[Victory : Official Weekly Bulletin of the Agencies in the Office for Emergency Management. V. 3, No. 13]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
Produce TODAY*
VICTORY'
OFFICIAL WEEKLY BULLETIN OF THE AGENCIES IN THE OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MARCH 31,1942
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 13
IN THIS ISSUE
Review of the week____________ 2
On the home front_____________ 3
INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS^
REA copper cut________________ 4
List of priority actions______ 8
Decentralizing WPB----------- 32
RATIONING
Typewriters__________________ 10
Tea__________________________ 11
Tires________________________ 13
LABOR
Clearing away double-time pay— 16
PRICE ADMINISTRATION
War costs of gasoline recognized_18
TRANSPORTATION
Minimum load limits__________ 24
HEALTH AND WELFARE
Has your State a disaster plan?— 29
FACTS AND FIGURES
What Hitler wants us to believe— 31
OPA limits retail prices of typewriters, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, radios, phonographs, washers, ironers, stoves
In the broadest action yet taken to combat price inflation affecting lines of goods made scarce by war, Acting Price Administrator Hamm on March 23 set maximum prices that retailers can charge for seven major household appliances and for new typewriters as well.
Effective March 30, the latest OPA regulations bring under Federal price control at the retail level: New household mechanical refrigerators; new household vacuum cleaners and attachments; new domestic heating and cooking stoves and ranges; new domestic washing and ironing machines; new radio receiving sets and phonographs; and new typewriters.
Scarce because of war effort
Production of all of these important articles of consumers’ durable goods has been drastically curtailed or completely suspended because of the demand of war industries for the metals that are used in their manufacture. This growing scarcity has resulted in sharp price increases at wholesale and retail and in thousands of complaints from the buying public of profiteering, according to Mr. Hamm.
“Inasmuch as there has been no increase in manufacturers’ prices, it is obvious that wholesale and retail prices are being pushed up simply on the theory
that the public should be glad to get a new refrigerator or washer or vacuum cleaner or radio at any price in these times,” Mr. Hamm said. “This is the reasoning that makes for profiteering and stimulates inflation. We have the duty of preventing these twin evils and are acting accordingly. Enforced scarcity will not be permitted to dictate the price of any article subject to OPA control, now or in the future.”
Orders apply at wholesale too
In addition to setting maximum prices at retail, the orders also apply at the wholesale level, and, in the case of the regulations for vacuum cleaners and new typewriters, place a ceiling over manufacturers’ prices for the first time.
Four of the OPA regulations—those applying to new typewriters, domestic washing and ironing machines, radio receiving sets and phonographs, and domestic heating and cooking stoves and ranges—are 60-day “temporary orders” and peg prices at the level of March 19. The twp “permanent regulations,” those applying to household vacuum cleaners and attachments and household mechanical refrigerators, use for the ceiling prices the manufacturers’ recommended retail price lists and “freeze” the price
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»PLANTS RUSH PRODUCTION DRIVE ORGANIZATION—PAGE 17
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March 3b 1942
Review of the Week
More than 100 war factories had reported before the end of last week on the organization of management-labor committees to increase production of tanks, planes, ships, and guns. In one case rival unions within a plant overcame their differences to further the War Production Drive, and in another the working of the committee was demonstrated dramatically when War Production Board Chairman Nelson commended it for heroic efforts to maintain production during a flood.
Mounting demands
Elsewhere, mounting demands for ma ■ terials and machines which are producing and will produce these tanks, planes, ships, and guns came to the surface as more and more factories were taken out of civilian manufacturing. Strict controls were placed over the making of metal windows, metal plaster bases, razor blades, portable electric lamps and shades, and flashlights.
WPB put further limits on the use of chrome steel, and added more products to those for which the percentage of crude rubber content is specified. Critical metals were trimmed out of plumbing fixture fittings. The Materials Division issued an ordering system for users of steel plates, to see that as many factories as possible use the more abundant strip mill product and save the wider plates for purposes in which they are indispensable. Enamel needed to coat military supplies was forbidden for decorating the ends of cans. Rapeseed oil necessary to keep heavy war machines running was reserved for that purpose.
REA cut to 100 tons
WPB notified the Rural Electrification Administration it could have only 100 tons more copper to finish projects underway.
The Division of Industry Operations gave notice that it means business when it issues regulations. A builder held to have violated priority rules was denied further aid for at least 60 days.
Meanwhile WPB moved to decentralize its activities and set up a more direct service to manufacturers by establishing
13 regional offices, each particularly fitted to administer the industrial effort of its area.
To assure carrying a rapidly increasing burden of materials in and out of war factories, Transportation Director Eastman ordered minimum load limits for freight cars.
OPA steps into retail field
The Office of Price Administration stepped into the retail field to see that the scarcity induced by conversion of our economy to war does not work unnecessary hardship. OPA limited the prices of vacuum cleaners, mechanical refrigerators, radios, phonographs, washing and ironing machines, stoves and ranges, and typewriters. Meat stores were warned that they must keep their charges in line now that there is a wholesale ceiling on pork.
OPA temporarily froze prices of newsprint. At the same time, however, higher costs of transporting petroleum in tank cars instead of tank ships was recognized by allowing a ^-cent boost on the Eastern Seaboard, and a rise was permitted in prices of Pennsylvania grade crude oils to make possible a larger output for military demands.
Other price actions concerned wool products from the “pulled” stage through worsted yarns; specialty combed yarns of extra-long-fiber cotton; second-hand cloth bags; print cloth bed linens; domestic shorn wool; remolded tires; antimony; coal; meat scraps; hide glue and hide glue■stock.
New typewriters for rationing
OPA announced that more than 100,000 new typewriters would be available for rationing April 13, though the nonwar user hasn’t much chance of getting one. Some recapped tires were allotted to passenger cars for the first time in the April quotas. WPB cut tea deliveries in half to spin out stocks in case returning munitions ships should be prevented from cutting across Pacific fighting zones with new imports; and restricted the use of honey in manufactured products. Refrigerator dealers
were notified they may sell at retail their entire stocks.
WPB Chairman Nelson told a House committee it would upset war production to stop payment of time and a half for individual work over 40 hours a week; he said he favored putting an end to double payment for Saturday, Sunday and holiday work but would not favor legislation unless other ways failed. Presidents of the CIO and AFL thereupon pledged their unions to abandonment of the double-time arrangement. Congress delayed action on a bill designed to enforce both objectives. -
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Johnson succeeds Curry as Civil Air Patrol commander
Earle L. Johnson, Executive Officer of the Civil Air Patrol, on March 28 was named National Commander by OCD Director Landis. Mr. Johnson succeeds Maj. Gen. John F. Curry, U. S. Air Forces, who has been assigned by the War Department as Commander of the Fourth District Air Forces Technical Training Command with headquarters in Denver, Colo.
“Now organized with a Wing Command in every State, the Civil Air Patrol has proven itself as a hard-hitting and effective organization, quick to carry out the missions which the Army and the civilian defense units have entrusted to it,” Director Landis said. “More than 37,000 citizens, 80 percent of whom are civilian pilots, already have enlisted to fly their own or rented planes on a wide variety of assignments primarily planned to relieve military planes and airmen for other duties. . .
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WAR EFFORT’S PROGRESS TOLD VISUALLY
The charts appearing every week on the front cover of Victory tell the story of America’s battle as it is fought here at home. One-column mats are available for publication by newspapers and others who may desire them. Requests should be sent to Distribution Section, Division of Information, OEM, Washington, D. C.
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VICTORY
OFFICIAL BULLETIN of the Office for Emergency Management. Published weekly by the Division of Information, Office for Emergency Management, çnd printed at the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.
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March 31, 1942
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On the Home Front
The mountain is still before us—but we are out of the foothills now, and we can see clearly.
Today, standing at the threshold of April and almost 3 months up from Pearl Harbor, we know what it is to climb. We know what it is to climb and we can see that the road ahead of us is very like the road by which we have come—except that it is steeper.
Today we know what we shall have to do to win this war because we have already begun to do it. And what is much, much more—we know why we are doing these things, we know how the sacrifices and deprivations of the Home Front contribute to the broad strategy of our world campaign against the Axis and how these sacrifices and deprivations are helping to build our ultimate triumph in that campaign.
New portents of change
The past week produced new portents of change for all of us, change of the sort which is altering our whole lives, altering our work and our dress and our play, altering the way in which we eat, and travel, and build, altering the equipment in our offices and the very furnishings of our homes.
The War Production Board restricts the amount of steel which may go into beds and bedsprings and mattresses, issues an order which will end altogether the production of metal household furniture, cuts the output of razors and razor blades.
Good. We know where the steel Is going and that steel in a tank these days is a better guarantee of sound slumber on the Home Front than in the coiled metal of the best bedspring.
We understand why there can be no more substitution of bus routes for streetcar lines; we know it is just one aspect of the critical shortage of rubber caused by the Japs; we know that it is because of the Japs we have less sugar and must now get along with less tea.
Now we know the “why” of such Home Front developments as they happen, just as we know why men’s suits are being made without cuffs and why production of an increasing list of household gadgets and appliances has been halted.
But inflation wouldn’t help
We know the “why” of shortages, but we have a right to expect that these shortages shall not expose us to inflated
prices. It is for that reason that the Office of Price Administration last week fixed maximum retail prices for seven household appliances as well as for new typewriters.
Previously OPA, although it had placed price ceilings over many products at the level of the manufacturer or wholesaler, had restricted regulation of retail prices to autos, tires, and—in 19 States and the District of Columbia—gasoline.
Last week’s new orders, however, fix maximum retail prices for new domestic mechanical refrigerators, new vacuum cleaners and attachments, new domestic heating and cooking stoves and ranges, new radio sets and phonographs, and new typewriters.
And price control, as a result, becomes for the first time a matter of direct and personal interest to millions of us.
Tanks from farms
Linked in purpose to our great War Production Drive—a drive now gathering force in some 2,000 American plants—is another sort of a campaign launched by WPB’s bureau of industrial conservation. This is a campaign to get in the millions of tons of scrap metal and old rubber from the U. 6. A.’s 6,500,000 farms. WPA trucks and WPA workers are assisting in this salvage campaign, a campaign which also must succeed before we can make the guns and tanks and ships and planes we need.
For the first time since tire rationing began a limited number of recapped tires are made available to war workers and other passenger car owners on “List B” in the April quotas. . . . And a Los Angeles tire dealer has been enjoined from selling new tires in defiance of rationing provisions. . . . There’ll be less wool in wool blankets so that there will be more wool to keep our soldiers and sailors warm. . . . OPA’s consumer division, incidentally, suggests that families see what can be done with needle and thread before buying new clothes. . . . Tea and flashlights met face to face in curtailment orders last week. . . . And WPB has cut production of portable lamps and shades and restricted the amount of metal which may go into such lamps. . . . The order applies to floor lamps and table lamps and bed lamps. . . . Because enamel is needed to coat military supplies it can’t be used to decorate the ends of tin cans any more. . ., Shellac also Is used to coat
military and naval equipment, including artillery shells, and so WPB is going to cut its use by civilians. . . .
