity Credit Corporation is making arrangements to sell corn in these areas at the old ceiling prices applicable there.
Such sales will be made either through regular trade channels or directly by CCC. Suppliers who normally sell corn into these areas may make purchases from CCC at the lower prices prevailing for the areas or they may sell corn to CCC at the prevailing market prices in the surplus area and repurchase an equivalent quantity of corn at a price basis comparable with the ceiling levels in the New England, Atlantic Seaboard, and Southeastern States.
Such com may be sold and shipped to feed mixers, dealers, and feeders in these areas for feeding purposes only. The quantity of com sold to any mixer, dealer, or feeder shall, together with the quantity on hand and the quantity purchased for delivery within 60 days, not exceed a 60 days’ requirement. Maximums on corn raised on the east
or west coast also will continue at the present levels with no price change.
CCC Will Buy No. 2 Beans
The CCC will also purchase from the 1943 crop No. 2 dry edible beans as well as No. 1 grade, the price for No. 2 grade to be 15 cents below the prices announced April 8 which applied to No. 1 grade.
The grower support price of 1943 crop No. 1 beans is $6.50 per hundred pounds, cleaned and bagged in carlots, f. o. b., carrier, at country shipping points, for the following classes: Pea, Great Northern, Small White, Flat Small White, Pinto, Pink, Small Red and Cranberry; and $7.50 per hundred pounds, f. o. b. basis for the following classes: Lima, Baby Lima, Light Red Kidney, Dark Red. Kidney, and Western Red Kidney.
The temporary price control which has existed over onion sets, used by farmers for planting onion fields, was made permanent last week by the Office of Price Administration.
The action simply maintains prices at the level where they had been frozen, the individual seller’s high for the period February 10 to 15, 1943.
Farm Group Pledge
A delegation of 18 comprising the National Agricultural Mobilization Committee and representing farmers who do not belong to any of the “big four” farm organizations, conferred with Price Administrator Prentiss M. Brown last week and pledged their support to keeping farm prices stable.
The committee is headed by Ralph Brown of Hoyville, Ohio, and members come principally from the Mid-West. It was organized at a recent meeting at Des Moines.
Committee members informed Mr. Brown that while only a small percentage of farmers belong to the “big four” farm organizations (the National Grange, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Cooperative Council) the committee represented the views of the majority of American farmers.
432
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
War Rationing f: A >
Food Rationing Rules Revised To Simplify Work of Boards
Meat Certificates May be Used For Purchase of Sugar, Coffee
To further simplify the food rationing program the Office of Price Administration last week ruled that the food ration certificates now used for meats and fats may be used for sugar and coffee. Another step in the same direction was taken when the OPA revised the method of depositing points collected by retailers and other distributors. At the same time, OPA reminded druggists that they were required to collect ration stamps when they sell rationed foods, pointing out that they must register under Ration Order 13 if they continue to sell such rationed items as baby foods, grape fruit juice, and other processed foods.
The rule allowing consumers to use ration certificates in purchasing sugar and coffee is expected to simplify the work of local War and Price Rationing Boards in that a single form will now be used for all rationing programs. However, where copies of the old form are on hand, local Boards have been instructed to use them until supplies are exhausted. All certificates will remain the property of the Office of Price Administration.
Stamps Deposited
Until OPA revised the method for depositing ration points collected by retailers only stamps of the same validity period and the same point value could be enclosed in a single envelope in making a ration bank deposit. As a result of the change which became effective on April 12, stamps of the same expiration date but still of the same point value may be deposited in the same envelope.
Changing the time* limits specified for depositing ration points does not affect the procedure used in depositing coffee and sugar stamps and the processed foods blue stamps, but it will facilitate the depositing of red stamps used in meat-fats rationing.
Unlike the other stamps, the red stamps become valid on different dates though they all expire on a specified date. Thus, as a result of the change, red stamps A, B, C, and D of the same
point value,“ all expiring on April 30, may be deposited in the same deposit envelope. Previously, only A stamps of “the same point value and each of the three other series could be included in a single deposit.
Reminder on Play Shoes
During the past week the OPA also reminded manufacturers of certain specified play shoes and other types not ordinarily used for street wear that all shoes in these classifications manufactured, packaged, or shipped after April 15, 1943, go back on the rationed list. Shoes of these types which leave a factory before April 15 remain nonrationed, even though they may not reach the consumer level for months to come. Such shoes now on dealers’ shelves also remain nonrationed.
Any of these shoes shipped after April 15 must be stamped by the manufacturer with the month and year in which the shoe is packaged, and they may be sold only against ration currency.
Further Steps Promised
Additional steps in the simplification of the rationing program were promised by Price Administrator Brown.
In a letter addressed to the presidents of all banks participating in the OPA ration banking system Administrator Brown commended these institutions for taking on the task of handling the ration banking program cheerfully and willingly at a time when they are facing personnel and other problems. He outlined a program of simplification which will streamline ration banking.
“The Ration Banking plan has now reached maturity,” the Price Administrator said. “We began with gasoline, sugar, and coffee, in order to gain brief experience for the incomparably more difficult-job of handling processed foods and meat. Now that they too are under way, we believe we can iron out some of the difficulties which have inevitably arisen.”
Explain Rationing Of Athletic Shoes
Baseball Shoes Classed
As Working Equipment
With summer sports bringing on the customary increased demand for athletic shoes, the Office of Price Administration explained last week how to buy them under rationing.
Baseball shoes, worn by big league and minor league players, are considered work shoes, and when bought by the club itself, the shoes can be furnished members of the teams without the players having to surrender ration currency for them, as long as the club retains title to the shoes.
Provision was made in the original order to permit employers to purchase work shoes for their employees, and employers of professional ball players qualify. To get certificates for the purchase of these shoes, an employer applies to an OPA District office.
When the player himself buys the shoes, he must first spend his stamp 17, and any unspent stamps held by members of his family. However, after spending the stamps, a professional ball player upon application to his War Price and Rationing Board, can be given a shoe purchase certificate or stamp permitting him to buy a pair of spiked shoes, if he has less than two pairs which are wearable or repairable. This permits a ball player to have necessary ball shoes in addition to his shoes for street wear.
Shoes for Armed Forces
When a member of the armed forces needs athletic shoes, he applies to an authorized issuing officer, stating his necessity, just as he does when needing dress shoes. The authorized officer may issue a shoe purchase certificate which must bear his signature.
Members of semi-professional and company teams are not considered professional athletes, and baseball shoes worn by them are not considered work shoes. For such persons, athletic shoes can be acquired only in conformance with the shoe ration regulations as they apply to the average consumer. However, if a member of a semi-pro or company team spends his stamp 17 for athletic shoes, and there are no unspent stamps in his family, he can apply for a supplemental ration for street shoes when he has less than two pairs of wearable or repairable street shoes.
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
433
Rationing Reminders
FOODS
Meat, fats, oils, cheeses, canned fish.—During the first four weekly periods, red stamps from War Ration Book Two became valid as follows: A stamps, March 29; B stamps, April 4; C stamps, April 11; D stamps, April 18. Each set is worth 16 points. Validity runs to April 30.
Poultry, game, and fresh fish will not be rationed, and 250 varieties of rare or perishable cheese are excluded from rationing.
Sugar—Stamp No. 12 from Book One is valid for five pounds through the end of May. Sugar for home-canning of 1943 fruit crops will be available to housewives.
Coffee.—Stamp No. 26 expires (War Ration Book One) and Stamp No. 23 will become valid April 26.
Canned goods and related food items are covered by blue coupons lettered D, E, and F, a total of 48 points for the month of April.
Dry beans, peas or lentils are point-free for use as seed.
FUEL OIL
Period 5 coupons are valid in all zones. In the 17 Eastern States and the District of Columbia, No. 5 coupons are worth 10 gallons for Class I users; 100 gallons for Class H users. In 13 Midwestern States Class I No. 5 coupons are worth 11 gallons; Class .n are worth 110 gallons, except in Southern Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and all of Kentucky where Class I coupons are worth 10 gallons and Class n 100 gallons. The value of coupons in Washington and Oregon remains at 10 gallons for Class I users; at 100 gallons for Class n users.
Zone A: Period 4 coupon expired April 17.
Zone B: Period 4 coupon expired April 12.
Zones C and D: Period 4 coupon expired April 6.
Householders are cautioned to preserve the identity stub of their heating ration as it will be required when next winter’s rations are issued.
GASOLINE'
“B” and “C” coupons expire according to dates indicated on individual books.
A-5 coupons are good for three gallons. In the 17 Eastern States and the District of Columbia validity runs to July 21; in the rest of the country, validity runs to May 21. The extension of the valid period on the East Coast will have the effect of limiting motorists who have no occupational use for their cars to 90 miles a month. Car owners in the East will be eligible for supplemental rations for necessary driving to and from work, or in connection with work. However, they must first form a car club to carry three or more persons to work regularly.
Farmers may obtain gasoline for their tractors, engines, and other nonhighway equipment for a period of six months. Virtually all types of installation, maintenance, and repair service on essential nonportable goods are eligible for UC” rations.
Virtually all types of installation, maintenance, and repair service on essential nonportable goods are now eligible for “C” rations.
TIRES
Owners of passenger cars and commercial vehicles using tires smaller than 7.50 x 20, may get their casings recapped with reclaimed rubber camelback without applying to their local War Price and Rationing Boards for certificates.
A driver with a mileage ration of more than 240 miles monthly may get new casings of the lower qualities—Grade H—when he needs replacements. Previously only those with monthly mileages over 560 could get new tires. Motorists with mileage rations between 560 and 1,000 monthly—who until now have been eligible for new casings in the lower quality bracket only—will be able to get the Grade I tires which previously were reserved for cars with a ration of 1,000 miles or more a month.
Certificates for tires and tubes may be used at any convenient time.
Farm tractor and implement tires will be recapped only with a material made almost entirely of reclaimed rubber, and replacements will not be issued for tires that are recappable. Tire dealers or persons selling or servicing farm equipment who need rear-wheel tractor tires to serve their customers will be able to get stocks for this purpose. Retail milkdelivery vehicles are eligible for replacement tires when their present casings are not .recappable.
SHOES
Stamp No. 17 in War Ration Book One is valid for one pair of shoes through June 15. Certain types of shoes are not rationed.
Rationing of Liquor Not Necessary
3-Year Supply
On Hand Now
Stocks of whiskey in the United States represent approximately a 3-year supply, at the 1942 rate of consumption, and no Federal plan to ration distilled spirits is anticipated or necessary at the present time, John B. Smiley, director of the Beverages and Tobacco Division, WPB, said this week.
Mr. Smiley outlined the following three reasons for not rationing spirits:
There are scarcely any two producers who have a comparable inventory of the various years’ distillation, and because of the aging factor, these inequalities in inventory could not be reconciled. Now that all production is stopped, there is no opportunity to equalize inventories.
The product is definitely classified as a luxury and the rationing of luxuries has not been deemed necessary.
Since the future of a tremendous industry is at stake, from producers to the smallest retailer, it is believed that every constructive means of protecting it will be voluntarily taken. This also applies to wine.
351,000,000 Gallons Left
On March 1, stocks of whiskey amounted to slightly more than 453 million tax gallons. “This figure,” Mr. Smiley said, “represents the original gallons of whiskey entered into barrels. Soakage and evaporation have reduced this by approximately 22.5 percent, thus leaving a balance of approximately 351 million gallons of whiskey.
“From this stock must come supplies to fill the demand for whiskey, gin, and blending spirits. Gin and blending spirits are not being replaced (except comparatively small quantities of gin from Cuba and Mexico), and whiskey stocks must carry this load as well as fill normal demands. In the calendar year 1942, approximately 132 million tax gallons of whiskey, gin, and blending spirits were withdrawn. At that rate of withdrawal, less soakage and evaporation we have only 2.7 years’ supply.”
" With respect to, the supply and distribution of wine, Mr. Smiley said that wine inventories in the United States decreased from 163 million gallons at the end of 1941 to 123 million gallons at the end of 1942. This reflected a reduction in production.
