Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-07
j. s. TAKES OVER
STEEL INDUSTRY
War Board Makes Replogle
Director of Supply With
Full Authority
NONESSENTIALS ARE HIT


Steel has passed from the hands of
private individuals into those Of the
war industries board In the most sweep
ing and drastic pronouncement that has.
been issued by that administrative body.
An agreement signed by the board and
representatives of the American Iron
and Steel Institute. effective at once.
gives the former body absolute control Of
every ton Of pig iron or manufactured
steel in this country to be utilized as 1t
shall see At.
The step marked the abandonment of
the boards efforts to deal through vol
untary agreement with individual indus
tries and forecasts similar drastic action
In the future against industries that re-
fuse to see clearly the wisdom of the
Governments policy that every energy
must be bent to the winning Of the war.
Under the order there will be only
three classes of industries entitled to
consideration, or. In other words. to
steel. They will be:
First. Those given priority certificates
! issued by the priorities division of the
war industries board.
| Second. Those industries confined
strictly to war needs and food require
ments of the nation listed on the prefer
| entail list Of the war Industries board.
Third. Those other industries that
obtain the approval In writing of the
director Of steel supply of the war in
! dustries board that their need Is vital
| one.
Control OF the steel industry was
| placed by the new order in the hands of
| j. L. Replogle. director OF steel supply.
IA n no
Iron and Steel Institute, and the function
TO be fulfilled by the manufacturer will
be one Of production only.
The primary duty Of Mr. Replogle and
| his committee will be to make a survey
OF the steel industry. its capacity and
| the requirements and needs of every
department and agency Of the Govern
ment Of the United States and It's allies.
That report will be the guiding star OF
steel distribution.
The preference list follows In general
way the Schwab-Baruch priority list de-
tcrmined upon soon after the steel
master took control OF the affairs of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Hits Auto and Building
The placing of many industries in the
third class. where steel will be supplied
only from the surplus. II there is any.
means that there must be a curtailment
in many lines now using large quantities
Of steel. such as automobile manufac-
turing and building construction.
The board stands forth now as the
dictator of the largest and weaithiest
industry in the United States. which
ranks with the railroads in the amount
Of capital involved.
The agreement between the board and
the steel magnates follows:
Whereas, A careful study of the
sources Of supply In connection with tho
present and rapidly increasing direct and
indirect war requirements for iron and
steel products has convinced the war
industries board Of the necessity OF U)
a strict conservation of the available
supply of iron and steel products, on
the one hand, and (2) the expansion Of
existing sources and development OF new
sources Of supply of iron and steel prod
Ccts on the other hand, and
Whereas, The producers Of iron and
OF iron and steel products in the main
concur in this conclusion reached by
the said board, and have expressed their
willingness to whole-heartediy cooperate
with the said board In Its efforts to pro-
vide for promptly meeting the direct and
indirect war requirements Of the United
States and its allies for iron and steel
products.
Now, therefore. It Is understood and
agreed by the committee on steel and
steel products Of the American Iron
and Steel Institute and the war indus
tries board that no pig iron or steel
manufactured products shall be shipped
or delivered except as follows:
First BY priority certificates issued
by the priorities division of the war
industries board or.
Second. After priority certificates
shall have been issued for. or filled then
producers OF pig iron and Of steel manu-
factured products may utilize such raw
materials and manufacturing capacity
II any. as they may have available. to