Cigarettes, shoes, bread
Rationing of hearses, ambulances, and station wagons has been returned to WPB by OPA . . . Most of the station wagons will go to Army and Navy, anyway . . . Many auto dealers are managing to convert their plants and equipment to war work . . . Survey of the cigarette industry resulted in a ruling that present prices should stand unless new Federal taxes are imposed ... In addition to restricting the amount of steel which may go into beds and bedsprings and mattresses, WPB has cut the production of metal window frames . . . Reclaimed rubber mayn’t be used in a long list of articles after March 31, a list which runs a gamut from baby carriages to household gloves and from fly swatters to golf bags '. . . Shoe manufacturers have been urged to use less leather in making civilian shoes . . . And farmers preparing for record spring plantings are protected against excessive fertilizer costs by OPA price margins . . . These margins became effective last week . . . WPB has suggested that the baking industry reduce operating costs in order to prevent a rise in prices . . .
Honey and coal
WPB has issued an order limiting the amount of honey which may be used in such manufactured products as ice cream, candy, soft drinks, bakery goods and medicines . . . The purpose is to save present stocks of honey for households and the boys at the fronts . . . Coal dealers may add the amount of recently granted freight rate increases to your bill, although OPA urges them not to do this ... Increases range from 3 to 5 cents per net ton . . . The curtailment of safety razor blades will permit each adult American male about one new blade a week and this reduced quota, along with a reduced quota of razors, will save some 1,550 tons of steel for tanks or weapons . . . The cut , in razor blade production may mean a cut for you but it should also bring a cut for the Japs, too . . . Retailers of men’s and boys’ clothing are urged to save wool clippings from the ends of men’s trousers—where the cuff would be if we hadn’t decided to pass up cuffs to cuff the Axis—and get them back into the woolen mills via the wool rag dealers . . . “We’re all in this war together,” as WPB Chairman Donald M. Nelson told CIO union members last week, “and if any of us lose our freedom, all of us lose it.” A thought for this week.
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March 31, 1942
INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS...
REA notified it will get only 100 tons more copper to finish projects under way
The War Production Board has notified the Rural Electrification Administration that only 100 additional tons of copper will be allotted to it to complete projects already under way.
This amount of copper and the copper it has on hand must be used to complete projects which were more than 40 percent complete last December 5, and a few additional projects designated by REA and approved by the power branch of the WPB.
History of REA allocations
Last December the former Supply Priorities and Allocations Board authorized the then Office of Production Management to allocate to REA 1,500 tons of copper per month up to a total of not more than 10,500 tons. It provided that such copper should be used on certain projects listed in two Groups (A and B) that were then more than 40 percent complete. It provided also that projects less than 40 percent complete should be reviewed, and those substantially under way should be completed.
REA has since then received a total of 7,200 tons of copper. While this is 3,300 tons short of the maximum permitted under the SPAB policy, the copper situation has become even more acute than it was last December and the War Production Board has now decided that the additional copper cannot be allocated.
The copper needs of the projects listed in Groups A and B have already been provided for.
34 other projects permitted
In addition, 34 other projects were over 40 percent complete last December 5. They did not appear, in the A and B Groups because the REA lists were prepared as of October 31, whereas the SPAB policy was announced as of December 5. Approximately 650 tons of copper are required to complete these 34 projects, if 920 tons of steel conductor is used in substitution for copper.
While the SPAB policy did not commit OPM to make copper available for projects not included in the A and B groups, nevertheless WPB took the position that the SPAB policy has been generally regarded as giving assurance that any projects that were 40 percent
complete at the time of the ruling would be given sufficient materials to complete the projects.
550 tons of copper to be diverted
Therefore, in order to make possible the completion of these 34 projects, WPB directed that 550 tons of copper now in REA’s possession be diverted from projects not yet started and that an additional 100 tons be allocated to REA,, thus making available the 650 tons of copper necessary to complete these projects.
Provision was also made for partial completion of another group of projects which were in various‘stages of completion on February 20, the last date for which data were available when a check was made.
WPB has decided that the copper on hand for this group may be used for such of those projects as are approved by the power branch of the WPB but that no more copper may be allocated to this group, which is in addition to those from which the 550 tons will be diverted.
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Molybdenum allocation delayed
Consumers of molybdenum have been notified that, because of lack of time, General Preference Order M-110 which calls for a complete allocation system will not be placed in effect in April, the Director of Industry Operations announced March 24.
Requests for delivery of molybdenum must be received by the War Production Board by the 20th of the preceding month, it was explained, and the complete working of the order will take effect May 1.
For the remainder of March and April, these general rules should be observed:
No order should be placed or accepted which will increase the customer’s minimum working inventory.
Shipments during March or April should not exceed shipments made to the same customer during either January or February, whichever was the greatest. If such an amount already has been shipped for March no further shipments should be made for the month.
No deliveries of molybdenum should be made before May 1 except on ratings of A-10 or higher.
Utility maintenance, operation rating raised to A-2 and A-5
The War Production Board issued on March 26 a complete revision of Preference Rating Order P-46 which was issued last September to assist utilities in obtaining the minimum amount of materials necessary for maintenance, repair, and operation. That order assigned a blanket preference rating of A-10 to Such materials.
The March 26 order supersedes the original order and all amendments thereto and makes several important changes, the principal of which are:
1. The blanket rating of A-10 in the original order is replaced by two higher ratings. An A-2 rating is granted to deliveries of material for maintenance, repair, and operating supplies for power plants and pumping plants. An A-5 rating is granted for all other facilities, such as lines, pipes, and substations.
2. The order also assigns a rating of A-5 to deliveries of materials to bring electricity, gas, or water to war plants or other projects bearing a rating of A-5 or better. This does not apply to housing projects. An A-5 rating is also granted to deliveries of materials needed to protect power or water plants against sabotage, such as fencing, tear gas bombs for guards around such plants, etc. These ratings may not be applied without prior outhorization from the Director of Industry Operations of WPB.
3. Line extensions to serve a new consumer are restricted to 250 feet. The original order permitted a 1,000-foot extension. Extensions begun prior to March 26, the date of issuance of this order, may be completed.
Despite this restriction, the power branch of the WPB announced that houses that were wired prior to March 26 or for which the foundations were completed by that date, may be served with electricity provided they are not more than 2,000 feet from an existing line and provided the utility specifies that galvanized steel wire will be used instead of copper.
This policy, which has been concurred in by the steel branch, will also permit extension of service to a number of homes which were already wired when the 1,000 foot extension limit was imposed last December 5.
The power branch made it clear, however, that extensions under this policy are not automatically approved, but that authorization must be obtained for each extension over 250 feet.
Two other changes in the order give utilities greater flexibility in obtaining delivery of materials.
1. Under the previous order restrictions were placed on the acceptance of deliveries of material in any quarterly calendar period. Often, through no fault of the utility, such materials were not delivered on the dates for which they were ordered. This provision has been changed to place the restriction not on the period in which materials are delivered but on the period in which they are scheduled for delivery.
2. Previously a utility could not obtain certain items which it needed if the dollar value of the items on hand within the same class exceeded a practical working inventory. This has been changed to permit a limited amount of deliveries of needed items.
March 31, 1942
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Production of metal plaster bases and accessories slashed to conserve steel and zinc
Curtailment of the production of metal plastering bases and accessories in order to save substantial amounts of steel and zinc for more essential needs was directed by WPB March 25 in Limitation Order L-59.
The order reduces the metal consumption of larger producers by 50 percent and smaller producers by 25 percent, with total tonnages used in the calendar years 1940 and 1941 taken as a base. Use of zinc is even more drastically curtailed. Larger producers may use only 35 percent of tonnages consumed in the base period, and smaller producers, 50 percent. The order c6vers operations of producers for the four-month period ending June 30.
Larger producers, as defined in the order, are manufacturers who used 14,000 tons or more of metals during the calendar year 1941. Smaller manufacturers are those who used less than that amount in metal plastering bases or accessories.
Manufacturers who do not use their permissible quotas of zinc in coated products are permitted to increase the amount of iron and steel up to the total weight of all metals allowed.
Expect to save 75,000 tons of steel
The building materials branch of WPB estimated that the savings on an annual basis would be approximately 75,000 tons of steel and 2,400 tons of zinc.
The order covers all supports and reinforcements, made in whole or in part from metal, used as bases for the application of plastering or stucco construction. Commonly known bases included are metal lath, metal stucco mesh, sheet metal lath, wire lath, wire cloth, wire fabric, together with accessories except for nails.
The accessories include corner lath (cornerite), base screed, corner bead clips, tie wire, metal partition studs, floor and ceiling track partitions, steel plastering shapes and concealed picture mold and trim.
Material commonly known as "chicken wire” is not covered by the order.
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Unit heaters, ventilators, _ other items frozen for war use
Inventories of unit heaters, unit ventilators, convectors, and blast heating coils have been frozen in the hands of manufacturers by a telegraphic order, it was announced March 26 by Director of Industry Operations Knowlson.
Razors cut, blades reduced to one a week per shaver; steel and machine tools freed
Curtailment of the production of safety razors, straight razors, and razor blades was ordered March 25 by the War Production Board to save valuable metals.
Dry shavers were not included in this order (L-72), as they will be taken care of in another order to be issued soon.
Under the March 25 order the monthly production of safety razors during the next 90 days is restricted to 70 percent of monthly average production in 1940, when the year’s total was about 12,-000,000.
Blades at 1940 average
The monthly production of blades, both double and single-edged, is limited to 100 percent of the monthly average production in 1940. This will make available an average of a blade per week per shaver.
The monthly production of straight razors is limited to 100 percent of the monthly average production in 1940.
Copper sharply restricted
In addition, the use of copper in the razors permitted under the order is sharply restricted. During the first 60 days of the 90-day period the monthly use of copper is restricted to 30 percent of the monthly consumption in 1940. Thereafter, no copper may be used except a small amount for plating, the plating not to exceed an average thickness of 0.0004 inches.
Inventories restricted
The order also prohibits manufacturers of,razors and blades from accumulating inventories of raw materials, semi-proc-essed materials or finished parts in excess of minimum practicable working inventories or 15 percent of the materials they used in 1940, whichever is the lower. The same inventory restriction applies to assembled safety razors and straight razors and completed razor blades. >
Will save high carbon steel
M. D. Moore, chief of the WPB section in charge of the order, estimated that the order will result in an annual saving of 1,000 tons of special high carbon strip steel and 550 tons of low carbon steel.
Machinery used in the manufacture of safety razors is suitable for war production. Plants manufacturing most of xthe razors are already engaged in some
direct war work. Restrictions imposed by the order will release additional machine tools for war work.
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Metal window output cut to save 60,000 tons of steel; plants turning to war work
Strict controls were placed by WPB March 25 on the production and distribution of metal windows in a further move to direct every available pound of critical metals into essential products and uses.
The restrictions, contained in Limitation Order L-77, cover metal sashes, metal casements and other metal frameworks designed for window installations, and their accessories.
Effective March 25, manufacturers may make metal windows only for orders which bear an A-2 or higher preference rating, or on which work has already begun.
In addition, manufacturers may not accept deliveries of material for use in window frames, except on orders bearing a preference rating assigned under the Production Requirements Plan.
Distributor sales limited to A-10
Distributors may not sell or otherwise deliver metal windows except on orders bearing an A-10 or higher rating, or upon the .direction of the Industry Operations Division.
The effect of the order, according to the WPB building materials branch, will be to limit sales from existing stocks to war projects granted a high priority for metal windows, eliminate the manufacture of residential type metal windows and permit production of only industrial-type solid section windows.