434
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
War Wages’ and Labor .■ .
Board Proposes To Interpret Stabilization Order Strictly
Regional Boards Told to Deny. Immediately Cases Involving Only Interplant Inequalities
In its opinion on the first case decided under the new stabilization order, the War Labor Board announced that it proposes to carry out strictly the spirit and intent as well as the literal meaning of the hold-the-line Executive Order of April 8.
At the same time, about 10,000 of the 17,000 requests for approval of wage and salary adjustments pending before the National and Regional War Labor Boards were disposed of when the National Board instructed its regions to deny at once all cases which involve only interplant inequalities.
Wage Award Whittled
The WLB unanimously reduced a referee’s wage award from 5^0 to 20 an hour to bring it within the Little Steel formula, in the first case decided under Executive Order 9328. The case involved the Universal Atlas Cement Company of Universal, Pa., and the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, CIO. About 500 employees were involved.
The day after the decision was announced, workers at the plant went on strike. Officers of the International union ordered the men back to work the next day, following receipt of a telegram from WLB Chairman William H. Davis, which read in part:
“The leaders of American labor and the War Labor Board face a common problem with a common purpose: to protect the value of the wage earners’ dollar and at the same time hold to a minimum all avoidable or gross inequities. The War Labor Board believes that when the facts of this national problem are clearly understood by the American people the present difficulties will be overcome by the cooperation of responsible labor leaders with the War Labor Board and the Director of Economic Stabilization. We call upon you and the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers to continue and intensify production while these problems are being solved.”
The Board’s referee had recommended a 5^0 increase to eliminate inequalities
with other plants of the company. Wayne L. Morse, public member, writing the Board’s opinion in the case, said:
“There is no question about the fact that the wage increase recommended by the referee would have been permissible under the terms of Executive Order No. 9250 of October 3, 1942 . . . However, the recent Executive Order No. 9328 of April 8, 1943 ... in clear and unambiguous terms, has deprived the Board of the power to grant wage increases for the purpose of correcting inequalities or gross inequities, or for the purpose of aiding in the effective prosecution of the war ... It is the conclusion of the Board that under the terms of the Executive Order of April 8, 1943, the Board is empowered to grant a wage increase in the instant case solely for the purpose of compensating for the rise in cost of living in accordance with the Little Steel formula . . .”
Dean Morse added that it would be the Board’s duty to give advice and suggestions to the Director of Economic Stabilization on the issuing of policy directives to correct any manifest wage injustice which interferes with the war effort. He explained that the Board proposes to do all in its power “to carry out the aims and objectives of the President’s ‘hold-the-line’ order. It does not propose to be a party to any attempt to give to the order an interpretation inconsistent with the clear meaning of the language of the order.”
AFL and CIO members issued separate concurring opinions, stating that their votes in favor of the Board’s decision should not be interpreted as indicating approval of the new stabilization order. No other vote was possible under the terms of the order, AFL members stated. They added: “A literal interpretation and application of the Order will work manifest injustices upon American labor and industry and be detrimental to the war effort.” CIO members charged “the freezing of gross inequities will neither secure stabilization nor promote production.”
AFL Charges Violation
AFL members made several charges:
1. That the removal of certain powers from the WLB is “a flagrant violation of the no - strike - no - lockout . . . agreement of December 23, 1941,” which provided “that all labor disputes would be settled for the duration of war by a tri-partite War Labor Board. Now we find that wage disputes involving gross inequities and manifest injustices apparently cannot be settled” by the WLB.
2. That the treatment of cases already pending before the Board violates the American sense of fair play. “Not only labor but people generally must agree that it was not fair to the tens of thousands of workers involved in the 17,000 cases for the Administration to change the rules under which these cases came to the Board.”
3. That industry commissions and panels “have gone a long way in stabilizing the industries within their jurisdiction, both from the standpoint of wages and increased production. However, their job . . . cannot be completed under a literal interpretation of Executive Order No. 9328.”
New Policy for Regions
More than half a million workers are involved in pending wage or salary adjustment cases which will be denied under the new stabilization order. Their cases involve only inter-plant inequalities, and the National Board has instructed the Regional Boards to deny all such cases.
The Regional Boards were also advised to proceed “as expeditiously as possible” to make recommendations to the National Board on the proper application of the substandards of living provision of the April 8 order for their respective regions.
All interpretations of wage policy made under the October 3, 1942, Executive Order remain in effect until further notice, the Regional Boards were informed.
Chairmen and other officials of the Regional Boards were in Washington last week end for further information and discussion of the revised wage policy.
CONTINUOUS WORKING OF MINES NEEDED
Mines in the United States must be kept in full operation continuously throughout every month of 1943 to provide coal to meet present estimates of the Nation’s war expanded requirements, Associate Deputy Solid Fuels Coordinator for War Thomas J. Thomas said in an address in Cleveland, Ohio.
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
435
: Wär^Tmn^pörtatiön. .
Railroads Accomplish Difficult Task
Move Increased Volume
Of Passengers, Freight
The railroads of the country, under the advice and direction of the Office of Defense Transportation, have accomplished a herculean task during the past twelve months in moving ’a vastly in» creased volume of freight and passengers with very little addition to rolling stock and other equipment.
The greatest achievement has been In freight handling. In 1942, the railroads carried a third more ton-miles of freight than in 1941, the peak year, with one-quarter fewer freight cars than were available in 1918. This feat was accomplished by a variety of methods: using longer freight trains, speeding up of through freight; carrying maximum car loads; pooling of cars; cutting loading and unloading time; routing trains over alternative and less-used roads; increasing terminal facilities and efficiency and by other devices.
For example, the operation of the refrigerator car pool last year saved almost 45 million empty refrigerator car-miles in the last four months of 1942. Drastic changes were carried through in the use and handling of tank cars, especially as these affected a better allocation of cars for shipping wine, vegetable oils, and fuel oil. In thousands of instances tank cars were altered or adapted to new carrying purposes for which they were not originally designed.
In spite of the tremendous achievements of the railroads, however, we cannot be overoptimistic about the actual supply of fuel oil available to civilians, for military demands on east coast fuel reserves are increasing steadily, and will mount with the growing offensive across the Atlantic.
A factor that tends to slow down freight handling at the moment is the great strain placed upon terminals at war ports and industrial sites, and the congestion arising from interchange of freight from connecting lines. This is mainly a manpower problem, for every pound of freight calls for labor to move it, or to operate the machinery for handling it. More men—more skilled workers—are needed at all the great railroad yards and terminals to expedite our war freight.
CAA Authorizes Rental of Planes
To Students Training for War
Drive-Yourself Car Mileage Restricted;
Procedure Set for Truck Joint Action
Utilization of civilian aircraft has been liberalized by the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the War Production Board.
W. L. Jack Nelson, Chief of the Aircraft Priorities Branch of WPB, announced that plane owners, upon application, may be permitted to rent planes to students who are qualifying themselves for flying jobs essential to the war effort. He further explained that the order as written does not prevent the use of an aircraft by its owner provided the plane is not rented, sold or transferred to another.
Training Planes Needed
Although the rental of planes for student instruction has been liberalized, it is pointed out that the Civil Aeronautics Administration War Training Service has not acquired all the planes necessary for carrying out its program for flight training of men enlisted in the Army and Navy. Approximately 30,000 such men are continually in training. The needs of WTS for aircraft are paramount, above all other requirements, and it will have to acquire in the near future several thousand planes which are still in civilian hands.
Afzzs/ State Purpose
C. I. Stanton, Administrator of Civil Aeronautics, stated that under the revised procedure, applicants for permission to rent aircraft for student training other than in the WTS must state flying experience, age, education, present occupation and the position in the war effort for which they desire to train. An applicant must also submit evidence of financial ability to complete training within a reasonable time and, if eligible for draft, must have a statement from his local draft board that it will not call him to duty before the expiration of such reasonable time, which in no case shall exceed six months. Applicants must agree to accept employment in the war effort for which their completed training qualifies them.
Both the War Production Board and the Civil Aeronautics Administration urged that all flying not strictly essential to the war effort should be discon
tinued by all private owners in the interest of conserving available aviation equipment.
Mileage Allotted
Various orders issued by the Office of Defense Transportation have restricted the operation of taxicabs and retail delivery trucks. And now the rental cars-for-hire industry has also come under Government limitation. Under an order issued last week mileage allotted rental vehicles under their Certificate of War Necessity will not average more than 1,500 miles a month, according to ODT officials. After April 15 anyone whose private passenger automobile is available is forbidden to rent a drive-yourself car, and those who do rent such cars may not drive them more miles in any one month than the total of 15 miles for each gallon of gasoline allowed as a/basic ration if they were using their own cars. This order places direct responsibility on the users of the vehicles as well as the owners.
Similar controls over the long-haul truck industry have resulted in a great volume of load savings, and more recently a new procedure has been worked out for joint action by common carriers in the motortruck field through an agreement between the ODT, the War Production Board, and the Department of Justice. This procedure permits carriers to submit joint action plans to ODT and carry them out, upon approval, without fear of prosecution under antitrust laws.
Joint Operations
There are several actions the carriers may take jointly to conserve and better utilize their facilities, services, and equipment, after ODT has approved them. They may alternate or stagger motortruck schedules between two or more points; exchange shipments between two or more points; pool traffic, revenues, or both, between two or more points; jointly load or operate a motortruck or trucks, operate joint terminals or joint pick-up or delivery services, and, in general, carry on jointly all the operations connected with handling shipments and revenues from them between two or more points.
436
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
War Manpower . . .
WMC Acts to Stop Job Transfers Of Nation’s Essential Workers
McNutt Says Action Necessary In Fight Against Inflation
In a move affecting all of the Nation’s 27,000,000 essential workers, the War Manpower Commission acted to stop transfers to jobs at higher wages except in cases where the war effort benefits by the change.
The Commission’s action was taken to carry out the President’s recent hold-the-line Executive order.
In industrial areas where WMC job control plans are now in effect, workers can transfer to better-paying war jobs only if they can secure a certificate of availability from their employer or the United States Employment Service. Such transfer slips, it was pointed out, will be issued only in cases where the change will enable the worker to make a greater contribution to the war effort.
In areas like New York City, where no job control agreement is operative, essential workers cannot transfer to higher paying jobs. The order also applies to the 9,000,000 farm workers of this country, but not to the Nation’s non-essention workers. Nonessential workers are free to transfer to any job, regardless of wages, and are encouraged to take war jobs.
Paul V. McNutt, chairman of the Commission, told reporters at a press conference that the action was a wartime necessity in the fight against inflation. Any worker who feels that an injustice is being inflicted upon him can present his case to the nearest USES office, or if there is none in his area, to the nearest WMC area or regional headquarters. Workers covered by WMC job control plans will appeal through transfer machinery provided by all such plans.
Appeals Through USES
Although there is no WMC appeals machinery in operation outside the job control areas, McNutt said “anyone aggrieved will have a hearing” through USES and WMC offices, and can appeal the decision right up to the chairman of the Commission. The president of a corporation is covered by the agreement, the same as an ordinary laborer, he added.
The WMC’s interpretation of the new “Regulation Four” states:
(1) All transfers of workers from activities not on the essential list to activities on the list will be encouraged. Such shifts contribute to the winning of the war and any worker may make such a change even if an increase in wages is involved. (2) No shift from work in an essential activity to an activity not so classified^will be permitted if higher wages will be paid. (5) If the shift is from one essential activity to another and no wage increase is involved, approval is not required except for employments covered by employment stabilization plans. (4) In general if the .shift is from one activity not on the essential list to another also not on the essential list, such a move is not yet subject to this regulation.
No Conflict With Order
(5) If the shift is from one essential activity to another and is subject to one of the WMC employment stabilization programs, the change can be made at a higher wage rate if the worker leaves his job for reasons that are consistent with the provisions of these plans. Where the terms of the plans conflict in any way with the intent of the Executive order on which the regulation is based the plans will be modified. (6) If the shift is from one essential activity to another essential activity and is not subject to the provisions of one of the employment stabilization plans, the change cannot be made if higher pay is involved.