During 1941 approximately 150,000 tons of metal, almost entirely steel, were used to produce an estimated 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 windows. The limitation order is expected to result in a saving of from 60,000 to 80,000 tons a year.
Plans are being perfected to utilize the curtailed facilities of the industry in direct war work. Some plants have made considerable progress in conversion on their own initiative, and about 60 percent of current window production is for A-10 or better orders.
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March 31, 1942
Flashlight makers forbidden to use aluminum, crude rubber, chromium, nickel
The use of most of the critical materials in flashlights was prohibited by the WPB March 27 in Limitation Order L-71.
Zinc only material not affected
‘After March 31, not one pound of aluminum, crude rubber, chromium or nickel may be used in the production of flashlight cases or batteries. Tin may be used only in solder. Brass and copper may be used only in the minimum quantities necessary to provide electrical contact fittings.
The restriction will be extended to iron and steel on May 31. After that date iron and steel may be used only in reflectors, contact fittings, battery top seals, battery outer jackets, _ eyelets, rivets, and end caps or end ferrules.
Materials permitted under the order may not be used in greater quantity (by weight) than was used during 1940, with provision made for manufacturers who have used substitute material in flashlights and batteries since December 31, 1940.
The only critical material not prohibited or sharply restricted by the order is zinc, the coating around a battery for which no substitute has yet been found.
During the remainder of this month manufacturers are permitted to use %4h of the quantity of materials they usedin 1940.
Exempt from order
None of the restrictions in the order apply to contracts for flashlights for the Army, Navy, Maritime Commission, Panama Canal, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Coast Guard, Civil Aeronautics Authority, and Office of Scientific Research and Development. Nor does it apply to flashlight cases or batteries made for the anti-Axis nations.
Manufacturers are prohibited from accumulating materials in excess of the minimum amounts they need to maintain the production of flashlight cases and batteries permitted under the order.
Demand has increased
Since Pearl Harbor, the demand for flashlights has increased by several hundred percent. This abnormal demand . resulted from the need for flashlights for use in blackouts and from fear that the supply of flashlights might become exhausted. While the March 27 order
does not permit continued abnormal production, it does assure continued production in quantities sufficient to meet normal needs.
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Enamel banned for decorating ends of tin cans; needed to coat vital war supplies
Because enamel is needed to coat vital military supplies the Director of Industry Operations decreed March 23 it must not be used to decorate the ends of tin cans.
Conservation Order M-108 provides that oils, lacquers, enamels, resins, and gums shall no longer be used as exterior coatings on cans made of tinplate or terneplate, unless the coating serves a particularly useful purpose. Exceptions are listed.
This will eliminate the largely unnecessary coating of enamel often put on tinplate and terneplate can ends. The elimination of this coating should result in a yearly saving estimated by WPB officials at approximately 500,000 pounds of raw materials for protective coatings.
The reduction in weight of enamel on exterior and interior metal surfaces of all cans is also encouraged by the order. Can manufacturers are directed to use their best efforts to cut this weight as far as practicable, with a minimum goal of nine-tenths of the weight considered standard practice by manufacturers in 1940.
Officials foresee a possible savings of 8 million pounds of enamel yearly through this weight reduction.
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Chrome steel limited to A-l-k
Further restriction on the use of chrome steel was ordered March 27 by Industry Operations Director Knowlson, in Amendment No. 1 to Supplementary Order M-21-d.
The new restriction limits the use of steel containing 4 percent or more of chromium to ratings of A-l-k or higher. The original order, issued December 27, 1941, permitted deliveries of 4 percent chrome steel on ratings of A-10 or higher.
Portable lamps and shades cut 30 percent immediately, 40 percent after May 1
The War Production Board on March 24 ordered an immediate curtailment in the manufacture of portable electric lamps and shades.
The order (L-33) applies to lamps illuminated either by incandescent or by fluorescent bulbs or tubes. It applies to floor lamps, table lamps, bed lamps, and all other types of portable lamps. Flashlights and other battery-operated lighting devices are not included.
In general, the order restricts the production of lamps and shades between now and April 30 to 70 percent of each manufacturer’s production in 1940.
Applies to sockets, switches, cords
Beginning May 1, production is limited to 60 percent of 1940 production.
The percentage restrictions apply not only to lamps and shades but also to sockets, separate switches, plugs or lamp cords, the purpose being to prevent a manufacturer from building into a lamp more sockets, switches, plugs, or cords than he used in the manûfacture of similar lamps in 1940.
Use of metals restricted too
The order also restricts the amount of metal that may go into the lamps permitted under the order. During a period of 30 days from the issuance of the order a manufacturer is free to use out of inventory any metals he has on hand in the manufacture of his quota of lamps and shades.
Thereafter, iron and steel may be used only for center pipes, steel wire harps, socket covers and husks, outer tubings and casings, seating and checking rings, locknuts, washers, screws, and bolts.
In addition, no metals other than Iron and steel may be used in lamps except for sockets, separate switches, plugs, and lamp cords.
Length of cords limited
The order also restricts the length of lamp cords. A cord may not be longer than 8% feet for a floor lamp or 7 feet for other lamps, and it may not be of a greater size or gage thickness than No. 20 A. W. O. with %4th or %2d insulation.
Silk may not be used in shades, except for silk that a manufacturer had on hand, which he may use for a period of 30 days from the date of issuance of the order.
March 31, 1942
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Postpone all possible orders for steel plate, Adams urges; demand 50 percent over supply
An appeal to steel plate consumers to forego all but their most urgent requirements was voiced March 26 by C. E. Adams, chief of the iron and steel branch, in a letter to all users.
While plate production for April will be in excess of 850,000 tons, demand is at least 50 percent more than that, he said.
Adams pointed out that, while steel plates are under a complete allocation system, only the buyer knows whether or not orders for a particular schedule could be filled out of inventory or postponed until later. He asked buyers to postpone all possible orders.
“Your country needs steel plates for warships, cargo vessels, tanks, defense plants, such as aluminum, magnesium, high octane gasoline, synthetic rubber, and countless other important war needs,” Mr. Adams said in his letter.
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Madagascar graphite defined to release “fines” for stoppers
Under Interpretation No. 1 to Conservation Order M-61, the restricted “Madagascar flake graphite which is of the grade that can be used for the manufacture of crucibles” is interpreted tp mean “Madagascar flake graphite of a grade that will stand on a 35-mesh screen.’^ Major object of the interpretation is to permit the manufacture of stoppers for use in steel making without restriction out of so-called Madagascar flake graphite “fines.”
★ ★ ★
Durable office equipment not under maintenance order
Durable office equipment may not be ordered with preference ratings assigned under the general maintenance, repairs and operating supplies order, P-100, according to an interpretation of the order issued March 23 by the Director of Industry Operations.
The interpretation specifically excludes typewriters, adding machines and other business machines, desks, filing cabinets and similar items of durable office equipment from the definition of operating supplies for which the A-10 rating assigned by the order may 436 applied.
CUT IN LEATHER URGED FOR CIVILIAN SHOES
Shoe manufacturers were urged by Ben Alexander, acting chief of the textile, clothing and leather goods branch of the WPB, to cut down on the amount of upper leather as well as sole leather that goes into every pair of shoes made for civilian consumption.
★ ★ ★
Importers of manufactured cork all made subject to control to help in allocation
To insure equal distribution of available supplies of cork, the Director of Industry Operations has issued Amendment No. 1 to General Preference Order M-8-a, it was announced March 26. The amendment was effective immediately.
The amendment provides a new definition of the term “supplier” to include any person in the United States who engages in the importation, sale, manufacture, or processing of cork, or in the importation of manufactured cork in finished or semifinished form.
This will make all importers of manufactured cork subject to control and thus permit allocation of additional imports.
The amendment continues the original order in effect until revoked. Order M-8-a was scheduled to expire March 31, 1942.
Since the limitation imposed on deliveries of crowns to bottlers has been found unworkable, paragraph (c) (2) is amended to permit deliveries of the crowns if the Inventory of the purchaser will not exceed one-fifth of a year’s supply.
This paragraph is designed to equalize stocks of bottle crowns in the hands of users. The conservation of cork will still be controlled by allocations to the crown manufacturers.
★ ★ ★
WPB specialist to organize Navy’s container division
The WPB Division of Purchases announced March 24 the appointment of George W. Aljian, of Oakland, Calif., to be a procurement specialist assigned to the Navy Department. His duties there are to organize and administer the container division in the recently organized Office of Procurement and Materials under Vice Admiral S. M. Robinson.
Steel plate ordering methods outlined to use strip mills for as much of need as possible
Consumers of steel plates were asked March 24 by the iron and steel branch, WPB, to conform to a list of requirements in placing orders so that all plates possible may come from continuous strip mills.
The requirements are:
Edges—Universal or strip mill edge should be acceptable for all plates that can be rolled within the limits of strip mills.
Widths—Plates should be 72 inches and narrower wherever practical on account of' the larger number of units available in the industry. (6 strip mills can produce plates up to 72 inches wide, 1 up to 84 inches and 3 up to 90 inches).
Gages—Gages should be held to a minimum number. If possible, from %6 inch to % inch use only increments of %2 inch; and from % inch to 1% inches increments of Ms inch. Most strip mills can produce plates up to % inch thick; some can produce thicker plates and some are confined to thinner gages.
Lengths—To the fullest extent possible, lengths should be held to 30 feet and under, on account of the number of mills whose maximum length is 30 feet to 30 feet, 6 inches. Multiples of short lengths desirable, but not to exceed 30 feet, 6 inches.
Tonnage—A minimum of 10 tons per item for any width, gage and length is required in order to obtain maximum strip mill production.
Marking—The m ar k ih g requirements should be kept to a minimum that will properly identify the item.
Purchasing—Orders should be placed as far in advance as possible, giving full specifications and order of sequence. This should be not less than 30 days in advance of the first day of the month in which shipment is desired and preferably earlier.
Design—In designing new boats, particular attention should be given to the above requirements.
Stock—Any orders for stock material should be kept to a minimum number of widths and lengths.
★ ★ ★
Plumbing fixtures, trim ordered simplified to save metals
Simplification of plumbing fixture fittings and trim in order to save copper and brass for more essential purposes was ordered by the WPB March 23 in Schedule V to Limitation Order L-42.
The restrictions, effective on April 1, cover items included in the Defense Housing Critical List. In addition to saving about 1,000 tons of copper and brass, the new schedule is expected to facilitate the administration of Copper Order M-9-c.
Previous schedules to L-42 required simplification of valves, pipe fittings, metal jackets, fusible plugs, tricocks, soil pipes, and soil pipe fittings.
8
★ VICTORY ★
March 31, 1942
Tool survey disclosed few critical ones in NYA shops
For some weeks there has been in progress a survey of machine tools in training schools, including those directed < by the National Youth Administration, WPB pointed out March 26. Responsibility for this survey was given to the tools committees of WPB and of the Army and Navy Munitions Board.
Reports from all sources, bringing the situation to date, can be summed up as follows :
The Machine Tool Committee of ANMB conducted personal examinations of the inventory records of the metal working shops of the NYA. Tabulations of thousands of tools were examined. Very few tools of the type critical in war production were discovered.
A list of all the tools of the type possessed by the NYA is being prepared for distribution to the supply arms and services and the bureaus of the Army and Navy and the field offices of the WPB, with the advice that the machine tools committee of the ANMB and the available used machine tools section of the WPB will endeavor to get promptly any tool of the type on the list desired by them. -
Machine tool builders are not authorized to deliver new machine tools to any customer unless that customer has obtained a priority rating. This regulation has been in effect since early last year. Since the regulation became effective, 139 ratings have been assigned to applications made by NYA, In every case except 10, the priority rating for new NYA tools has been A-8. Nine were A-10 and one was A-7.
PRIORITY ACTIONS
*From March 14
♦Through March 27
★ ★ ★
Reports.lightened on radios
Reporting requirements of Revised Price Schedules No. 83 and No. 84, covering radio receiving sets and phonographs and their parts, are changed in amendments announced March 26 by Acting Price Administrator Hamm, effective March 28.
Eliminated from No. 83 by one amendment is the original requirement that manufacturers must report to OPA on all substitutions in material made oh or after February 9, 1942.
Amendment No. 2 to Revised Price Schedule No. 84 similarly removes the requirement for the filing of reports and listing of thousands of parts.
This latter amendment also determines maximum prices for parts which the schedule did not include.
Subject Order number Related form Issued Exp. date Rating
Agave fiber: a. Releases waste not suitable < for cordage or twine. Airplanes: a. Assigns A-l-b rating to trainer types of military and naval aircraft. Amusement machines—to restict production: a. Automatic phonographs and weighing, amusement, and gaming machines—supple- * mentary order. b. Vending machines—supplementary order—discontinues certain types. Can enamel: a. Prohibits use on tin cans.— Cellophane: a. Prohibits use as wrapping in certain items. Chemicals—to conserve supply and direct distribution: a. Formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine and synthetic resins: 1. To assist embalmers in obtaining formaldehyde. Electric lamps and shades (portable): a To curtail manufacture M-84 amend. #2_„ 3-21-42
P—109—a .. 3-12-42 A-l-b.
L-21-a 3-16-42 Until revoked.
L-27-a 3-17-42
M-108 3-23-42
L-20 ext. #3 3-17-42 Until revoked.
M—25 amend. #6 3-16-42 B-4.
L-35 3-23-42 Until revoked.
Flake graphite (Madagascar): a Interpretation No. 1 M-61 ............ 3-23-42
Freight car construction: a. Material for P-8 extended PD-38, PD-38a. 3-16-42 4-30-42 A-3
Fuel oil—to curtail consumption.. General inventory order: ( a. Revocation of intentory. restrictions on certain type boxes. Iron and steel: a. Scrap—restrictions on sale or shipment of tinned scrap— supplementary order. Kapok: a. Permits accumulation of stock by small dealers— amendment and extension. Laundry equipment (domestic)—to restrict production: a. Further restricting and finally prohibiting production. Lauric acid oils—to restrict production. Lead: L-56 ... 3-14-42 Until revoked.
M-113. 3-23-42 do
M-24-a 3-24-42 do
M-85 amend. #1 3-16-42 4-30-42...
L-6-c 3-14-42
M-60 PD-354... 3-20-42 Until revoked.
M-38 3-20-42 12-31-42
License plates: a. Metallic—restricting issu- ance. Locomotives: a. Specific locomotive construction. b. Material for repair and rebuilding. Maintenance and repair: a. Durable office equipment may not be ordered with preference ratings assigned in P-100. b. Railroads: 1. Given broader priority assistance for critical materials. c. To assist producers and basic fabricators of aluminum and magnesium. Metal household furniture: L-32 3-18-42 Untilrevoked.
P-20 ext PD-352 3-16-42 4-30-42 A-3.
PD-352 3-16-42 4-30-42 A-3.
P-100 Int. #2 3-23-42
P-88 PD-351, PD-352. PD-371, PD-372. 3-16-42 A-8, A-l-a, A-
P-120. 3-20-42 Untilrevoked. 3. A-l-a, A-l-c,
L-62 3-20-42 A-l-j.
Metal plastering bases and metal plastering accessories: Metal windows—to restrict production and direct distribution. Molybdenum—to restrict production. Motor carriers: a. Extending ban on “bright work.” Motor fuel: . ' a To restrict dftllverv L-59 .....; 3-25-42
L-77 3-25-42 Until revoked. A-10 or higher.
M-110 PD-358,'PD-359. 3-18-42 12-31-42-
L-69 3-14-42
L-7 PD-368, PD-369. 3-14-42 Until revoked.
Office machinery: L-54-b 3-17-42 do
’ Revokes L-54. L-54-b. PD-1A, PD-3, 3-14-42 do
c. Modifications of restrictions.. L-54-b _ PD-3A.
Amend. #1 . 3-24-42 A-9 or higher.
Palm oil—to conserve supply anc direct distribution. M-50.... PD-355.... 3-20-42- Until revoked.
1
March 31, 1942
★ VICTORY ★
9
Subject Order number Related form Issued Exp. date Rating
Petroleum: a. Material for production, transportation, refining and marketing: 1. Certain office supplies and automotive equipment included in list to which preference rating may be extended. b. Restrictions on use of materials in marketing. ‘Plumbing and heating: a. Further requirements for producers of cast iron soil pipes and fittings. b. Simplification of plumbing fixture fittings. Rapeseed oil—to conserve supply and direct distribution. Razors and razor blades: a. To curtail production P-98 amended 3-14-42 3-23-42 3-16-42 3-23-42 3-23-42 3-25-42 3-20-42 3-25-42 3-20-42 3-19-42 3-21-42 3-16-42 3-16-42 3-17-42 3-20-42 3-19-42 3-16-42 3-21-42 3-16-42 3-16-42 3-25-42 3-16-42 5-15-42. A-l-a, A-l-c, A-2, A-8. A-10. A-2 or higher.
M-68-c amend— Sched. #4 to L-42.. PD-215 Until revoked.
Sched. #5 to L-42-
M-77. PD-39 Until revoked. do
L-72
Rubber: a. To restrict use and sale (scrap and reclaimed). b. Addition of two new specifications lists. Springs and mattresses: a. Curtailments in amount of steel and iron used in manufacture of. Sugar: a. Direct consumption .... M-15-b amend. #6.
M-15-b-l, amend. #1 and #2. L-49.. —
PD-356, PD-357. Until revoked.
M-55 Int. #1
Sulphite pulp: a. Extension No. 1------------- M-52 5-1-42
Tanks: a. Light tanks .. Ext. of P-25-a' thru P-25-e. Ext. of P-26-a thru P-26-e. M-43-a PD-81 5-31-42
b. Medium tanks. PD-81 5-31-42 ....
Tin: a. Conservation Order: 1. Navy and other Government agencies must conform to a list of special restrictions. Trucks: a. Modifies restrictions of amend. #3 and #4 to L-l-a (telegram). Tung oil—To conserve supply and direct distribution. Vehicles—Materials for production: a. Armored half track PD-229 Until revoked.
L-l-a
M-57 amend. #2...
P-35 ext... — PD-81 5-31-42....
Wood pulp—To conserve supply and direct distribution: a. Modification of inventory control. Wool—to curtail use: a. Quotas for rayon staple fiber producers. b. Quotas for second quarter.— c. Provisions for blanket manufacturers. d. Shearlings: 1. Changes “Bradford Count.” M-93 amend. #1—
M-73 amend. #2
Amend. #1 to M-73 as amend, and extend. Amend. #2 to M-73 as amend, and extend. M-94 amend. #1—
PRIORITIES REGULATIONS
Number Subject Issued
a. Priority Reg. No. 1—revocation of interpretation No. 1. Priority Reg. No. 8. a. Amendment No. 1.—.'.7....... J Section 944.14 defining the phrase “practicable minimum working inventory” with respect to inventories of wood pulp revoked. The elimination of all unnecessary duplicating reports — Restores requirement that reports be submitted in accordance with the terms of Preference Rating Order P-56. 3-21-42 3-17-42 3-19-42
SUSPENSION ORDERS
Company Order No. Violations Penalty Issued Exp.
Stearns - Mishkin Construction Co., Inc., and Matthew G. Lepley, Architect, Wash., D. C. S-13 and S-15. Misrepresentations of sale prices pursuant to preference rating order P-55. Suspension of all priority assistance. 3-21-42 -3-1-43
MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS
Order No. Subject Issued Effective
General Order O. D. T. No. 1—Merchandise Traffic. General Order O. D. T. No. 2—Substitution of Motor Vehicle for Rail Passenger Service. Fixes weight limits on less-than-carload freight Prohibits local transit and railroad companies from substituting bus service for street car or train service op existing rail routes. 3-24-42 3-25-42 5-1-42 4-1-42
Violators of building priorities denied ratings for a year
In its first punitive action in a case of violation of priority regulation in the building field, the WPB March 24 denied the benefits of any preference rating until March 1,1943, to the Stearns-Mishkin Construction Co., Inc., and Matthew G. Lepley, architect, both of Washington, D. C.
Misstatements of fact
Mr. Lepley, acting as agent for the Stearns-Mishkin Construction Co., filed applications for priority assistance under Preference Rating Order P-55, which covers the construction of defense housing projects. Upon his statement that the proposed sale price of the dwellings to be erected was $6,000, and that all of them were to be sold to Government employees, preference ratings were issued.
The representations made by Mr. Lepley were subsequently found to have been misstatements of fact. Some of the dwellings had already been sold to other than Government employees, and 10 units of one 36-unit project had been sold at prices ranging from $6,690 to $7,750.
Suspension Order S-15 provides that no application for priority assistance filed by Mr. Lepley on his own behalf, or on behalf of anyone whom he may represent, shall be granted. It also stipulates that no defense housing project or other construction with which Mr. Lepley may be directly or indirectly connected, or upon which he is employed, shall be granted priority assistance.
May apply for termination of order
Suspension Order S-13, directed to the Stearns-Mishkin Construction Co., Inc., provides that no deliveries to this company, or its successors, shall be assigned any preference ratings. However, it provides that within 60 days following its effective date, the Stearns-Mishkin Construction Co. may apply for termination of the order by submitting to the compliance branch of the Division of Industry Operations proof that it has met the following conditions:
That it has made restitution on account of the sale price and modified its contracts for the sale of those dwellings sold after October 13, 1941, so as to reduce the sale price of each to $6,000; that it has sold or offered for sale the remaining units in the project at not more than $6,000; and that it has made restitution or modified its contracts of sale so as to reduce by five percent the price of each dwelling sold prior to October 13, 1941.
10
★ VICTORY ★
March 31, 1942
RATIONING ...
Over 100,000 new typewriters released;
newspapers, others added to eligible list
More than 100,000 new typewriters, mostly portable models, will be released for rationing on April 13 from the now frozen stocks of independent distributors, wholesalers and dealers, Acting Price Administrator Hamm announced March 26.
The order, effective March 25, which follows an allocation from the War Production Board, revises a previous order to include the rationing of some new typewriters as well as used machines. A provision for unrestricted rental of new portables as well as used typewriters of all kinds is effective immediately. Rental of new nonportable machines remains banned. While the rationing phase of the order takes effect on April 13, certain persons are eligible to receive typewriters without application at once.
Newspapers, others added
The order also broadens the base for rationing new and used typewriters to include newspapers, radio stations and all civilian defense stations, including the Red Cross, Selective Service Boards, and Local Rationing Boards, as well as war plants with an A-5 rating or higher from the War Production Board.