An essential activity is one listed by the WMC as an activity required in connection with the effective prosecution of the war. A list of such activities, included with the order, now includes 35 basic activities and industries.
Since this regulation is concerned with transfer from one employer to another ¡employer, it in no way prejudices existing rights of an employee with his present employer.
Penalties for Violation
Penalties are provided for violation of the order, both by employer and by employee. The penalties are those behind the entire Executive order which are
those provided by the Stabilization Act of October 1942. An employer who hires a worker in violation of the regulation may not count any wages paid to the worker as deduction from his income tax, nor as any part of the cost of his business for the purpose of obtaining any price adjustments, nor for the purpose of determining costs in connection with the fulfillment of any Federal contract. In addition the employer may be sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000 or to a year in jail, or both. A worker found guilty of violation also will be subject to the $1,000 fine or to a year’s imprisonment, or both.
Mr. McNutt said administration of the regulation will be by area and regional offices of the WMC.
Transfer Slips Needed
Transfer slips permitting a worker to transfer to anoUier war job where he can contribute more to the war effort and receive more pay can be granted by WMC transfer machinery in either the job control area he is leaving or the one in which he is seeking work. In case neither job is covered by a job control agreement, the worker must get a transfer slip from the nearest USES or WMC office. Discharged persons must be given transfer slips by the employer they are leaving.
Nothing in the regulations shall be construed to prejudice existing rights of an employe under any agreement with an employer, but shifts of workers from one job to another within the same organization must have the approval of the War Labor Board if they involve higher wages.
USAAF CONDITIONS MEN FOR WAR
The Army Air Forces Convalescent Training Program is being extended to include conditioning of physically underpar recruits so that they may gradually be built up to meet the demands of full military duty, the War Department announced last week.
The convalescent training program, established in all Air Forces hospitals three months ago under the jurisdiction of the Air Surgeon, Brig. Gen. Davis N. W. Grant, already provides 150,000 manhours a week of instruction and calisthenics for military patients. At Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where this program was originated, a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp in nearby Babler Park, in the foothills of the Ozarks, has been taken over by the post as a conditioning camp. It is staffed by medical officers, physical training officers, dietitians, and lecturers.
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
437
McNutt Urges Hiring Of Alien Workers
Questionnaire Unnecessary
In Many Types of Work
War Manpower Commission Chairman McNutt last week called the attention of war manufacturers to the large number of registered aliens not yet being used most effectively in many labor shortage areas.
Seven States, Mr. McNutt pointed out, contain 69 percent of the total registered alien population. In these seven States—New York, California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey—heavy industry is concentrated, and approximately half of the major war contracts are being fulfilled.
Manufacturers, in many instances, may have hesitated to employ aliens, Mr. McNutt said, because of their belief that a complicated clearance procedure is necessary whenever an alien is to be hired.
It should be understood, he explained, that the alien questionnaire form needs to be completed and filed only when an alien is to be employed on a job in connection with a “classified” or aeronautical contract. A large amount of war production is not of the classified or aeronautical type, and when it is not, an alien may be hired and put on the job as simply as an American citizen.
TRANSIT MANPOWER SHORTAGE ANALYZED
Acute manpower shortages in the Local Transit Industry were analyzed, and measures to ease the situation, particularly in those areas where a scarcity of workers threatens to curtail local transportation services, were considered last week by the manpower committee for the industry and officials of the Office of Defense Transportation.
Representatives of the industry pointed out that personnel shortages must be considered on a basis of given areas and that over-all figures do not present an accurate picture of the local transit manpower problem. Shortages of personnel are particularly acute in the critical labor areas designated by the War Manpower Commission, it was stressed.
Otto S. Beyer, Director of the ODT Division of Transport Personnel, who presided at the conference, congratulated the committee on the self-help measures, such as recruitment of new workers, employment of women and es-
LADY OF FASHION-Spring 1943
Two-column mats are available.
tablishment of training programs, which have been adopted to ease the growing manpower shortage of the industry.
“We have enough manpower and womanpower in this country to release sufficient men for the armed forces and to maintain essential activities,” Mr. Beyer said. “Our present problem is to devise ways and means to use our available manpower and womanpower effectively. The problem can be solved, but it will not be easy. The solution demands the cooperation of management and labor working with Government toward the common goal of maintaining our transportation services which are so vital to the war effort.”
MEN RETAIN GRADES
IN ARMY TRAINING
Enlisted men assigned to advanced courses of the Army Specialized Training Program will be permitted to retain the noncommissioned grades they have previously won, the War Department announced.
This changes the earlier plan under which all soldiers taking the Specialized Training courses on university campuses throughout the country would have been placed in the grade of private while they were students.
00
%
q g »<
w q g
M W d
*
tu
1
K>
KO
NEW WPB REGULATIONS
[Issued to April 17. Compiled especially for Victory Bulletin by Field Contact Branch of the War Production Board] [Inquiries concerning these listings should be addressed to E. Hamilton Campbell, Chief, Field Service Section, 3204 Building E, Washington, D. C. Telephone: REpublic 7500, Extension 3946]
Issued--- Federal Administrator
Order No. Modification Title Abstract of priorities action PD forms Effective Expires Register Division Tel. ext.
citation
L-38........ Amended Refrigeration and air con- Revises “authorized order” to include those received by 4-6-43 rated A-l-c or 830,831 4-14-43 8 F. R. 4878.. General Industrial S. F. Smith.
ditioning machinery better. ' • Equipment. 71494.
L-42....... II__________ equipment, Revokes the schedule______________________________________ . . .Î___ 4-17-43 Shipbuilding
Plumbing and Heating____ Restricts manufacture, use of materials on appendix A, and sale and delivery; 556,774
L-43-,______ Amended--- Motorized fire apparatus.. schedules production and delivery. 500,797 4-16-43 Safety and Technical G. W. Angell
Limits usepf karet gold, palladium and platinum in manufacture to specified Equipment. 2822
L-45______ Jewelry... _______________ percentages used in 1941. 4-15-43 8 F. R. 4913 Consumer’s Durable H. L. Stiles, 3953.
L-75_______ 1............ Coal stokers_______________ Defines “Class A Stoker,” “grate areas,” “coal feeding capacity”---.---______ 4-13-43 8 F. R. 4835.. Goods. Hi S. Norris,
Plumbing and Heat- 71932.
L-97________ 2............ Railroad equipment_______ 4-12-43 8 F. R. 4767. ing.
Rules on precedence of preference ratings in regard to production and delivery Transportation and 73321.
schedules. Equipment. C. P. Kolstedt,
Glass containers and clos- Restricts users inventories to 2 carloads or 60-day requirements, subject to 4-13-43, 10-1-43 8 F. R. 4835.. Containers . 4981.
ures. certain exceptions. 4-18-43 G. Darling, 71543.
L-lll_______ Amended___ Hand trucks, other han- Limits acceptance of orders to those rated AA-5 or higher, except for repair 845 4-13-43 8 F. R. 4835. General Industrial L. J. Walby, 3981
dling equipment. parts; establishes production specifications and certification procedures. Equipment. R. Halquist, 3982.
Amended. . Softwood plywood________ Raises to AA-2X ratine necessary for release. ...........______________________ 4-10-43, 8 F. R. 4763.. Lumber and Lumber J. A. Lawson;
4-20-43 5161.
L-157....... IV Amended Amends Table 6 of Appendix A_____________.__________________________________ 4-9-43 8 F. R. 4709. Products. M. B. Garber,
Heavy forged hand tools.. Building Materials--- 73167.
L-159....... Amended___ Plastics molding machin- Eliminates used fixtures; adds exemptions; revokes par. (b) (3).... 4-14-43 8 F. R. 4883- Chemicals._______ F. R. Kelly, 4602.
L-192 _____ Amended... ery. Establishes procedure for placing and receiving equipment orders; restricts and 556,697 4-9-43 8 F. R. 4706--- F. J. Whelan,
Construction machinery schedules production; restricts transfer, resale, rental, and use; restricts sale Construction Ma- 71942.
and equipment. and delivery of repair parts. ' chinery. W, J. Flynn, 4093.
L-239....... Amended___ Folding and set-up boxes--- Amends use restrictions, and schedules------____________i.____________.......... 4-15-43 8 F. R. 4914. Containers.......... W. L. Clark, 6129.
L-246....... Pumps.................... Restricts acceptance and delivery of new pumps and repair parts to orders 556 4-12-43 8 F. R. 4768. General Industrial
rated AA-5 or better or as specifically authorized; permits specification
schedules; effective 4-22-43.
L-W7-______ Prohibits use of non-ferrous metals or alloys in manufacture, subject to certain 4-12-43, 8 F. R. 4767.
use exceptions; restricts sale and delivery to orders rated A-l-j or better, Equipment.
Electrical wiring devices.- subject to certain exceptions; effective 4-19-43. 4-19-43' Building Materials..
L-285....... Dogwood---------------... Limits use to manufacture of textile shuttles, subject to certain exceptions..... 4-13-43 8 F. R. 4839. Lumber and Lum-
Grey cast iron, malleable Restricts manufacture, sale and delivery to specified types, sizes and specifi- ber Products.
L-288_______ iron and brass and cations. 4-17-43 Shipbuilding________
bronze pipe fittings; Modifies restrictions on destruction of scrap rubber; and on delivery and acqui- L. D. Tompkins,
Amended... simplification. sition of crude rubber, latex» reclaimed rubber, scrap rubber and balata- 4-13-43 8 F. R. 4821- Rubber Director____ 6104.
,M-15-b--- Rubber and balata, etc.___ Adds “wood heel covering” to permitted operations in shoe repair or manu- L. D. Tompkins,
M-15-f.„„ Amended... Rubber and balata________ facture. 4-17-43 Rubber Director.___ 6104.
M-15-g„.. Amended... Rubber and balata, etc--- Amends delivery and acquisition restrictions, and exemptions thereto.___---__ 408,840 4-12-43 8 F. R. 4766.. Rubber Director.___ L. D. Tompkins,
M-15-g-.. 1____________ Rubber and balata_____.... Permits use of PD-1A prior to 5-1-43___________ . _. 4-13-43 8 F. R. 4878- Rubber Director.___ 6104.
M-104______ Amended___ Closures for glass con- Clarifies and changes “closure” and “waste” definitions; amends üse restric- 4-10-43 8 F. R. 4757.. Containers__________ C. P. Kolstedt,
tainers. tions; revises Schedules I, II and III. 4981.
M-133______ Amended... Rotenone___________---___ Amends packaging restrictions_____________________________;___------------------____ 4-17-43 Chemicals___________ T. Rodda, 72814.
M-155______ Amended... Combed cotton yarn,______ Amends earmarking restrictions to eliminate reference to 3-1-43............... 4-17-43 Textile, Clothing E. N. Brower,
and Leather. 73270.
8 F. R. 4713- Textile, Clothing H. W. Boyd, Jr.
M-217 .... Amended... Foot-wear....._______..... Amends manufacturing restrictions on use of military rejects and reptiles_____ 4-9-43 and Leather. 72512.
M-298...... Blankets__________________ Textile, Clothing, T. MJ Bancroft,
Assigns A-2 rating to deliveries of material, and restricts use of such materials, 4-17-43 » and Leather. 71606.
M-302--- Amended___ Osmium._______________... specified sizes, weights, types, and kinds. 4-16-43 Miscellaneous Min- H. E. Stauss,
Restricts use of pere except for “implements of war,” restricts use of alloys to 846,848 5332.
percentage of 1941 use. 600,601 erais. Nils Anderson,
M-307_____ Casein.....______________ Establishes allocation control, subject to specific exemptions; effective 5-1-43--- 4-14-43 8 F. R. 4886 Chemicals- - ----- 4794.
P-55-b_____ Amended___ Construction ...._________ Provides for new counter-signature procedure___...._____________________ ___ 4-9-43 8 F. R. 4705. Construction........ W. C. MacDon-
aid, 3935.