It was emphasized that the new typewriters on stock in outlets owned, operated, or controlled by manufacturers have not been allocated by the War Production Board to the OPA for rationing to civilian consumers. These stocks of typewriters have been earmarked by the WPB for the Army, Navy, and other Government agencies. It is not expected that new typewriters will be available in the near future for civilian purposes because of the Government’s military requirements and because of the conversion of the typewriter industry to war production.
Order covers used machines too
Only those new machines now held by independent distributors, wholesalers and dealers are allocated for rationing. The OPA estimates there are “several thousands” of such standard models, and between 100,000 and 150,000 portables.
Because of a misunderstanding on the part of some dealers, OPA officials stressed that the order announced March 26 covers used typewriters made available to the OPA for rationing by the WPB on March 6 as well as the new typewriters. A few dealers, according to re
ports, have misinterpreted other orders to mean that used machines could be sold without rationing restriction.
Materials for tanks, planes
While the revision of the original rationing order releases a considerable quantity of new machines to our rationing supply, the public must understand that the sale of all typewriters must remain severely restricted, Mr. Hamm declared. This is the only way, he said, that the WPB can convert the typewriter industry to direct production of ordnance parts and other important items of war equipment.
At the same time, materials that would ordinarily go into typewriters can be diverted to machines of war. According to the WPB, orders cutting production of typewriters alone will save enough steel for 540 light and 216 medium tanks, enough aluminum for 70 pursuit planes and 40 medium bombers, enough tin for 3,500,000 cans of food for the military forces, and enough rubber for 162 tires for bombers.
Plants to make gun parts
“The typewriter manufacturing plants can be speedily shifted to the production of rifle, pistol and machinegun mechanisms, as well as of numerous other items of essential war equipment,” Mr. Hamm declared.
“For this reason, the production of typewriters for civilian use is going to be curtailed, if not largely discontinued, in the near future. However, it is believed that essential civilian needs can be met by present new and used typewriter stocks.”
Mr. Hamm also said that a Nationwide inventory of all new and used typewriters in the hands of manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and dealers is now in progress. When completed, it will reveal the exact size of our typewriter stock pile.
Use of portables urged where possible
Should our reserve of portable typewriters prove to be large, OPA officials believe a large quantity of portable typewriters might serve to relieve the critical needs of the Armed Services, and enable the Army and Navy to reduce drastically the production quotas they have given the typewriter plants. Such'reductions,
OPA has suggested, would expedite conversion of the industry. All establishments eligible for typewriters under rationing were urged to explore the possibility of using portable machines, of which our supply, is more plentiful.
Under the regulations any person who was consigned a shipment of typewriters that was in transit on March 6 is entitled to receive that shipment without making application to a rationing board. Others for whom an application is unnecessary include manufacturers, wholesalers or dealers (except from a manufacturer), persons entitled to them by virtue of judicial process in execution of a lien created before March 6, persons who inherit typewriters, trustees in bankruptcy, the Army, Navy, and Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. Such persons and agencies are already eligible for used typewriters without rationing restrictions.
Eligible categories listed
Under the rationing order persons eligible for new or used typewriters on and after April 13 must fit into one of the following categories:
(1) For nonportables:
(a) Prime contractors with any agency of the Government of the United States for the construction of a military or naval cantonment, shipyard, or air base.
(b) Operators of plants, factories, or shipyards, 70 percent of whose billings consist of orders for ships, planes, tanks, guns, ammunition, powder, fire control apparatus, military or naval optical or communications equipment, armor plate, radiosondes, machines tools, lift trucks, welding machines, foundry equipment, cranes, metalworking equipment, heat-treating furnaces, or tackle blocks.
(2) For portables:
(a) Anyone who could qualify for a nonportable.
(b) State and local governments and their agencies.
(c) Selective Service Boards.
(d) Civilian aides of the War and Navy Departments.
(e) State and Local Defense Councils and volunteer aides of the Office of Civilian Defense.
(f) Local rationing boards.
(g) Ship’s licensed radio operators.
(h) Industrial and extractive es-
March 31, 1942
* VICTORY *
11
tablishments, construction projects, the Red Cross, legislative and judicial establishments of the United States, lumber camps, power generation, transportation, or communication facilities operating under an A-5 or higher priority rating from the WPB.
(i) Newspapers, periodicals, and radio broadcasting stations regularly engaged in the dissemination of news or news comment.
(j) United States Government-owned corporations.
In all of these cases, typewriters may be sold or purchased only upon exchange of a certificate from the rationing board. And in all cases, it was emphasized, a certificate is to be issued only when the applicant has shown immediate need for a typewriter to carry on the duties that make him eligible for the machine.
Rentals can be recalled
The rental clause of the order permits anyone to rent a new or used portable typewriter as well as any used nonportable typewriter. Dealers, however, were urged to show preference in letting out their machines to users serving the war effort or other essential needs. The Office of Price Administration reserves, as previously, the right to cancel the rental provision and to order the recapture, repossession, or return of all machines on rental, when war needs require.
★ ★ ★
Intent to return tires, tubes must be recorded by March 31
Time within which tire dealers and jobbers must give notice of their intent to sell back new passenger car tires and tubes under the recently announced “tire return plan” has been extended from March 15 to March 31, Acting Price Administrator John E. Hamm announced March 20.
The final date by which tires to be sold back must actually be shipped also has been extended from March 31 to April 15.
★ ★ ★
Health supplies’ transfer to requirements plan is studied
The WPB health supplies branch has begun a study of the procedure necessary to transfer the health supplies industry to the Production Requirements Plan, W. M. Bristol, Jr., chief of the branch, announced March 27.
Tea deliveries cut in half as precaution to stretch 6-month supply to a year; imports normal but cross paths of war
The War Production Board on March 27 placed restrictions on distribution of the entire tea supply.
The action was taken to conserve supplies now on hand, as well as future shipments, in order to make them go as far as possible in meeting needs of the Army, the Navy, and the civilian population. All of our tea comes from the Far East, most of it from India and Ceylon, and the war has created uncertainties as to the quantities of future imports.
Tea stocks in the country on January 1 of this year stood at an all-time high of 48,000,000 pounds, or more than 6 months’ supply at an unrestricted rate of use.
An order and a supplementary order (M-lll and M-lll-a), issued March 27, place a restriction on the amount that a packer of tea may deliver to a receiver (wholesaler or retailer) and an equal restriction on the amount of tea that a dealer may receive. A tea packer may sell 50 percent of his monthly deliveries in a corresponding quarter of 1941. Similarly, a receiver, usually a wholesaler or chain buying from a packer, may accept only 50 percent of average monthly purchases during the corresponding quarter of 1941.
Munitions ships bring it back
By thus cutting in half the amount of tea that a store can buy, the order automatically cuts consumer purchases in half, and the 6 months supply of tea on hand in this country on January 1, on an unrestricted basis, is stretched to a year’s supply on a restricted basis. That does not take into account tea received in this country since the first of the year. Imports during January and February were normal and there is reason to believe that tea will continue to flow into this country, brought here in ships sent to the Far East with military supplies from this country.
Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure the War Production Board issued the tea conservation order and its food supply branch called on grocers to limit their sales of tea to each family so that the 50 percent allotment to stores will be distributed evenly among the consumer public and not bought up by hoarders.
To assist grocers in such an effort, Order M-lll directs tea packers to dis
continue using packages containing more than one-quarter of a pound or 50 individual-size tea balls for sale at retail.
Receivers cannot buy additional tea if they already have an inventory in excess of 30 days’ supply; and so long as any receiver’s inventory is in excess of this quantity, he cannot sell or deliver from it to his customers more than his quota of 50 percent of his average monthly deliveries in 1941.
Any packer or receiver holding an inventory of tea in excess of 500 pounds is required to file a complete report of teas in his possession with the War Production Board.
A receiver who was not in business in a corresponding month of 1941 is permitted to receive up to 50 percent of his average deliveries during October, November and December.
★ ★ ★
Dealer’s tire sales in violation of regulations enjoined by court
Preliminary injunction to restrain a Los Angeles tire dealer from selling tires in violation of the Office of Price Administration’s rationing regulations has been issued by Judge Ben Harrison in the Federal district court of Los Angeles at the request of counsel for the OPA, according to word received from the regional office by headquarters at Washington March 25.
The dealer. Guy O. Bryan, admitted that since the tire freeze of December 11, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, he personally or through his companies had sold new tires having a value of approximately $28,000. His contention that the tire rationing regulations are not in accordance with the law was overruled by the court.
★ ★ ★
Sale of refrigerator materials to Government authorized
The sale of raw materials held in inventories of refrigerator manufacturers to Defense Supplies Corporation or Metals Reserve Co. is permitted by Amendment No. 2 to General Limitation Order L-5ic.
12
★ VICTORY ★
March 31, 1942
Electric refrigerator stocks salable at retail; limits stay on gas models
Dealers may sell at retail their entire stocks of domestic electric refrigerators under an amendment to the refrigerator “freeze” order issued March 7 by WPB.
The original order (Lr-5-b) permitted a dealer to sell from stock on hand or in transit up to 100 new domestic refrigerators or ^th of the number of refrigerators he sold in 1941, whichever figure was larger.
The new amendment, No. 2, permits such a dealer to sell at retail his entire stock of electric refrigerators, as of February 14, 1942, without regard to the former restriction. However, the restriction still applies to gas and kerosene refrigerators, because of a shortage of such refrigerators, except that a dealer may now sell them back to a distributor or a manufacturer.
To release about 75,000
The WPB refrigerator section estimates that the amendment will release approximately 75,000 refrigerators from frozen stocks, or about %oth of the total number of refrigerators which will be accumulated in stocks before the production of refrigerators is discontinued on April 30. This partial unfreezing is expected to make refrigerators available to persons who placed orders before the freezing order was issued but who have been unable to receive deliveries. Figures which have been tabulated indicate that enough refrigerators will remain frozen to supply essential needs and provide an adequate reserve.
The March 27 order also makes available new refrigerators for the Panama Canal and for war housing projects to which a preference rating of A-10 or higher has been assigned, provided that a written order or contract for such refrigerators was placed before the original freezing order was issued.
“Retail sale” defined
The amendment permits a distributor to sell back any of his refrigerators to a manufacturer. A distributor may also fill from his frozen stock of electric refrigerators orders having a preference rating of A-10 or higher, or (if he is also a retailer) may sell at retail that proportion of the electric refrigerators on hand on February 14, 1942, which his retail sales bore to his total sales in 1941. A factory branch or subsidiary of a manufacturer which performs the
function of a distributor is accorded the same privileges.
Finally, the amendment helps to clear up many questions which have arisen concerning the meaning of a “retail sale.” This has now been defined as a sale of not more than three refrigerators to an ultimate consumer other than an apartment owner, builder, institution, governmental agency or employee of the seller.
★ ★ ★
WPB LIMITS HONEY
The War Production Board acted March 26 to conserve present stocks of honey for household consumers, for war purposes and for industrial users who have heretofore customarily used honey in their manufacturing processes.
WPB issued an order (M-118) limiting the amount of honey to be used in manufacturing other products, such as ice cream, candy, soft drinks, bakery goods, and medicines. Some manufacturers who formerly consumed honey in only small amounts or not at all have become heavy purchasers of honey since sugar limitation. This has made a deep inroad in the current supply, which is merely the carry-over from last year’s crop.
Under the March 26 order, those who use honey in manufactured products may not consume more honey for such purposes each month than they used during the corresponding month of 1941 or one-third of the amount they used during the 3-month period ended December 31,1941, whichever is larger. Users of only small amounts may consume up to 60 pounds in the manufacture of any product without reference to their 1941 use. No user may accept delivery of more honey than he needs to maintain a minimum practicable working inventory.
Any person, whether an industrial user or not, having an inventory of 1,200 pounds or more of honey on hand must file a report with the WPB within 30 days, unless he is a retailer whose stock of honey is exclusively in containers of 10 pounds or less. In addition, future purchases of 10,000 pounds or more must be reported to the WPB.
The order will enable the householder and the armed forces to maintain honey in its prominent place in the diet.
Local boards may aid owners of new cars to get license plates in certain cases
The Office of Price Administration has set up machinery by which local rationing boards may clear the way, in certain cases, for the registration with local or State registrars of new passenger automobiles acquired in a manner not restricted by OPA orders or regulations, John E. Hamm, acting administrator, announced March 24.
Because of OPA requests directed to all registrars to require certain evidence of compliance with rationing regulations, many new car owners, even though they may not have violated the regulations, have had difficulty in getting license plates.
Applicant must furnish proof
Amendment No. 3 to OPA Rationing Order 2A, effective March 23, provides that under certain conditions local boards are authorized to issue clearance statements advising a State or local motor vehicle registrar that there is no objection to the registration in the name of the applicant.
Under the provisions of the amendment, local boards may clear for registration passenger automobiles:
1. Acquired by the applicant prior to 6 p. m. EST January 1, 1942, but not registered at that time.
2. Acquired by one individual from another, not a manufacturer, dealer or distributor, or other authorized channel of distribution. Such transactions were not governed by rationing regulations until February 2.
3. Acquired in emergency situations by written authorization of OPA, WPB or OPM.
4. Acquired and registered by one person in the name of another, from a dealer prior to January 1, 1942, or from an individual prior to February 2. In such cases, the real owner may on appropriate proof get the car cleared for reregistration in his own name.
To get a clearance statement, an applicant must go before his local board and furnish specified proof showing that he has acquired his car in one of the ways described above.
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WPB to help officers get uniforms cheaper
WPB is going to make it possible for Army, Navy, and Marine Corps officers to obtain uniforms and other clothing at lower prices, Houlder Hudgins, Deputy Director of Purchases of. the WPB, said March 27. He is holding a series of meetings with retailers to work out a plan.
March 31, 1942
★ VICTORY/★
13
Wide carriage typewriters, shorthand machines excluded from office machinery order
Restrictions on sales, rentals, and deliveries of various types of office machinery were modified by the War Production Board March 24 to exclude wide carriage typewriters and shorthand writing machines.
Sales and distribution of wide carriage typewriters (18 inches or wider designed for statistical or accounting work) were made subject to Conversion Order L-54-a in Amendment No. 1 to that order, issued March 27. Manufacturers must now include wide carriage machines in the production quotas for nonportable typewriters established for the period March 15-May 31, and for June.
Shorthand writing machines have been excluded from the sales and distribution restrictions because of special problems involved.
The modification was contained in Amendment No. 1 to General Limitation Order L-54-b. The amendment also modifies the method by which persons may acquire new office machinery. The original order stated that specified types of office machinery could not be sold, rented or delivered except to persons possessing an A-9 preference rating or higher issued on an original PD-l-A or PD-3-A certificate.
Under the modified order, persons may make purchases, deliveries or rentals also on an A-9 rating issued on an original PD-1 or PD-3 certificate. The rating may be extended only by a manufacturer to obtain materials going into the manufacture of office machinery. Wholesalers, distributors, or retailers may obtain machinery without a rating provided it is needed to fill a rated order or to replace machinery disposed of on a rated order.
With the elimination of shorthand writing machines and wide carriage typewriters, the restrictions on deliveries, sales and rentals in L-54-b now apply to the following new machinery:
Accounting and bookkeeping machines; adding machines; addressing machines (including, but not limited to, embossing machinery for plates); billing and continuous forms handling typewriters; billing and other forms writing machines (except autographic registers and manifolders); calculating and computing machines; dictating machines (including, but not limited to, transcribing and shaving machines); duplicating machines (including, but not limited to, ink ribbon, gelatin, off-set, spirit, stencil, reproducing typewriter principle, and photographic types; but not including photostating machines); interoffice communication systems and machines; punched card tabulating and accounting machines; and time clock stamps and time recording machines.
★ ★ ★
Antolini heads furniture unit
Appointment of Alberto G. Antolini as chief of the furniture unit of the OPA was announced March 24.
April quotas allow recapped tires for some passenger autos for first time
April quotas that make a limited number of recapped tires available to war workers and other passenger car owners on List B for the first time since tire rationing began were announced March 24 by Acting Price Administrator Hamm.
As in past months, the national quota was established by the WPB’s Division of Civilian Supply. Included in the April quotas are 470,317 recaps for passenger cars and motorcycles. There were no such tires or recapping jobs made available in the preceding month.
New tires also for List B cars
The quota provides 101,636 new tires for passenger cars on List A and 285,977 new tubes for List A and B cars together, compared with 104,701 new tires and 87,635 new tubes in March, when no tubes were provided for List B passenger cars.
Truck tire quotas are somewhat larger than in March, reflecting better weather for industrial activity and commercial hauls. There are 275,523 new tires and 260,983 tubes made available for eligible trucks, buses, farm equipment and industrial tractors under the April quotas, against 256,385 new tir^s and 288,149 new tubes in March. Recapped truck tires in the April quota total 246,442, compared with 110,225 in the preceding month.
The quota figures do not include the State and national reserves held back to permit adjustments of quotas in emergency situations that may develop. The 48 States, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Panama, Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are included in the published quotas. Hawaii is not included as that territory is under military rule.
Will operate one-sixth as many cars
April quotas of passenger car and truck tires and tubes compare with year-ago new tire replacement shipments and estimated sales of recapped tires as follows:
OPA quota, April 1942 Replacements April 1941
New Recapped New Re-, capped
Passenger car and motorcycle tires Truck tires 101,636 275,523 260,983 285,977 470,317 246,442 2,816,000 605,000 433,000 98,000
Truck tubes
Passenger car tubes.
New and recapped passenger car and motorcycle tire quotas for April will permit replacements at less than one-fifth
of the rate a year ago. Assuming that the sales in April of 1941 were made to meet normal requirements in keeping 30,000,000 passenger cars in operation, the quota releases for April of this year are at a rate that, if continued, would keep in operation only a little over 5,000,000 cars.
Later on, new tire stocks may be released more rapidly in relation to the entire quota, as there is a limit to die number of times a casing may be re-cappea economically.
For lack of space, VICTORY is not at this time publishing State tire quotas. If possible, this service will be resumed later. The April quotas appeared in Press Release PM 2760, available from the Distribution Section, Division of Information, Office for Emergency Management, Washington, D. C.
★ ★ ★
Rationing of ambulances, hearses, station wagons now under WPB control
Rationing of ambulances, hearses, and station wagons has been returned to direct War Production Board control.
The action, embodied in Amendment No. 2 to Supplementary Directive 1A, was taken at the request of the Office of Price Administration^ which is authorized to ration new passenger automobiles. Under an earlier directive, OPA was also given rationing power over ambulances, hearses, and station wagons.
Persons desiring to purchase these special types of vehicles must now apply through local allocation offices of the Office of Defense Transportation, and should not file applications with OPA’s local rationing boards.
Taking simultaneous action, OPA issued Amendment No. 3 to Rationing Order 2A, under which it altered the definition of new passenger cars to exclude ambulances, hearses, and station wagons.
It is expected that Army and Navy requirements will absorb the available supply of station wagons. The other specialized vehicles now brought under WPB control will be rationed by the same system as that adopted for all types of trucks—through ODT local offices. WPB must review all purchase applications received by ODT.
14
★ .VICTORY ★
March 31, 1942
LABOR ...
Two wage disputes in Douglas fir area submitted to voluntary arbitration
The National War Labor Board last week brought about voluntary agreements settling four disputes, issued unanimous decisions in two other cases, held open hearings in one case and received certification of seven new disputes.
On March 26, the Board unanimously decided to make a final determination for settling the union security dispute between the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. and the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America, Local 16, CIO* A public hearing was scheduled for March 30. Seizure by the Government of the company’s Kearny, N. J., yard employing 16,000 workers followed a refusal by the company to accept a maintenance of membership recommendation by the National Defense Mediation Board in August 1941. The yard was returned to the owners the first of the year. The union security question is still in dispute.
Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates
A strike which began March 24 at the Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates, Inc., Fall River, Mass., called by the American Federation of Textile Operatives, an independent union, was called off by nnan-imous vote of the strikers on March 30 after a letter had been delivered by Thomas Fair Neblett, principal mediation officer.
The strike was called the day a. CIO member returned to work in accordance with the independent union’s agreement settling a previous strike. The agreement provided that , the CIO man could return to work if the National Labor Relations Board decided to dismiss the independent’s petition for certification as the bargaining agent for the craft employees. The Board’s plea to the striking men, which was rejected, reads in part as follows:
You are striking in violation of your pledged word.
Since the National War Labor Board is a party to the agreement of January 25, yon are striking against the National War Labor Board.
You are striking against the National Labor Relations Act, which is the Magna Charta of trade unionism.
You are striking in violation of the solemn national agreement made with'the President of the United States in behalf of all working men and employers of this Nation that there would be no strikes or lockouts for the duration of the war and that all disputes would be settled by peaceful means.
Pledges fairly and openly made should be observed without question by honorable men. But in time of war we all have an even higher obligation. This is your duty to your country. This duty requires all citizens to put aside their private quarrels and unite in the interests of their Nation. In the light of this duty you are striking against your country.
The National War Labor Board cannot believe that the striking craftsmen of Fall River and the members and officers of the American Federation of Textile Operatives will continue to dishonor their clear duty to their own agreement and to the interests of their country. The Board by unanimous resolution is now calling upon you to return immediately to your jobs and to that task which is common to all of us—the task of winning the war.
Aluminum Co. of America
A slow down at the Cleveland plant of the Aluminum Co. of America instigated by four men resulted in a recommendation by a special representative of the Board that these men be fired. The recommendation, approved by the National Association of Die Casting Workers, CIO, and Local 55 of that union, was made by William E. Baldwin of Cleveland after several days of investigation.
Charges of a slow down were first brought to the Board’s attention last week and it was at the request of the union that Mr. Baldwin was dispatched to investigate these charges. Although all four men are members of the union and shop stewards, the union officers announced that they would back up the recommendation.
This action was taken only the day before the die casting workers and two other CIO unions were scheduled for hearings at the Board’s offices in their dispute with the Aluminum Co. over wages and union security.
Central States Employers Negotiating Committee
The Board unanimously adopted the panel’s recommendations as its own decision for settling the final issue in dispute between the Central States Employers Negotiating Committee, Chicago, Ill., and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL. The contract which will be signed as a result of this decision will affect 225,000 employees of about 500 trucking concerns in 12 Midwestern States.
All issues had been previously settled in this matter with the exception of one concerning the rules for governing the
hiring and leasing of equipment, which was referred to the War Labor Board for final and binding decision. A hearing was held February 19 on this point before a panel of Ralph Seward, Roger Lapham, and Martin Durkin.