P-65---..___ Amended___ Marine paints_____________ Assigns AA-1 rating to deliveries of materials; restricts use and sales_____._____ 4-10-43 8 F. R. 4764. Chemicals__________ B. M. Belcher,
P-142______ Amended___ Transportation systems... Change date for acquiring material to 4-5-43; permits continuous of PD-351 4-14-43 8 F. R. 4883. Transportation 3661.
Copper, zinc, copper-base until new form can be used. ■3 • ; Equipment. G. M. Cornell,
P-134______ Revocation. alloys or zinc alloy mills. Revokes the order_______________________________ 4-15-43 8 F. R. 4914. Copper------___... 2869.
P-144...... Farmstead wiring..._____ Assigns AA-3 rating to deliveries of materials to eligible builders 4-10-43 Food Production
Amends restrictions on use of extension and application of rating and CMP 6-30-43 8 F. R. 4764. Adm.
UI._______ Amended... Electric, gas, water, steam allotment symbol; amends use restrictions; adds Schedule E, 4-17-43 War Utilities_______ P. V. Balle, 71716.
utilities---materials.
April 21, 1943
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
439
AGENCY OUTLINES FOOD SITUATION
(.Continued from .page 425) similar demands will, however, take about 25 percent of this production, so that civilians will get less than in 1942, even though the goals are reached.
The increased total output over the past 3 years has not been made haphazardly, the OWI declared. It has centered on the foods that are needed for making successful war. The big increases have been made in meat, milk, eggs, and the oil crops. Increases in the other, lines have been more moderate.
War Needs
The steadily increasing total supply of food must be divided among urgent and swiftly advancing wartime needs, the OWI explained.
In 1941 and 1942, the needs of our fighting men and our fighting allies were somewhat smaller than the increase in total production. Military and Lend-Lease food requirements took 4 percent of the 1941 output; 12 percent of the 1942 output; will take 25 percent in 1943. Civilians in 1941 and 1942 were able to eat better than they had in the past 30 years. They were supplied with more food per capita than in the most prosperous year of the 1920’s or the most depressed year of the 1930’s. In 1941 and 1942 there were more of them with the money to buy the food they wanted than there were in the most prosperous year» of the 20’s.
Manpower a Problem
Several actions have been taken to improve the farm manpower situation, according to the report. One is a group of actions, dictated by law and carried through by War Manpower Commission measures, which prevent further drain from the farms into the armed services and city industry. Some 3,000,000 farm operators and workers are expected to be deferred in 1943 from military service in order to fight on the food front of the war by speeding farm production. Another group of actions is designed to bring back into farming skilled workers of military service age who are in nonwar industries. First reports since this action was taken indicate a substantial movement back to farm work on the part of those 18 to 38 who were in nonwar city industry. Another group of actions calls for discharge or placing in
Selective Service. . .
Ban on Induction of Fathers May Be Lifted in 2 Months
No Military Deferments for Dependency Except in Agriculture or Hardship
There will be no military deferments for dependency, except in agriculture or because of hardship cases, by the end of 1943, Paul V. McNutt, chairman of the War Manpower Commission, told reporters at his press conference last week.
All married men without children are now being reclassified out of Class 3-A, and the present Selective Service ban on the induction of fathers may be lifted in 2 months, or possibly 4. Major General Hershey, Selective Service director, who sat beside the Manpower Chairman during the conference, said the ban on inducting fathers had the effect of pooling all the physically fit nonfathers of military age and drawing from this pool until it is almost exhausted before any fathers are taken. Some States, General Hershey said, may exhaust their supply of nonfathers as much as 3 months ahead of others.
The United States is the only nation in the world which has recognized dependency as a reason for military deferment, McNutt asserted. It is also, he added, the most liberal in providing for the families of soldiers.
3-B Eliminated
The 3-B classification—for men with dependents who are employed in an essential industry—was eliminated because it was no longer a practical way of classifying men. Most Americans are now in essential work, Hershey told the reporters, and the “imminency of selection” rule—which recognized only marriages which occurred before the man’s registration for the draft—has been eliminated because most men affected have already been classified by their boards.
the inactive reserve of skilled farmers and farm workers above 38 who now are in the armed services. A growing stream of manpower is returning to farms as a result of this action.
Mr. McNutt said it is the intention of Selective Service to preserve the Ameri-can family as long as possible, but he did not offer much hope that the family could be preserved much longer in view of the Nation’s increased military and production programs. No extension of the nondeferable list of jobs and industries is under consideration at this time, he added.
Matter of Arithmetic
“After you determine the needs of the armed forces,” Mr. McNutt said, “the rest of the problem of allocating manpower is simply a matter of arithmetic.” America has 22,250,000 men between 18 and 38. About 14 million of these can meet military physical qualifications. Agricultural deferments will take 3,000,-000, about half of whom could meet army requirements, thus bringing the available physically fit to 12,500,000. The number of physically fit men deferred for key industrial jobs and because of hardship will amount to about 1,700,000. This will leave 10,800,000 for the military pool—the quota which United States armed forces expect to reach by December 1943.
Mr. McNutt predicted that youths coming of military age and men made available by changing physical condition would only balance the number discharged from the Army. Any addition to the 10,800,000 figure for the armed forces, therefore, would have to be secured by lowered physical qualifications.
At the present time, Hershey said, 309,000 men are in Class 2-A (deferred because they are essential to a civilian essential industry), 638,000 are in 2-B (deferred because they are essential to war production), 508,000 in 2-C (agricultural workers are deferred because of their work), 270,000 in 3-C (agricultural workers deferred because of dependency) , and 8,633,000 other persons are in 3-A and 3-B (deferred because of dependency), and 2,593,000 men are in Class 4-F (rejected by the armed forces for physical, moral, or mental defects).
440
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
W A R F A C T S
FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER DATA
WAR EXPENDITURES—MONTHLY AND DAILY
Expenditures¹___________„___________
Number of days______________________
Daily rate__________________________
If an 19^3 Feb. /9^3 Mar. 19!$ Mar. 19!$
(Millions of dollars')
. $7,112 $6,081 $3,025 $809
27 24 26 26
263.4 253.4 116.3 31.1
¹ Includes checks cleared by the Treasury and payable from war appropriations, and net outlays of Government corporations for war purposes.
BOND SALES AND DEBT
War bond sales ¹_________________________________
Net Fpriprsil ripht ²
Mar. 19^ Feb. 1943 Mar. 1942 May 1941
(Millions of dollars)
$944 $887 $558 $370
111, 300 108,600 * 58,900 45,800
¹ Total funds received from sales of war and savings bonds.
² Excludes guaranteed obligations.
LABOR FORCE-EMPLOYED-UNEMPLOYED
Labor force¹____________________________
Male ___________________________________
Fem'ale_________________________________
Employed
Male_______________.____________________
Female_______________________________.__
Unemployed____,_________________________
Male____________________________________
Female__________________________________
Mar. 19ft Feb. 19ft Mar. 19ft Mar. 19 ft
(Millions of persons)
52.0 52.3 54.5 52.7
36.4 36.7 40.0 40.4
15.6 15.6 14.5 12.3
51.0 50.9 50.9 45.8
35.8 35.9 - 37.6 35.4
15.2 15.0 13.3 10.4
1.0 1.4 3.6 6.9
0.6 0.8 2.4 5.0
0.4 0.6 1.2 1.9
number of persons in the Armed Forces. Source :
¹ Excludes institutional population and estimated Census Bureau.
LABOR TURNOVER
All manufacturing Industries:¹ Accessions___________________________________
Total separations____________________________
Voluntary_____________________________________
Discharges____________________________________
Lay-offs_____________________________________
Military_____________________________________
Miscellaneous ²_______________________________
Voluntary separations in selected industries: ¹
Aircraft³___________._________________________
Shipbuilding_________________________________
Machine tools ³______________________________
Feb. 1943 Jan. 1943 Feb. 194S Feb. 1941
(Rate per hundr ed employees)
7.87 8.28 6.02 4.92
7.04 7.11 4.82 .3.16
4. 65 4.45 2.41 1.33
0. 50 0. 52 0.29 0.19
0.54 0.74 1.39 1.20
1.23 1.26 0.56 0.29
0.12 0.14 0.17 0.14
3.71 3.86 2.68 2.21
5.90 6.98 3.27 1.85
3.26 8.28 2.23 1.58
¹ Monthly rates for 1943 are based on “all employees” in each establishment and not on “wage earners” alone as in previous years.
² Includes deaths and retirements.
³ Manufacturing concerns included in this industry were reclassified as of January 1943.
Source : BLS.
War Facts Are Assembled by Division of Information, WPB
Publications may have mats or proofs of “War Facts” statistical charts
INDICES OF PROGRAM PROGRESS
Feb. 19ft Feb. 19ft November 19ft=109
Munitions production_______ 483 173
War construction____;______*205 114
Total war output.._______p 358 • 144
WAR CONSTRUCTION
Millions
June 1940-Feb. 28,19ft of dollars
Government-financed:
Commitments for nonindustrial construction________________$16,488
Commitments for industrial facilities expansion________ 14, £55
COST OF LIVING
Cost of Goods Purchased in Large Cities
Percentage of increase Feb. 19t2 to Feb. 191)3
Combined index____________________ 7.1
Selected components:
Food______________________________ 14.4
Clothing__________________________ 5.8
Rent______________________________ —0.6
House furnishings_________________ 3. 5
p Preliminary.
For additional information bn Index Numbers of Program Progress and War Construction, see Victory Bulletin, April 14, 1943, p. 416; for Cost of Living, see issue of April 7,1943, p. 390.
April 21, 1943
★ VIÇTORY BULLETIN ★
441
War Production .. . g-
Revised Form Sent
To 15,000 Firms
Simplifies Reporting
To WPB
Some 15,000 manufacturers working on the principal war contracts are being sent a revised War Production Board questionnaire combining two previous questionnaires and designed to simplify reporting to WPB. This form combines the Plant Report of Operations with the Quarterly Report on Shipments of Products and Inventories of Critical Materials, and eliminates the necessity of an additional questionnaire on the consumption of power.
The revised form is one of the principal instruments through which the WPB will keep in touch with industry problems arising from the war effort, and with the operations of individual plants. The Bureau of the Census mails the questionnaires and compiles data contained in the returns.
The new form will be the only one which gives an over-all picture to the Controlled Materials Plan Division of the success of CMP in regulating industry inventories. It will assist in moving excess inventories into channels where they can enter at once into production. It is also the only report to WPB which indicates the over-all distribution of finished products by claimant agency and preference rating.
CHEMICALS ALLOCATED FOR APRIL
The War Production Board last week made public the monthly distribution of chemicals for April under the allocation orders of the Chemicals Division, the seventh of such monthly reports. The chemicals allocated amounted in value to approximately $131,000,000. This is an annual rate of $1,572,000,000. Of this amount, over 47 percent entered into identifiable military production.
The allocated military chemicals are the essential raw materials for the production of all the explosives, propellants, war gases and other chemical combat items; aviation, Naval, Ordnance and Signal Corps insulation; special protective coatings for military vehicles and guns, and special paints for war and merchant ships.
Nelson Says Rigid Inspection Slows Steel Plate Output
Asks Use of Serviceable Plate When Specifications Allow
War Production Chairman Nelson last week telegraphed the heads of all steel plate mills in the United States not to “stand up so straight” in the inspection of steel plate that they “lean over backward,” because “we shall simply delay the whole shipbuilding effort—with possibly ruinous consequences.
“It is vitally important to the war program that inspections and tests on steel plate be applied in such a way as to meet two essential objectives—that the plates meet the specifications and tolerances set by the procurement agencies, and that the volume of plate produced and shipped be maintained at the highest possible level,” Mr. Nelson said.
“I am of course aware that since the recent disclosures at the Truman Committee hearings, both industrial and Government inspectors in every plate mill in the land have been more than usually vigilant. It is proper that they should be so, of course, and I have complete confidence that there will be no repetition anywhere in the industry of the kind of thing disclosed before the Truman Committee. But it is equally important that the volume of steel plate produced and shipped be maintained, and over-rigid inspection practices could easily defeat that end.
Minor Variations
“The Navy, the Maritime Commission, the War Department, and the War Production Board fully realize that 100 percent uniformity in steel is rarely attainable. Minor variations will frequently be found in steel plates which can be used for ship construction with complete safety, since the naval architects’ specifications are invariably drawn so as to leave an ample margin above the maximum stresses which are to be expected in actual service. It would be disastrous if serviceable plate should be rejected in such volume as to diminish the quantity which can be delivered to the yards.”
Earlier last week, Mr. Nelson denied published reports that WPB is proceeding on plans for a Nation-wide concentration of industry.
The reports, Mr. Nelson said, apparently were based upon two confidential
memoranda circulated to the WPB Committee on Concentration of Production, one dated November 19, 1942, and the second January 19,1943. The list of industries carried in the stories was contained in the 1943 report to this Committee, which went out of existence some three months ago, and does not in any sense constitute a list of industries for which WPB is now considering a concentration program.
Study a "Dead Pigeon"
“The good faith of the reporter who wrote the story is not in question,” said Mr. Nelson, “but the information on which his article was based is not true. The industries listed in his story are those in which some study of concentration has been made. It is not a list for which concentration is particularly practical or desirable, and it does not include many industries in which concentration probably would be helpful. It is merely a preliminary, incomplete study which was made last year and which is today a dead pigeon.
“The War Production Board has made a continuous study of concentration since its inception. The one inescapable conclusion from that study is that no formula or general plan for the concentration of a great number of industries is possible.
“Each industry poses a particular problem, which is, in turn, closely related to other industries and other problems. If it were possible to fence off a particular industry and close our eyes to the effects upon other industries, a degree of concentration would be possible without undue difficulty.
“Or if industry were static it would be possible to work out plans for a number of lines of production which would accomplish the desirable ends of concentration, namely, savings in manpower, transportation, fuel, and the like. But the greatest single task of the War Production Board is to keep our production lines fluid. We must be able to change almost overnight the kinds and quantities of the weapons we deliver to our warriors and our allies to meet the changing demands of war. Any concentration plan made three months ago would of necessity be out of date today.’*
442
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
^$&r ■ Prices \ >¿r
Retailers’ Mark-ups Established For Seven Fresh Vegetables
Agency Suspends Retail Meat Ceilings
To Determine if Revisions Needed
Retail prices of seven fresh vegetables and two canned foods will be affected by orders issued last week by the Office of Price Administration. As an additional part of its price control program OPA ordered compulsory Government grading of all lamb and mutton sold by wholesalers and suspended the effective date of the new ceilings on retail beef, veal, lamb, and mutton.
The seven vegetables affected by the OPA are cabbage, carrots, lettuce, peas, snap beans, spinach, and tomatoes. These vegetables were brought under price control early in March. The new ceilings will be established on April , 22 through the use of uniform mark-ups over the retailers net cost. For each vegetable, except cabbage, the retailer will determine his ceilings by multiplying his net cost by 1.39. On cabbage, where the spoilage is greater, the mark-up is 1.65 for independent retailers having an annual volume of $250,000 or less; 1.54 for chain retailers with an annual volume under $250,000; and 1.50 for any retailer having an annual volume over $250,000.
Former Ceilings Varied
Previously the retail ceilings, varying from store to store and from region to region, were based On the individual seller’s highest price in the 5 days immediately prior to the issuance of price ceilings, except in cases where later adjustments were made by regional OPA offices.
The new ceilings will prevent diversion of supplies to retailers and to regions where selling prices were higher during the base period. Whatever adjustments are made in wholesale prices by regional OPA officials to eliminate inequities will be reflected automatically in retail markets.
The canned foods affected by OPA rulings last week were spinach and grapefruit. The 1943 pack of spinach was brought under specific dollars and cents maximums per dozen cans. Maximum prices were also s^t for grapefruit packed in cans. The pricing in both instances was f. o. b. the plant at proc
essor’s level The price levels for spinach are in line with those that prevailed in 1942, according to the OPA. Ceiling prices on grapefruit packed in cans were established in January 1943 and the new ruling adjusts these prices for the glass pack.
Ceilings Suspended
The OPA explained that it suspended for 1 month the effective date for ceiling prices on retail -beef, lamb, veal, and mutton to permit a reexamination of the prices in the light of the recent “hold the line” Presidential order. The regulation was issued prior to the President’s Executive order and was to have taken effect on April 15. The postponement until May 17 makes it possible to insure ceilings that are in accord with the directive requiring a tight holding of the line on cost-of-living items.
OPA regional and district offices have been instructed to make immediate checks on the new retail ceiling prices as compared with retail prices in effect at the time of the President’s order. On the basis of these surveys, together with trade meetings which will be called immediately, OPA will determine whether revisions are needed. Until new ceilings become effective retail stores will continue to sell on the basis of existing ceilings.
Syrup, Soap Affected
Other household items affected by OPA rulings issued during the week ranged from edible maple sugar to soap powders and stoves. Specific cents-per-pound maximum prices were placed on block and Canadian bag maple sugar but edible maple sugar was exempted from price control. Block and Canadian bag maple sugar is used by confectioners, syrup blenders, and the tobacco industry, while edible maple sugar is less than a $500,000 item on the Nation’s sweet bill.
To conserve the better quality soaps for toilet and laundry uses, the OPA removed marketing restrictions on washing powders and cleansers having 20 per-
LABOR PARTICIPATES IN OPA CONTROL
Reporting on greater labor participation in local price, rationing, and rent control activities of the Office of Price Administration, Robert R. R. Brooks, Director of the OPA Labor Office, said that Labor Advisory Committees have been formed within the past month in 80 of the 100 OPA Districts, and shortly will be completed in the remainder.
Formed to work with OPA District Managers in coordinating local activities of organized labor and the OPA—and to bring about larger participation by labor in the work of local War Price and Rationing boards—the District Labor Advisory Committees include a large proportion of high State and local labor officers. In many districts members include the president, vice president, or secretary of the State organizations of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the general chairmen of State railway labor organizations. In some districts, there are also members representing the unaffiliated United Mine Workers, Typographical Union, Farmers’ Union, Brewery Workers’, and other unions.
cent or less dry soap content. The action is designed to encourage the wider use of cleansers, scouring powders, and washing powders containing 20 percent or less of anhydrous soaps for functions in which higher quality soaps are now being used.
Stove Prices Adjustable
Manufacturers of domestic cooking and heating stoves whose operations are proving unprofitable may apply for adjustments in their ceilings, the OPA announced. Such an adjustment may be granted only if the maximum price is below the manufacturer’s total cost and if the manufacturer’s entire stove manufacturing operation is being conducted at a loss or if it is shown that his operations at present prices will result in a loss within 30 days.
The newly developed rectangular conversion grates now being used in converting heating plants from oil to coal have been brought under a specific dollars and cents ceiling. Rectangular conversion grates aré not cast as complete grate bars but are produced and shipped in small individual pieces and must be assembled in the rectangular heating plant by the installer.
April 21, 1943
* VICTORY BULLETIN ★
443
Model Work Clothes
To Be Available
Price Ceilings Set by OPA For Streamlined Overalls
War models of overalls with dollars-and-cents ceiling prices attached shortly will become available to consumers as a resist of action last week by the Office of Price Administration covering men’s bib overalls, overall coats, and waistband overalls or dungarees.
Only war models which conform to the specifications in the order are covered by the new ceiling prices. Manufacturers and distributors who prefer may continue to make and sell work clothing they now are marketing at their old ceiling prices. However, OPA officials anticipate that many will welcome the (Simplicity and definiteness of the new prices and specifications and turn to production of the war models.
These garments will differ from current simplified models only in minor features. For example, they permit single-thickness in place of doublethickness suspenders, and a hem instead of a facing on fly and side-opening. The streamlining permitted by these specifications will make possible a saving of about 2 yards of denim on a dozen overalls.
Fewer Overalls Available
Fewer denim overalls for civilian use have been reachirig retail outlets. Insofar as shortages result from price problems, today’s dollars-and-cents prices are expected to offer relief by making it advantageous for manufacturers and distributors to produce and market the new models. The specific schedule of prices is designed to help correct pricing situations which had led to the filing with OPA of numerous petitions for adjustment involving a considerable number of different models of work clothing.
Emphasizing that the specifications are only minimum specifications, and that production is purely voluntary, OPA pointed out that the manufacturer who makes war models will place his trade-mark or some other distinguishing 'mark on the garment to identify the house which is making it. The manufacturer may maintain higher standards of construction than those set forth for war models so long as he does not violate the War Production Board’s limitation orders which have already simplified work clothing.
OPA Rulings on Durable Goods Will Aid Manufacturers
Revise Log, Bolt Pricing Provisions;
Redefine Brass Mill Scrap '
A variety of durable goods ranging from lumber and bolts to bedsprings were covered by rulings of the Office of Price Administration last week. All species of softwood lumber, in addition to white pine produced in the New England States, New York and Pennsylvania, were brought under dollars-and-cents ceilings while price revisions were permitted for lumber and bolts and for Douglas fir boards. At the same time wholesalers and jobbers who did not sell nonupholstered bedsprings during March 1942 were advised of methods they could use in determining their ceiling prices on wood-framed bedsprings.
The action establishing ceilings for softwood lumber also established specific ceilings for the same lumber produced east of the eighty-fifth meridian in Canada and sold in the United States. Generally, the new ceilings reflect March 1942 price levels. In some cases, however, notably in small sizes of spruce, the domestic prices are brought up to the levels for Canadian imports and will relieve domestic mills from part of the increase in production costs since March 1942. In most cases the action results in approximately the same delivered prices for the Canadian and domestic lumber in the principal consuming markets in this country.
Wood Diversion Blocked
To prevent a diversion of logs and bolts from one class of primary forest product users to another—such as the diversion from chemical wood to pulpwood—OPA revised its area pricing provisions for these items. In effect, the move authorizes groups of logs and bolt buyers, who under regulation are held to September-October 1942 prices, to propose area prices which are in line with levels for competing primary forest products.
At the same time the OPA acted to compensate sawmills for increased costs in diverting their production of timber and dimension lumber to boards (at the direction of the War Production Board) by raising the ceilings for four grades of Douglas fir boards.
To meet military needs, the mills were directed by the War Production Board on
March 31 to increase the normal production of boards, which is about 10 percent of the total Douglas fir cut, to 25 or 30 percent of Douglas fir production.
New Type Bedsprings
* The ruling on bedspring prices was issued when it was shown that some wholesalers of the new type of bedspring, which is made under War Production Board orders restricting the use of steel, were not in this business during March. These wholesalers may determine their ceiling prices in the following ways:
(1) Taking the manufacturer’s present delivered or warehouse maximum price for the bedspring,/ f. o. b. the city in which the person is making the sale at wholesale.
(2) Taking the present delivered or warehouse maximum price of the, closest competitive seller of the bedspring made by the same manufacturer, f. o. b. the city in which the person is making the sale at wholesale.
(3) Taking the manufacturer’s present f. o. b. factory, less than carload lot, maximum price for the bedspring, plus the freight costs for transporting the bedspring to the city in which the person is making the sale at wholesale by the least expensive readily available method of public carrier.
Camelback Prices Raised
Camelback, the rubber material used for recapping automobile tires, was added by OPA to a list of rubber products which sellers may agree to sell at prices higher than current maximums. The agreements should reflect only increases that the OPA may make in camelback ceilings because of increased raw rubber prices effective April 1. The action affects products going to the Federal Government, and to individual consumers.
While contracts or agreements may be made for future delivery at prices higher than current ceilings, no deliveries may be made at prices higher than ceilings that are in effect at the time of delivery.