Joint Wage Board
An agreement to submit to voluntary arbitration was reached in the wage dispute between the Joint Wage Board, Lumber Industry of Oregon and the Northwestern Council, Lumber and Sawmill Workers, AFL, after 3 days of hearings. The agreement will affect more than 25,000 employees of about 50 sawmills and logging camps in the Douglas fir area in Oregon and Washington.
The panel which heard the case was made up of Professor Nathan Feinsinger, Dale Purves, and Fred Hewitt.
Universal Carloading and
National Carloading
Another voluntary arbitration agreement was reached in another wage dispute involving the Universal Carloading & Distributing Co., Inc., the National Carloading Corporation, New York City and the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks.
The agreement, affecting a total of 5,000 employees, was reached after hearings before a panel composed of Dean Robert Calkins, George Rogers, and Joseph lyicDonagh.
Willamette Valley
A third agreement to submit to voluntary arbitration was reached after a 1-day hearing in the dispute between sawmill and lumber operators in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and the Northwestern Council and Willamette Valley District Council of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers, AFL.
The agreement will affect 3,000 men and will settle their demands for wage increases, vacations with pay, and the abolition of the wage differential between this and other areas of the Douglas fir belt.
The panel which heard the case included Professor Nathan Feinsinger, Dale Purves, and Fred Hewitt.
Columbus & Southern
A voluntary agreement, affecting 515 employees, on all issues in dispute between the Columbus & Southern Ohio Electric Co., Columbus, Ohio and the Transport Workers Union, CIO, was reached after 2 days of hearings before a Board panel of Professor Fowler Har
March 31, 1942
★ VICTORT *
15
per, Frederick Fales, and John Easton.
The union security demand of the union was settled by a voluntary maintenance of membership clause, with a voluntary checkoff, and wage increases were granted, a part of which was made retroactive to January 1, 1942. The agreement also provides for 1 week’s vacation with pay.
East Bay Transit & Key System
In another unanimous decision of the Board adopting panel recommendations as its own, a settlement was made of the dispute over wages between the Key System, Oakland, Calif., and the Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway, and Motor Coach Employees-of America, AFL. Three companies are involved—East Bay Transit Co., Key System, . and Oakland Terminal Railroad Company—with a total of about 1,800 workers.
The panel, composed of Professor Paul Dodd, Dale Purves, and Richard Gray, wrote its recommendations after 4 days of hearings in California by Professor Dodd. The panel recommended that the Board:
1. Issue an Interim Wage Decision under which a 5 cent per hour flat increase in regular hourly wages (effective March 1,1942) be granted to all employees of the Key System in Division 192, with the understanding that this increase will not reduce the total number of hours worked by those receiving a minimum guarantee of total earnings: Provided, however, That
2. On petition of either party, this 5 cent increase is subject to a possible final upward or downward adjustment by the Board or its designated representative after July 1, 1942, made upon a basis of statement of fact submitted by both parties either at the request of'the Board or at the time of investigation of a representative erf the Board, any adjustment resulting therefrom to be made effective on July 1, 1942, and to continue through the remaining term of the contract. New cases
New cases certified to the Board during 'the week involved the following: Fulton County Tanners Association, Glovers-ville, N. Y. and the International Fur and Leather Workers, CIO; Mattews Manufacturing Co., Worcester, Mass., and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, CIO; the Midland Steel Products Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and the United Automobile Workers, CIO; the Postal-Telegraph Cable Co., New York, N. Y., and American Communications Association, CIO; Rockford Furniture Manufacturers Association, Rockford, Ill., and the United Furniture Workers Union, CIO;, the Rausch Nut & Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and the United Automobile Workers, CIO; and the New Orleans Laundrymen’s Club and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, CIO.
Restrictions on use of materials modified in marketing of petroleum, products
Restrictions on the use of materials in the marketing of petroleum and petroleum products have been modified by amendments to Conservation Order M-68-C, issued March 23 by the Director of Industry Operations.
“Freeze” lifted on some products
The revised order will permit the sale and use of some products employed in the marketing of petroleum which were frozen by the order as originally issued on January 14, 1942.
Restrictions on the replacement of facilities used in marketing have been modified to permit such replacement when repair of existing equipment cannot be made on the premises of the filling station or petroleum marketer, provided that such replacement must not constitute an expansion of existing facilities, and provided also that if a dispensing pump is replaced, the pump to be installed must be the same type and design. Replacement of dispensing pumps more than 9 years old is permitted.
Other provisions
Another provision of the revised order allows the sale or transfer of title to marketing facilities where no construction, reconstruction, expansion or remodeling is involved. Some persons had the impression that such transfer of title was prohibited by the order as originally written.
Other changes in the order:
Petroleum marketing facilities operated by ‘^consumer accounts” are specifically included under the terms of the order.
The section of the order which, contains definitions of “maintenance” ánd “repair” has also been modified.
The order as originally issued provided that, subject to certain exceptions, “no operator shall order, purchase, accept delivery of, withdraw from inventory, or in any other manner, directly or indirectly, secure or use material for construction, reconstruction, expansion, remodeling, replacement or improvement of facilities used in marketing.” The corresponding paragraph of the order now reads “Subject to the exceptions of paragraph (d) hereof, no person shall construct, reconstruct, expand or remodel any structure or install equipment or advertising material.”
Because the order as originally issued prevented the completion of construction or remodeling of facilities in some cases, even though such construction or remodeling was begun before issuance of the order, the time
by which construction or reconstruction or remodeling which was begun before January 14, 1942, and is permitted by the terms of the order as amended, may be completed, is extended from March 14 to May 15.
The restrictions of the order do not now apply to the installation of "drum” or “barrel” pumps.
Structures or equipment for the marketing of petroleum and petroleum products to be Used exclusively for thè official requirements of the armed forces of the United States, are now exempt from the terms of the order.
Advertising material which was completely fabricated before March 30, 1942, may be installed. •
The restrictions contained in the order do not apply to any case where equipment is to be installed for the purpose of distributing petroleum in connection with construction work on a project having a project rating higher than A-2, provided that such equipment must be-withdrawn when the project is completed and will thereafter be subject to the terms of the order.
Equipment used to contain, distribute, or dispense butane, propane, and other products commonly known as liquefied petroleum gas, is also exempt from'the terms of the order.
★ ★ ★
Machine tool order revised
The War Production Board on March 26 revised General Preference Order E-l-a to exclude drill chucks from the types of chucks controlled by the order. It is further provided that no purchase order received after March 25, 1942, for any machine tool shall be given priority standing in production and delivery schedules unless a preference rating has been assigned to it by a PD-1A, or PD-3A Preference Rating Certificate or Preference Rating Order P-19-h.
Delivery of the Preference Rating Certificate itself to the producer is no longer required, but each purchase order must carry the proper endorsement prescribed by PD-1A, PD-3A, or P-19-h. Purchase orders for gages and chucks, the WPB stated, shall be scheduled only upon receipt of a preference rating assigned to them by a preference rating certificate, or by any preference rating order of the P-series, except Nos. P-90 and P-100.
★ ★ ★
4 MILLION WOMEN MUST BE HIRED, OFFICIAL SAYS
Four million women, almost six times as many as are now so employed, must be directly engaged in war production by the end of 1943, Thelma McKelvey, chief of the women’s labor supply service, WPB Labor Division, told the Massachusetts Defense Safety Conference on March 27.
16
★ VICTORY ★
March 31, 1942
Nelson opposes abolition of 40-hour week; wants end to double pay for Sunday, but would legislate only if other ways fail
Excerpts from WPB Chairman Nelson’s testimony before House Naval Affairs Committee, March 24:
While HR-6790 proposes to modify or abolish certain labor laws and standards, and to set profit limitations, only in relation to naval construction, it would obviously affect the entire war production effort and must, therefore, be considered in general as well as in specific terms.
The 40-hour week
I believe everyone will agree that we must consider this or any similar proposal from just one viewpoint: Will it help or hinder our effort to get war production at maximum speed and in maximum volume?
I ¿hall discuss the provisions of this bill, therefore, with only that criterion in mind.
First, as ter its provisions regarding the 40-hour week.
The present law does not prevent men from working more than 40 hours per Week. It has not set the pattern for the length of the work week in our war industries. It governs wages rather than the hours in which a man may work.
To abolish the 40-hour week law would not in my opinion bring any greater production or more sustained effort in war industry. On the contrary, I believe that such action would have a harmful effect on war production.
The average war worker has of course been getting time and one-half for all hours worked per week in excess of 40. Our national wage structure has been adjusted to that fact. Mogt war contracts are drawn with that fact in mind— and where they are not, the use of escalator clauses prevents the time and one-half rate from operating as a drag on extension of the work week,
After round-the-clock use of machinery
If we now abolish the 40-hour week by law, we do not gain one hour of additional work in our war industries; but naturally we create a widespread demand for increases in wage rates, throw the entire wage structure out of adjustment, and remove an important incentive for labor to shift from nonessential industries into war production jobs. In addition, we would in my opinion make labor relations in general worse rather than better.
The payment of double time for Saturday, Sunday, and holiday work is a different matter, which has no relation to the 40-hour week as such.
What we are after is round-the-clock use of all available machinery, attained through the operation of three 8-hour shifts. I am in accord with the principle that the worker should regularly have one day off in seven; where emergency requires him to work on that seventh day I believe he should be paid overtime. But where his regular schedule of 6 days of work calls upon him to xyork on Saturday, on Sunday, or on a holiday, I do not believe that overtime should be paid for those days. It is the seventh day’s work that should get overtime, not the Saturday, Sunday, or the holiday.
Premium pay situation
I believe that this practice of demanding premium pay for week-end and holiday work has in many cases slowed up war production. Yet I do not believe that we should try to correct this situation by act of Congress. I believe that we can gain a general suspension of this provision through voluntary action on the part of our responsible labor leaders; where that proves impossible, I can see no reason why the problem cannot be solved by the War Labor Board. I would not seek a remedy via legislative action unless both of those moves should fail.
A third important provision of HR-6790 relates to the closed shop.
Let me repeat^; my interest is first, last, and always in greater war production. In many cases the closed shop works very well and is a basis for mutually satisfactory relationships between labor and management. In such instances I am for letting well enough alone.
The other important provision of this bill is the one which would limit profits derived from filling war contracts to 6 percent of the cost of performing such contracts.
With the attempt to keep war contractors from obtaining excessive profits I am thoroughly in accord. And it is my personal belief that 6 percent profit is plenty in the average case.
I should like to point out that very painstaking efforts have been and are now being made to analyze contract costs and make financial surveys in order to give us a clear picture of war contractors’ profits. Many war contracts contain
provisions by which prices may be renegotiated if it appears th^t the contractor is likely to gain an undue profit.
Aside from these points, however, I do not believe that the profit limitations in HR-6790 would reach the desired end.
In the first place, I do not believe that you can tell whether or not a contractor’s profit is unreasonable simply by determining its percentage in terms of the cost of performing the contract. That leaves entirely out of consideration such important matters as return on capital investment, turnover, the time required to fill the contract, and the financial structure of the contracting firm.
In the second place, I believe that this limitation would force many contractors into insisting upon cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts. Suppose a contractor loses money on one job—as he may, through no fault of his own.1 He naturally expects to recoup his losses on the following job, so that he may show a profit on his transactions as a whole.