444
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
North Africa Gets
Food, Clothing
Lend-Lease Shipments Total 26 Million
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Lend-Lease Administrator, comparing the United Nations’ treatment of North Africa with the Axis’ treatment of occupied countries, stated that in the 4 months after the Allied landing the U. S. shipped to North Africa under lend-lease 126,184 tons of food, clothing, medicines, and other necessities of life.
These shipments, he said, had a dollar value of about $26,250,000, and they included 200 tons of seeds to help raise food locally for our armed forces. By June 30 of this year, an estimated $50,000,000 worth of lend-lease supplies will be delivered.
People Hungry, Ragged
Before the arrival of the United Nations forces in North Africa last November, the Nazis had stripped the land of its resources and left the people hungry and ragged. Axis agents shipped out everything that was movable. They shipped in little. In the cities, stores with empty shelves were closed. Farmers hid supplies of food to keep it from Nazi hands. Mining, communications, transportation, and agricultural equipment broke down for lack of replacement parts and fuel.
In addition to supplies from the United States, Great Britain has sent in more than 350,000 tons of coal for North Africa’s railroads and industries and lesser amounts of other civilian supplies.
Shipments from the United States have included medical supplies, milk, wheat, flour, sugar, tea, textiles, clothing, agricultural products and seeds, agricultural implements, spare parts, chemicals, metal products, automobile parts, tires and tubes, paper products, and others.
OCD TO DISTRIBUTE WARNING ON TALK
James M. Landis, Director of Civilian Defense, said last week that the Army and Navy have entrusted to volunteers of the 14,000 local Defense Councils the entire job of distributing “A Personal Message,” a booklet forcefully warning against loose talk that may mean “the difference between news of disaster and news of victory.”
POSTERS
The following posters are available free upon request to the Division of Public Inquiries, OWI, Washington, D. C. Give It Your Best
United Nations Fight for Freedom
Remember December 7
Avenge December 7
Become a Nurse
Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty
They’ve Got More Important Places To Go Than You
I’ll Carry Mine, Too!
Guard Your Family’s Health
Plant a Victory Garden
Where Our Men Are Fighting, Our Food
Is Fighting
Do With Less So They’ll Have Enough Battle Begins With Your Job
Next of Kin Has Been Notified
When You’re A. W. O. L.
Freedom From Fear, Freedom From
Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion
For Their Future, Buy War Bonds
Remember Me? I Was at Bataan
Rationing Means a Fair Share for All of Us
A Careless Word—A Needless Loss
If You Tell Where They’re Going, They May Never Get There
Motion Pictures . . .
“TROOP TRAIN”
The tremendous job of wartime transportation—and the skill with which the Army and American railroads are handling the job—are shown in the new Office of War Information film, “Troop Train.”
Orders come in to move the 201st Armored Division from X to Y. From the traffic control center in Washington go instructions obtaining the necessary cars and locomotives, routing them to X, clearing a right of way to Y. Tanks, trucks, half tracks, motorcycles—all the equipment of an armored division—are loaded on flat cars. Then into Pullman cars march the men of the 201st. Men and equipment aboard, the train grinds slowly forward, picks up speed, and starts for its destination.
As the train roars over trestles, through tunnels, over the steel rails that stretch from X to Y, soldiers of the 201st settle down—one soldier dozes, another glances idly out the window, another reads a comic magazine, several start a game of craps. When the train stops, they get off, exercise, and have a shower under a railroad water tank. At meal time, they eat out of mess-kits; at night,
NATION TO GET COPIES OF DECLARATION
People all over the United States will be able to see exact copies of drafts of the Declaration of Independence, including one never before shown to the public, through publication by the library of Congress of a book to be distributed for exhibition purposes to American libraries. .
Two thousand copies of the book, which contains the facsimiles in collotype reproduction and historical notes on the evolution of the text finally adopted by the Continental Congress July 4,1776, will be sent to libraries. Individual facsimiles can be bought from the photoduplication service of the Library of Congress.
Also put on public view, last week at the Library of Congress was the Declaration by the United Nations, exhibited at this time in order that it might stand close to the American Declaration of Independence in the Jefferson Bicentennial exhibition at the Library. .
Other Publications
A special publication by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics urges Americans to take good care of wool clothing. It .points out that the Nation’s wool supply is limited, and imports are uncertain, that for every man in the armed forces there must be about 200 pounds of fleece wool for warm uniforms and blankets. A copy of “Take Care of the Wool You Have,” which tells how to clean, wash, press, mend, and store wool, may be obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
they match for berths. Idly they speculate where they are going, but no one knows. They’re on their way—from X to Y.
A one-reel picture, “Troop Train” is available from 185 distributors of OWI films. For a complete list of war information films and a list of distributors, write the Bureau of Motion Pictures, OWI, Washington.
Value of Aluminum
Two new motion pictures which will facilitate the training of war workers and technical personnel of the armed services have just been released for distribution by the Bureau of Mines, U. S. Department of the Interior. The films are entitled “Aluminum: Mine to Metal” and “Aluminum: Fabricating Processes,” and are in 16-millimeter sound.
April 21, 1943
ir VICTORY BULLETIN ★
445
Appointments^ Resignations
FLORENCE HALL HEADS WOMEN’S LAND ARMY
The War Food Administration has announced the appointment of Miss FLORENCE HALL, of Port Austin, Mich., to head the Women’s Land Army activities. Miss Hall, Extension Service field agent in 12 Northeastern States since 1928, has 'the responsibility for planning the part women will play to help meet the farm labor shortage.
JOHN K. CARROLL, with the Labor Department since 1939, has been named the Department’s regional attorney for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with headquarters in New York City.
President Roosevelt has nominated CHARLES E. KEMPER for reappointment as customs collector for Indiana.
HENRY JARRETT, special assistant to Secretary Wickard, has been made assistant director of information for the Department of Agriculture, succeeding WHITNEY THARIN, resigned.
Maj. WILLIAM H. BURKE, Owosso, Mich., has been appointed chief of the WPB Prison Industries Branch. Before entering the Army, he was main consultant to DANIEL W. TURNER, former branch chief. Major Burke is on leave from the War Department.
SIMON H. ASH, who has a background of 30 years of experience in mine inspection and underground safety, will head the section of rescue services in the OCD Medical Division.
ARTHUR D. WHITESIDE, of Westport, Conn., has beqn named vice chairman in charge of civilian requirements. Mr. Whiteside had served as consultant in the Office of Production Management and, earlier, in the National Recovery Administration.
BRUCE CATTON has been appointed to succeed Stephen Fitzgerald as WPB director of information. CHARLES E. NOYES, formerly assistant director of information, moves up to fill Mr. Catton’s post as associate director.
HARRY M. BITNER, Pittsburgh publisher, has been appointed deputy director of the WPB Printing and Publishing Division.
Maj. Gen. JOHN H. HILLDRING, of New Rochelle, N. Y., has been assigned as chief of the War Department’s new Civil Affairs Division. Major Hilldring was formerly an assistant chief of staff in charge of personnel.
O fficial War. Releases .
This is a complete list of press releases issued by the Office of War Information from Sunday, April 11, through Saturday, April 17. Copies of these releases may be obtained at the U. S. Information Center, 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Department' of Interior
HEAVY COAL SHIPMENTS EAST in week ended April 3. OWI-1626.
PACIFIC HALIBUT FLEET SZ-ILS. American and Canadian fishermen will take 50,-500,000 pounds of halibut. OWI-1617.
SOLID FUELS FOR WEEK ended April 3 exceeded previous week. OWI-1618.
TESTS FOR NEW COLLOIDAL COAL-OIL FUEL started by Bureau of Mines and The Atlantic Refining Co. OWI-1628.
COKE CONFERENCE CALLED by Bureau of Mines. OWI-1633.
FLORIDA FISHING BAN LIFTED after reexamination of Navy’s ban on fishing at night off coasts. OWI-1634.
HOW TO PROTECT GARDENS told in “Protecting Victory Gardens from Animal Pests.” OWI-1624.
HIGHEST COAL OUTPUT WANTED. Department of the Interior. Mines must be kept in full operation throughout 1943. OWI-1641.
TWO ALUMINUM FILMS RELEASED. Department of the Interior. “Aluminum: Mine to Metal” and “Aluminum: Fabricating Processes” will facilitate training of war workers. OWI-1644.
KANSAS OILS ANALYSES ISSUED. Department of the Interior. Third report on crude oils of Kansas. OWI-1645.
Petroleum Administration
SECONDARY OIL RECOVERY AIDED where certain operations were conducted March 30, 1943. OWI-1627.
EAST COAST PETROLEUM SUPPLY. Petroleum Administration for War. Stocks dropped to new low level during week ended April 10. OWI-1643.
ICKES URGES INDIANA OIL CONSERVATION LAW. Petroleum Administration for War. OWI-1639.
FLEMING . TO DIRECT WESTERN OIL. Petroleum Administration for War. OWI-1646.
War Manpower Commission
TEXT OF LABOR TRANSFER BAN. Regulations to control transfer of workers in accordance with hold-the-line Executive Order 9528, of April 8, 1943. PM-4362.
ESSENTIAL JOB LIST MODIFIED. Revised list of essential industries and activities under Selective Service. PM-4363.
WMC ACTS TO “HOLD THE LINE.” WMC acts to stop transfers to jobs at higher wages unless shift is in interest of war program. PM-4364.
3 COLLEGES ADDED TO ELIGIBLE LIST of war training programs. PM-4358.
DEPENDENCY CLAIM RESTRICTED as cause for deferment. PM-4357.
CHINA GETS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS to work on medical, sanitary, and health projects. PM-4360.
SELECTIVE SERVICE ANSWERS QUESTIONS concerning the revision of classifications. PM-4359.
National Housing Agency
ELIGIBILITY BROADENED for occupancy of war housing. OWI-1614.
FHA REPORTS 53 PROJECTS. National Housing Agency. Applications for FHA insurance of 53 multifamily war housing projects which would provide 4,631 dwelling units for war workers filed during March. OWI-1632.
Office of Civilian Defense
OCD AIDS MOBILIZATION to overcome manpower shortages. OWI-1598.
LANDIS LAUDS HARTFORD VOLUNTEER BUREAU. OCD-9.
OCD FIGHTS OMAHA FLOOD. 2,000 civilian defense members worked throughout night. OCD-12.
SIMON H. ASH JOINS OCD to supervise rescue service program. OCD-15.
Office of Defense Transportation
TRANSIT MANPOWER ANALYZED. ODT-201.
MOUNTING VOLUME OF OIL TO EAST SEEN tn projection of traffic figures through March 1944. ODT-202.
JOINT ACTION PLANS SPEEDED for motor trucks. ODT-204.
RELEASE ODT 194 CORRECTED. ODT-206.
LONG-HAUL RAIL FREIGHT INCREASES by 16 percent. ODT-205.
DRIVE-YOURSELF CAR FORBIDDEN to any one whose private automobile is available. ODT-207.
INLAND WATERWAY TRAFFIC GROWS. ODT-194.
“BIG-INCH” PIPE LINE FILLS 1,100 CARS DAILY. ODT—210.
YEAR’S TRUCK ALLOCATION REVIEWED. Twenty-one percent of all commercial vehicles released from Nation’s pool. ODT-203.
RAILROAD COMMENDED for lending locomotives to various western lines. ODT-199.
MELONS, PEACHES LOADINGS FIXED at not less than 24,000 pounds. ODT-208.
RECORD ORE CARGO LOCKED IN ICE. With all-time high of 95 million tons of iron ore to be moved from upper to lower Great Lakes, carriers still are unable to break through thick ice to take on cargoes at Lake Superior docks. ODT-212.
Office of War Information
NAZIS DRAIN OCCUPIED LANDS OF FOODS. OWI-1612.
THE WAR AND BUSINESS (No. 67). A summary of the week. OWI-1611.
PROMINENT AMERICANS TO VISIT BRITAIN to interpret United States to people of Great Britain. OWI-1620.
UNITED NATIONS DOCUMENT ON VIEW at Library of Congress. OWI-1619.
DOCUMENTS OF FREEDOM PUBLISHED by Library of Congress. OWI-1623.
U. S. GETS AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL. Transfer does not involve payment of any sort. OWI-1625.
JEFFERSON BICENTENNIAL PLANS. Draft of Declaration of Independence never publicly displayed will be put on exhibition. OWI-1609.
DATES WITH OUR GOVERNMENT. OWL 1610.
OWI REVIEWS OVERSEAS work of USO-Camp Shows, Inc. OWI-1585.
SHIP NAMED FOR NEGRO ORATOR. Maritime Commission. Frederick Douglass, famous Negro orator and journalist of Civil War period. OWI-1606.
MERCHANT MARINE HERO HONORED. Maritime Commission. Captain Alexander S. Henry gets MERCHANT MARINE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. OWI-1640.
DAVIS LAUDS AMERICAN PRESS for bravery and enterprise. OWI-1636.
DAVIS EMPHASIZES information policies. OWI-1642.
JOINT NEWS PLAN REVISED. Office of Censorship. OWI and Office of Censorship made public revision of agreement concerning collaboration in handling of war information. OWI-1622.
SYNTHETIC TIRES BY END OF 1944. Office of War Information. Bulk of Nation’s 27,000,000 civilian passenger car owners will not get new synthetic tires before at least last half of 1944. OWI-1635.
(Continued on page 446)
446
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
Official War Releases
(Continued from page 445)
U. S.-TRAINED CHINESE FLYING. Office of Lend-Lease Administration. Members of first two groups of Chinese aviation cadets trained in U. S. under lend-lease program are now in action against the Japanese. OWI-1647.
SHIPMENTS TO AFRICA ITEMIZED. Office of Lend-Lease Administration. Lend-Lease Administrator Stettinius made statement regarding lend-lease to North Africa. OWI-1650.
RELEASE ON TIRES CORRECTED. Office of War Information. OWI-1635, advance release for use after 9 p. m., E. W. T., April 17, Is corrected. OWI-1652.
Department of Agriculture
NAZI EXPLOITATION in occupied Russia is surveyed. AG-384.
EUROPEAN FOOD CRISIS SURVEYED by Dr. John H. Richter. AG-296.
FARMLAND VALUES SURVEYED. Bureau of Agricultural Economics. AG-300.
533,693 WHEAT LOANS MADE TO MAR. 31. AG-301.
FOOD PLANTS ELIGIBLE FOR ARMYNAVY “E” for Excellence. AG-302.
’42 CORN LOANS REPORTED by Commodity Credit Corp. AG-303.
$679,000 IN REA LOANS ALLOCATED to six systems in as many States. AG-304.
BAKING INDUSTRY DISCUSSES means of Increasing contribution to civilian nutrition. AG-305.
WICKARD OPPOSES PACE BILL in statement before Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. AG-306.
FLORENCE HALL NAMED LAND ARMY CHIEF. AG-307.
HENRY JARRETT JOINS AGRICULTURE as assistant director of Information. AG-308.
VICTORY COCKEREL PLAN SUPPORTED as means of increasing production of eggs. AG-309.
FARM RECRUITMENT NATION-WIDE. Persons of all occupations will be enlisted for paid agricultural work. OWI-1516.
CORN PROCESSING DISCUSSED. Problems arising from reduction of corn supplies in hands of processors considered. AG-327.
SUGAR BEET PLANTINGS SHOWN. Sugar beet plantings may be even below March intentions in some areas. AG-331.
N. Y. CHEESE MAKING LIMITED. Proposed changes in N. Y. milk marketing order will be submitted to industry within few days. AG-332.
FATS FOR BAKING FIXED. Fats will be allotted for bakery products in April, May, June in amount equal to consumption during corresponding quarter of 1942. AG-333.
FARM MACHINERY RATIONING EASED. AG-321.
TRANSFER CONTROLLED for cheese set aside for Government. AG-322.
LOW-GRADE BEANS PRICED as well as No. 1 grade. AG-323.
FLOUR TO CUBA PRICE INCREASED. AG-324.
WICKARD SPEAKS ON HOME CANNING on National Farm and Home Hour. AG-325.
OILS PROCEDURE SET for protective coatings industry. AG-326.
NITROGEN FOR CITRUS GROWERS who cannot get oilseed meals and tankage. AG-310.
WICKARD FAVORS RECIPROCAL TRADE, he tells House Committee on Ways and Means. AG-311.
ASPARAGUS HARVESTERS’ WAGES SET in five California counties. AG-312.
12 REA PROJECTS STARTED. AG-313.
MAINE’S 1942 POTATOES CONTROLLED to enable Government agencies to obtain supplies. AG-314.
WOOL CONSERVATION URGED in new booklet. AG-315.
1,564,972 COTTON LOANS REPORTED. AG-317.
MILK PRICES TO BE STABILIZED in Washington, D. C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia areas. AG-319.
LIVE HOG CEILINGS STUDIED by producers, marketers, and meat packers. AG-320.
VOLUNTEERS TO DISTRIBUTE “A Personal Message,” booklet warning against loose talk. OCD-13.
VICTORY GARDEN VOLUNTEERS PRAISED by Director Landis. OCD-14.
Office of Price Administration
COIR MAT SELLERS ADD DUTY INCREASE to maximum prices. OPA-2232.
FRESH TUNA UNDER CONTROL in first price program on fresh fish. OPA-2233.
FARM VETERINARIANS MAY GET TIRES. OPA-2251.
RANGE OIL FOR HOME FOOD PRESERVING ASSURED. OPA-2263.
5 BORDER-LINE TOWNS OFF GAS SHORTAGE LIST. Sharon, Sharpsville, Farrell, Wheatland, Bluefield. OPA-2267.
RATION BANKING DEPOSITS SIMPLIFIED. OPA-2281.
WHOLESALE BEEF CEILINGS ADJUSTED. OPA—2283.
WAR MODEL OVERALLS PRICED. OPA-2285.
FROZEN FRUITS PRICING CONFERENCE to discuss general provision and specific prices. OPA-2286.
PROCESSED FOODS FACTORS SET in determining allotments of industrial users. OPA—2288.
USED LUBRICATING OIL FREE from fuel oil rationing regulations. OPA-2132.
PIECE GOODS PRICING CLARIFIED as to language of regulation. OPA-2239.
FOOD IMPORTS POINT-FREE FOR PROCESSORS for reprocessing or sale. OPA-2242.
SPECIFIC CEILINGS ON HORSEMEAT whether sold for human or animal food. OPA—2248.
SCRAP RUBBER HEEL MAXIMUMS SET. OPA-2257.
DRUGGISTS TOLD FOOD RATION DUTIES must collect stamps when they sell rationed foods. OPA-2284.
CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS LIFTED on washing powders and cleaners. OPAr2246.
FRESH VEGETABLE PRICES SET at uniform mark-ups over retailer’s net cost. OPA-2255.
EXTRA SUGAR PROVIDED for manufacturers whose products are sold in areas where military maneuvers are conducted. OPA-2258.
FARM STONEWARE PRICING ADJUSTABLE. OPA-2259.
BRASS MILL SCRAP REFINED so that Copper Recovery Corporation may receive most favorable prices. OPA-2262.
OPA DISAPPROVES request for modification of rent control. OPA-2301.
COTTON MARKETS PROTECTED; no announcement of ceilings will be made during course of trading in futures. OPA-2303.
RESTAURANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FORMING. OPA—2304.
STOVE PRICES ADJUSTABLE. OPA-T-760.
“PLAY” SHOES RATIONED if manufactured, packaged, or shipped after April 15, 1943. OPA-T-771.
EAST SOFTWOOD LUMBER PRICED. OPA—2241.
FISH HATCHERIES ALLOWED MEAT for feeding food fish. OPA-2289.
FRUIT TRADE TO DISCUSS CEILINGS. OPA-2290.
ONION SET temporary price control made permanent. OPA-2291.
CONFERENCE CALLED for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of 5-and-10-cent-store cosmetics. OPA-2295.
FUNERAL PRICES UNDER STUDY by Industry Advisory Committee. OPA-2296.
BANKS’ RATIONING AID CITED. Brown commends banks for handling ration banking “cheerfully and willingly.” OPA-2297.
YELLOW CORN CEILING SET at Sept. 15, 1942 price. OPA-2298.
CERTAIN MEAT CEILINGS POSTPONED to permit reexamination of prices in light of “hold the line” Presidential order. OPA-2299.
TRADE MEAT RULE EASED to allow more convenient period to complete transaction. OPA-T-769.
WEST COAST ALCOHOLS RAISED because of advancing grain prices and subsequent reduction of profit margins of industrial ethyl producers. OPA-2256.
LUMBER PRICED in New England and Middle Atlantic States. OPA-2277.
CERTIFICATES COVER MORE RATIONED FOODS. OPA—2287.
FRIENDLY NATIONS CONTRACTS EXEMPT from price control. OPA-2292.
GASOLINE ORDERED MODIFIED for motorists who can give good reason for failing to have tires inspected. OPA-2293.
OPA FORMS 80 LABOR COMMITTEES. OPA-2294.
FAIR MEAT SHARING ORDERED following complaints some large packers distributing through own branch houses were discriminating against independent middleman. OPA-2300.
COURT UPHOLDS SUSPENSION BY OPA, action cited as “significant decision which gives valuable aid to OPA in its drive to destroy black markets.” OPA-2307.
HOUSE SALES CONTROL CLARIFIED, there are five broad types of sales to which restrictions do not apply. OPA-2308.
BURLEY TOBACCO RULE REVISED. OPA-2211.
CERTAIN SUGAR ALLOTMENT TRANSFERS ALLOWED for industrial users. OPA-2249.
RENTED TYPEWRITERS MAY BE RECALLED within 48 hours for renters who present certificates. OPA-2261.
RAYON HOSIERY RULE POSTPONED. OPA—2269.
CORN TRADERS WARNED. Increases of 5 cents per bushel do not go into effect until April 14. OPA-2270.
RESTAURANTS UNDER PRICE CONTROL. Week of April 4 through April 10 is “base period.” OPA-2271.
BEEF PRICE RULE MODIFIED to equalize position of all sellers. OPA-2272.
CALIFORNIA OIL RISE EXTENDED to other heavy crude fields in same State. OPA-2273.
1943 SPINACH PACK PRICED. OPA-2274.
FALL DRESS PRICE LINES STUDIED by representative manufacturers. OPA-2275.
RED “C” STAMPS VALID APRIL 16 for
April 21, 1943
* VICTORY BULLETIN ★
447
16 points’ worth of rationed meats and fats. OP A—2254.
RATION VALUE OF SAUSAGE CUT to speed rate at which products have been moving. OPA-2268.
EDIBLE MAPLE SUGAR FREE from ceiling. OPA—2276.
SUGAR ALLOWANCE LIBERALIZED for eating places which use sugar in baking their own products. OPA-2278.
PLEASURE BOAT gasoline restriptions to tighten. OPA-2279.
LOW ELECTRIC RATES SOUGHT for city of Detroit. OPA—2280.
SHOES IN U. S. TERRITORIES RATION-FREE. OPA-T-759.
CUSTOM SLAUGHTERERS’ PRICES NOT EASED by regulations covering pork and beef at wholesale level. OPA-T-764.
STEMMED LEAF TOBACCO EXEMPT from price control. OPA-T-766.
FARMERS MUST COLLECT POINTS for sales of rationed foods. OPA-2265.
RESTAURANT PRICE CEILINGS AUTHOR-
IZED OPA—2266
RICE PRICING MODIFIED for finished rice and most important mill byproducts. OPA-2209.
BREAD CRUMB RETAILERS’ MARGINS EASED to add packaging or transportation costs 2222
PRICING METHODS ON WOOD-FRAME BEDSPRINGS for who’esalers and jobbers who did not sell during March 1942. OPA-2230.
IMPORT CONFERENCE SET on maximum prices of imported consumer goods. OPA-2243.
RULING ON GOVERNMENT ALCOHOL SALE. OPA—T—757.
CAMELBACK MAY BE SOLD ABOVE MAXIMUMS. OPA—T—767.