In addition, this clause would seriously increase the difficulty of converting small business to war production. .
★ ★ ★
Chiefs of AFL and CIO pledge unions to give up double pay for Saturday, Sunday, holiday
Leaders of both the AFL and the CIO voluntarily pledged their unions to give up double-time pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in simultaneous statements on March 24.
CIO president Philip Murray and AFL president William Green, speaking for the 10 million members in their affiliated unions, declared that these days would be treated like any other day of the week insofar as . overtime payments were con* cerned unless they were the seventh consecutive days of any individual’s work week.
This policy will be followed not only in new agreements, but the recommendation will be made to all unions that they negotiate for an abrogation of the doubletime premiums in all existing collective bargaining contracts, the two leaders declared.
The AFL announcement stated that Mr. Green had assured President Roosevelt that the new policy would be followed and that it had already been in effect for some time in shipbuilding and construction.
“This is my understanding of what the President and Donald Nelson wanted,” Mr. Murray declared. “I do what my Government asks me to do.”
March 31, 1942
★ VICTORY ★
17
HOW WE ARE SPENDING OUR WAR FUNDS
{Two-column mats available for publication. Address Distribution Section, Division of Information, OEM, Washington, D. C.)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON WAR PRODUCTION DRIVE
Q. What is the production drive?—A. The Production Drive is a movement launched by the War Production Board to attain President Roosevelt's goal of 45,000 tanks, 60,000 planes, 20,000 antiaircraft guns, and 8,000,000 tons of shipping this year.
Q. How does it work?—A. The WPB has called upon labor and management in plants of 2,000 prime contractors making planes, tanks, guns, ships, and machine tools to get together to increase their output. A method of doing this through voluntary establishment of joint labor-management plant committees has been indicated. The sole purpose of these committees is to carry on the production drive in the individual plant.
Q. Is the drive confined to these plants?—A. No. These plants are al
ready getting the drive going in plants of subcontractors and the drive is spreading among the war workers in America.
Q. How is output going to be increased?—A. By the more efficient use of machines, by the finding of new uses for old machines, and by the bettering of morale and effort through a pattern permitting recognition of individual and plant attainments.
Q. In what ways will this be done?—A The Production Drive committee in each plant will adapt the general plan, which calls for a study of plant efficiency, erection of a production scoreboard, encouragement and study of suggestions, setting up bulletin boards and posters, conducting slogan contests, and using other methods to increase output, and recognizing achievements.
Over 100 plants report organization in drive to produce more for war
More than 100 war plants have reported to Donald M. Nelson, chairman of the War Production Board, that management-labor Production Drives have been organized, the WPB announced in a summary of Production Drive progress to date.
In addition, a large number of plants that earlier devised their own plans for increased war output have notified Nelson they are adapting their plans to the official WPB plan.
10,457 attended conferences
In launching the Production Drive, the WPB arranged 31 conferences in 29 cities in the last 2 weeks. Labor and management representatives of 2,000 plants handling prime contracts for planes, tanks, guns, ships, and machine tools and a number of civic leaders were invited. A total of 10,457 registered.
The consultants reported that attendance and enthusiasm were in direct ratio to the amount of industrialization in the region. Greatest interest was reported from Great Lakes and coastal regions. The largest, attendance was reported from Cleveland, where 758 representatives were registered. Smallest attendance, 64, was reported from Dallas.
Although resolutions were not on the programs of the meetings, at Cincinnati, Birmingham, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee there were spontaneous votes of approval.
Unions overcome rivalry
In Los Angeles the question of procedure when there were two rival unions in one plant came up. A CIO representative from a plant in which two unions were claiming recognition suggested that each union select a representative to serve on the labormanagement'committee until an NLRB election certified one or the other union.
The first plant to report organization under the official plan was the Ajax Engineering Co. of Chicago.
The first plant to receive commendation was the Batavia, N. Y., plant of the Doehler Die Casting Co. Mr. Nelson congratulated the labor-management committee for heroic efforts to keep production going during a flood March 17 and 18.
The National Association of Manufacturers notified Nelson that it had approved the Production Drive.
18
★ VICTORY ★
March 31, 1942
PRICE ADMINISTRATION . . . • 4
OPA allows Vh-cent rise in gasoline price to defray cost of tank car hauls to East
Higher transportation costs involved In using railroad tank cars instead of ocean tankers were recognized March 26 by Acting Price Administrator Hamm in-an order raising maximum prices for gasoline and fuel oil in 17 Eastern and Southern States and the District of Columbia.
Fuel oils also included
The order, in the form of Amendment No. 4 to Revised Price Schedule 88 (Petroleum and Petroleum Products) was effective immediately and raised maximum prices by the following amounts:
Gasoline—cent per gallon.
Distillate fuel oils (Kerosene, trac- j tor fuels, range oil, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 fuel oils, gas house oils, and dis- ■ tíllate Diesel fuel oils)—0.4-cent per gallon.
Residual fuel oils (Nos. 5 and 6, bunker C, Navy grade, and residual Diesel fuel oils)—20 cents per barrel.
The permitted rise applied in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida (east of the Apalachicola River), and the District of Columbia.
Service station boost permitted
Gasoline service station operators throughout this area, excepting Georgia and Florida, by a separate order, are permitted to add one-half cent per gallon to their posted prices which were “frozen” by OPA last Monday at the levels of March 13. Retail gasoline prices in Georgia and Florida were raised last fall and, comparatively, have been somewhat above those in adjacent States.
The action by OPA followed urgent recommendations by the Office of the Petroleum Coordinator. The petroleum companies estimated that their current additional costs due to the use of railroad tank cars instead of ocean tankers were running at the rate of more than $100,000,000 a year and were rising rapidly. Average daily tank car shipments of petroleum have risen from 64,350 barrels in the week ended January 3, 1942, to 222,975 barrels daily in the
week ended February 7, 1942, and to 439,200 barrels daily in the week ended March 14, 1942.
The letter of the Deputy Petroleum Coordinator to OPA recommending the current increase in maximum prices outlined a plan by which the oil companies would share the extra transportation costs involved in shipping petroleum products to the East by other than ocean tanker. OPA’s approval of a%aise in the price ceilings does not constitute approval of the transportation pooling plan nor of the companies’ statement of “expenses to be included under the plan and the method of determining transportation expenses.” This statement was submitted to OPA by the Office of the Petroleum Coordinator.
Companies participating in the transportation pool are required by the March 26 amendment to submit to OPA reports of their own, as well as audits by an independent auditing firm.
Retail regulation amended
It is stated also that OPA considers the permission to increase prices as an interim action, subject to revision after study of conditions surrounding transportation of petroleum and petroleum products to the vital Eastern territory in the future.
Concurrently with the issuance of Amendment No. 4 to Price Schedule No. 88, Acting Administrator Hamm formally revoked Revised Price Schedule No. 72 (Bunker C and No. 6 Grade Fuel Oils, East and Gulf Coasts), since these latter oils are now covered in No. 88.
In order to approve the addition of one-half cent a gallon to service station gasoline prices in the Eastern and Southern States, an amendment (No. 1) is being issued to Temporary Price Regulation No. 11.
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Rationing overrides ordinary law in suits, court rules
Judge D. E. O’Brien, of the Municipal Court of Omaha, Nebr., has ruled that, whenever any pending litigation is affected by a rationing order of the OPA, the rationing order will control in determination by his court of the rights of the parties in the suit at issue.
Pennsylvania crude ceiling raised 25 cents a barrel to aid output for military need
Military demands for a substantial and rapid increase in production of Pennsylvania grade crude oils caused the issuance by OPA, on March 25, of Amendment No. 3 to Revised Price Schedule No. 88, permitting an increase of 25 cents per barrel for all grades, effective March 25, 1942. A second advance of like amount also has been assured when production reaches 85,000 barrels per day average over a 3-month period.
Announcement of the price revision was made by John E. Hamm, acting price administrator.
Industry will have to spend 45 millions
The price revision followed exhaustive investigations by OPA and the Office of Petroleum Coordinator. To reach the production goal required to supply expected war and other demands it is estimated that an expenditure by the industry of approximately $15,000,000 annually will be necessary for 3 years for repressuring, reconditioning and drilling of new wells.
New maximum prices, as set by the amendment, with the maximum set under Revised Price Schedule No. 88, follow:
Grades of crude oil Previous maximum per barrel New maximum per barrel
Pennsylvania Bradford.. $2.75 3.00
Southwest Pennsylvania 2.40 2.65
Eureka 2.34 2.59
Southeastern Ohio 2.30 2.55
Oil City-Titusville:
Group A 2.68 2.93
Group B .. .... — 2.67 2.92
Group C 2.66 2.91
Group D.. i 2.65 2.90
Group E._ 2.63 2.88
Group A includes Cochran, Franklin, Hamilton, and Doolittle districts; Group B covers the Titusville district; Group C includes Turkey and Tidiout; Group D includes Bear Creek and Porkey districts; and Group E includes Eideneau, Bowl Creek, Rough Run, Carbon, Ditner, Bredin, McJunkin, Jameson, Kennerdall, Emlenton, Tiona, Lacy, and Kinzua districts.
An order which accompanies Amendment No. 3 revokes Maximum Price Schedule No. 22, which set the original maximum prices for Pennsylvania Crude oil. This schedule is revoked because provisions for maximum prices for Pennsylvania Crude by Amendment No. 3 become a part of Revised Price Schedule No. 88 for Petroleum and Petroleum Products.
March 31, 1942
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Informal requests for authority to raise gasoline prices can’t be considered, Hamm explains
Informal requests for permission to increase service station prices for gasoline, which were “frozen” by the OPA March 18 in 17 Eastern and two Northwestern States, cannot be considered, John E. Hamm, acting administrator, pointed out March 24.
Protest must be filed in 60 days
Such requests, Mr. Hamm indicated, must follow the procedure prescribed in OPA’s Procedural Regulation No. 1 which gives specific instructions for the filing of protests and petitions by any person affected by any price regulation.
Briefly, any protest or petition concerning price regulations shall be filed' with the Secretary, Office of Price Administration, Washington, D. C., within a period of 60 days after the date of issuance of such regulation regardless of the effective date prescribed therein.
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25-cent increase not justified, Washington coal dealers told
Washington, D. C., retail coal dealers who increased prices 25 cents per ton last * January and then rescinded the advance upon request of OPA, were notified March 26 by Acting Administrator Hamm that such a price increase was not’ justified.
In his notification to the Washington dealers of OPA’s decision, Mr. Hamm asked that prices be continued at levels not higher than those prevailing during the December 15-31, 1941 period.
At the same time, Mr. Hamm said OPA expects dealers to grant customary seasonal discounts this spring.
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Flour millers discuss millfeed price situation with OPA
Officials of the OPA, concerned over recent sharp advances in millfeed prices, met March 25 with 25 of the country’s leading flour millers in an effort to explore the subject more fully.
Among the problems discussed were those of current supply and demand and the possible effect of a price ceiling as a solution. A number of constructive suggestions were offered by the industry.
Prices of “standard” newsprint frozen until May 30; discussions continue
“Standard” newsprint prices, unchanged since April 1,1938, will continue at $50 per ton for the next 60 days at least under a temporary maximum price regulation issued March 26 by Acting Price Administrator Hamm.
The new regulation (No. 16) is issued under the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942. It will go into effect April 1, 1942