MAY-JUNE COFFEE ALLOTMENT for Class A industrial users. OPA-T-768.
CONVERSION GRATES PRICED. OPA-2282.
CERTAIN COMPANIES GET EXTRA SUGAR. OPA—2302.
CERTAIN DOUGLAS FIR RAISED. Ceilings for four grades of Douglas Fir boards raised. OPA-2312. •
1-CENT VIOLATION CITED. OPA-2322.
DRY ROOFING FELT PRICED. Ceiling prices for dry roofing felt basic raw material established. OPA-T-770.
LOGS AND BOLTS RULING CHANGED. OPA-2310.
FRUIT MEN’S MEETING TRANSFERRED from Raleigh, N. C., to Charlotte, N. C. OPA-2311.
STEEL PRICING PLANNED for heavy line iron and steel warehouse products. OPA-2313.
BEEF PRICING RULE POSTPONED from April 14 to April 22. OPA-2315.
GMPR EXEMPTIONS CONSOLIDATED under single Supplementary Order. OPA-T—763.
STEEL CONTAINER PRICING CLARIFIED. OPA-T-765.
STEEL WAREHOUSEMEN FORM advisory committee. OPA-T-773.
FOREIGN COTTON LINTERS PRICED under regulation that establishes ceilings for “free” domestic linters. OPA-T-761.
War Production Board
GLASS TOP CLOSURE RECOMMENDED for home canners. WPB-3051.
GARDEN TOOLS IN SUPPLY. WPB-3079.
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS RE-EXAMINED in light of current farm needs. WPB-3157.
RECORD WOOLEN FABRICS OUTPUT in 1942 reached 525,000,000 linear yards. WPB-3138.
LOCOMOTIVE PARTS MANUFACTURE PROTECTED. WPB-3139.
COPPER USE RESTRICTED in manufacture of electrical wiring devices. WPB-3140.
APRIL CHEMICALS DISTRIBUTION REPORT. WPB—3150.
x NEW FORMS FOR PRIORITY ASSISTANCE. WPB-3159.
NELSON ADVOCATES VACATIONS as helpful to war production. WPB-3164.
PUMP CONTROLS MODIFIED. WPB-3167.
ALUMINUM ROD ORDERS PROTECTED from displacement. WPB-3168.
INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND USE STUDIED by WPB Office of Production and Research. WPB-3169.
CASKET PROBLEMS CONSIDERED by Wood Casket Industry Advisory Committee. WPB-3171.
CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT RULE LIBERALIZED for students qualifying themselves to essential jobs. WPB—3172.
DOGWOOD LIMITED TO USE IN TEXTILE SHUTTLES and other textile machinery parts. WPB-3162.
CLASS A COAL STOKER DEFINITION CLARIFIED. WPB—3163.
HOUSE TRAILER UNIT STANDARDIZATION PROPOSED by House Trailer Industry Advisory Committee. WPB-3166
GLASS CONTAINERS. WPB-3170.
GEAR PRODUCTION PROBLEMS DISCUSSED by Gear and Speed Rubber Industry Committee. WPB-3176.
SCRAP RECOVERY OF RUBBER-INSULATED WIRE SPEEDED. WPB-3177.
APPEAL MADE FOR “FROZEN” BURLAP to textile mills and other owners of stocks. WPB-3178.
METALS IN HAND TRUCKS RESTRICTED. WPB-3179.
THE ARSENALS OF AMERICA. Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. WPB—3104.
PAPERBOARD SUBSTITUTION SAVED TONS OF METAL in cans, pails, boxes. WPB—3173.
1,827 TRUCKS released under rationing program week ended April 10. WPB-3210.
FARM MACHINE BODY MEETS to get advice of industry in food program. WPB-3211.
WPB RELEASE 3173 CORRECTED. WPB-3212.
JEWELERS’ GOLD RESTRICTED. WPB-3214.
FIRE APPARATUS CONTROL TIGHTENED. WPB-3215.
THEATERS WARNED OF FIRE HAZARDS by Service Equipment Division. WPB-3216.
WPB CONSOLIDATES QUESTIONNAIRES. WPB—3217.
PLATE TESTING POLICIES SET. WPB-8219.
WESTERN CAN MAKERS GET TIN. WPB-3220
PLATE SPECIFICATIONS TO BE STUDIED. WPB-3225.
CERTAIN METAL PRODUCTS GROUPED. WPB-3208.
ROTENONE CONTAINERS SPECIFIED.
WPB-3213.
COUNTY OFFICIAL S’ MEETING STRESSED. WPB-3218.
WOOD HEEL COVERING ALLOWED. ' WPB-3221.
NEW UTILITIES FORM. New certification form to be used by electric, gas, water, and steam utilities. WPB-2335.
RUBBER FORM EXPLAINED. All applications for authorization under L-143 are to be made on new form. WPB-3237.
PLATE TESTING DISCUSSED. Clarification of resting procedures for steel plate discussed at meeting of government and industry officials. WPB—3239.
WPB ASSIGNS NEW ITEM SYMBOLS to Class B products. WPB-3174.
3 CHEMICALS ADDED TO APRIL ALLOCATIONS. Ascorbic Acid, Normal Butyl Alcohol, and Methyl Ethyl Ketone. WPB-3175.
TRANSPORT SUPPLIES ASSURED UNDER NEW RATING. WPB-3181.
NELSON DENIES that WPB is proceeding upon plan for concentration of industry. WPB-3182.
$45,654 IN CONSTRUCTION HALTED during week ended April 9. WPB-3184.
TRUCK TIRE RULES MODIFIED, replacement period extended from 15 to 30 days. WPB-3185.
BITNER NAMED Deputy Director, Printing and Publishing Division. WPB-3186.
BEARINGS CONTROL TIGHTENED as to scheduling production and distribution. WPB-3187.
ONE-TRIP BEER BOTTLE PROHIBITED, approximately 30 times more beer can be packaged in standard returnable bottle. WPB-3180.
CIVILIAN NEEDS MET in production and distribution of essential goods. WPB-3183.
CERTAIN MOLDING EXEMPTED from restrictions. WPB-3194.
SHOE WIRE IS AVAILABLE, such as toe lasting wire, staple wire, grip tacker wire. WPB-3195.
CHEMICAL SALVAGE EXTENDED to make sure that no valuable resources go to waste. WPB-3196.
CASKET DISTRIBUTION STUDIED, not sizes of caskets. WPB-3197.
SOFTWOOD LUMBER UNDER M-208 for replenishment of inventories. WPB-3198.
RADIO COMPONENTS SITUATION CHANGES. WPB-3199.
INDUSTRIAL CASEIN UNDER ALLOCATION. WPB—3200.
ZINC DIE-CASTINGS STANDARD advanced to status of “full A. S. T. M. Standard.” WPB—3201.
SHAVNG BRUSH NEEDS STUDIED by Industry Advisory Committee. WPB-3202.
ORDER P-134 (concerning repair and maintenance materials of copper, zinc, and alloys) revoked. WPR-3203.
POULTRY EQUIPMENT PROBLEM STUDIED by Industry Advisory Committee. WPB-3204.
NEW PAPER BOX RESTRICTIONS for frozen foods and work shirts. WPB-3205.
MAJ. BURKE HEADS PRISON INDUSTRIES BRANCH. WPB-3206.
CATTON IS WPB INFORMATION CHIEF. WPB-3207.
WHITESIDE IS APPOINTED vice chairman in charge of civilian requirements. WPB-3209.
CONSOLIDATED METALS COMPANY PENALIZED. WPB-3188.
REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT ORDER MODIFIED. WPB-3189.
ANODIAL COPPER DELIVERIES PLANNED for supplying electrotypers. WPB-3190.
TRANSPORTING OF CONTAINERS STUDIED by Industry Advisory Committee. WPB-3192.
PROMPTNESS URGED for manufacturers who fail to pass on authorizations to suppliers. WPB-3193.
FIVE MORE ADVISORY GROUPS UNDERWAY. WPB announces formation of five industry advisory committees during the past week. WPB-3223.
WPB CUTS USE OF OSMIUM. WPB-3224.
MATCH CONTROL CHANGES OFFERED. WPB—3226.
LUGGAGE SIMPLIFICATION S U G -GESTED. WPB-3227.
“WAR MODEL” SHOES PROPOSED. WPB-3228.
CERTAIN GAGES OFF LIMITED LIST. WPB—3229.
FLAG SUPPLY PREDICTED. WPB-3231.
RADIO SUPPLY AGENCY FORMING. WPB-3232.
CERTAIN COTTON YARN CHANGES. Combed cotton yarn manufacturers required to earmark portions of production. WPB-3233.
“MINOR” BUILDING LIMITS EASED. Restrictions on wartime civilian construction eased slightly in certain “minor construction” categories. WPB-3234.
h
448
★ VICTORY BULLETIN ★
April 21, 1943
War Nutrition Demonstrations Teach Proper Use of Foods
Community Shows Explain Rationing, Food Production, Balanced Diet
A wartime purpose is . being given to an old technique—food demonstration— and that purpose is an earlier victory through good nutrition, the Office of War Information announced.
To produce weapons, food, and all other war supplies requires longer hours and harder work, and the strength, stamina, and energy that come from the right food in the right amounts, OWI pointed out. During wartime scarcity, people need to know more about the selection, purchase, and preparation of food in order to maintain balanced diets,.
Wartime food demonstrations,, an important phase of the Government’s nutrition program to promote the production, sharing, and proper use of food, teach which foods are best, how to get the most of them with the fewest ration stamps, and how to cook them in order to preserve the nutrition values and extend the flavors of the scarce foods. Other phases of the general food program include meat and processed food rationing, the promotion of Victory Gardens, the food production goals of 1943, and the recruitment of farm labor,
Sponsored by WFA
The demonstrations are sponsored by the Nutrition and Food Conservation Branch of the War Food Administration. They are carried out in the community by State and local nutrition committees affiliated in most cases with local Defense Councils, and composed of professional nutritionists, interested persons, State officials, and Federal representatives. Organization of the committees began in May 1941 and has now been completed in more than 2,800 out of a total of'3,070 counties in the United States.
Wartime food demonstrations are being held in more and more communities, according to reports from the regional offices. Demonstrations have been either planned or carried out in 44 States. The Nutrition and Food Conservation Branch is now working on a plan with the Office of Price Administration for the establishment of a ration bank account so that rationed foods may be obtained for the demonstrations.
Local Publicity Sought
Responsibilities for a typical demonstration are delegated, by the city or county committee to an individual or subcommittee. A convenient time is chosen, a central location is selected (such as a home, school, church, or other community building with a sink and stove), and a demonstrator recruited from among home economists, graduates of nutrition courses, home economics classes, vocational agricultural groups, meat retailers, experienced homemakers, or men specially skilled in preparing "food. The demonstration is publicized by stories and pictures for the local newspapers, spot announcements and interviews on the local radio stations, and posters. Funds are obtained from the local Defense Council or from a sponsor, such as clubs, church groups, businesses, or other organizations.
Handbook Available
The demonstrator selects recipes that may be followed in the home, and uses ordinary kitchen utensils. The demonstrator prepares the dish, explaining each action, then offers it for tasting, and answers questions. Recipes that may be used, as well as detailed instructions for a demonstration, are contained in a Handbook for Food Demonstrations in Wartime prepared by a special committee of 13 women experts in nutrition and demonstration techniques. Approximately 250,000 copies of the handbooks have been distributed to State and local nutrition committees through the regional offices.
M. L. Wilson, Chief of the Nutrition and Food Conservation Branch, praised the many nutrition committees that have conducted demonstrations. “Teaching homemakers, through wartime food demonstrations,” he said, “to plan appetizing meals that provide good nutrition within rationing limits, is an outstanding service that volunteer nutrition committees are doing for their communities the country over.
“Knowing what to eat for maximum health and putting the knowledge into practice is a day-to-day war job for every citizen of America,” he added.
—Two-cdlumn mats are available.
0. $. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1843