New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-10-17
EXPLAIN PRIORITY
TO MANUFACTURERS
Federal War Industries Board
Agents Clear Up Doubts

New York, Oct. 17.---Questtions OF
priority regulations were discussed
and explained yesterday at a. meeting
of 1900 manufacturers, jobbers and
exporters, held in tho Hotel Astor un-
der tho auspices of the Merchants
Association.
William FeIIowcs Morgan, President
Of the association and Regional Ad-
visor for the New York District, pre-
sided, and introduced Charles X. Eos
ter. Vice Chairman of the Priorities
committee of the Federal War In
]Gstries Board and Maurice Hirsch
ncretary of the Priorities Division,
roth outlined the Government prefer
cnce program considered essential to
win the war. and answered numerous
questions. The requests for informa-
ton came from big and little business
alike, in practically every field.
"'Priority' is a new word in the
vocabulary of BUSINESS Mr.. Hirsch
said. "Forme rly it was q question Of
knowing the sources of supply and of
bargaining and Of paying the price for
your delivery. That is not true to-
day. Delivery must be regulated in ac-
cordance with the urgency of the need
to be satisfied, and that is the function
of the Priorities Division.
The military program is of course
mapped out and controlled by those in
authority in military ways. They pre-
sent their necessities with their eyes
on the front line trench and all the
way back. They present those neces-
sites to the Priorities Division and to
the War Industries Board as whole,
and it is then our duty to attempt as
best we may to coordinate the pro-
ductivity of this country to meet those
military requirements.
I'm priority we think of various
things; we are frequently confused in
getting things to the front or to get
materials where they are most needed.
We must consider fuel; we must con-
slider electrical energy; we must con-
slider labor; we must consider trans
portation and we must consider the
delivery of the materials themselves"
He explained the several subdivi-
sions of the Prorities divisions, which,
he said, was a co-ordinating group on
which were representatives. of the vari-
Gus government departments as well
as of the various industries. The men
attempt to lay down the fundamental
the various industries. These men at
tempt to lay down the fundamental
principles which will coordinate the
industrial activities with the needs
from military viewpoint. Mr..
Hirsch went into q detailed explana-
ton of the priority regulations con-
corning the preference list, automatic
classifications, labor priorities section.
production, and delivery. In an
nouncing that changes are about to
be made in some of the regulations
he continued:
There will be a change which /
conceive to be a real help to the con-
Germs which place q great many or
ders. We are going to allow a blank
certificate. We are going to allow a
large number of orders with another
concern to make an affidavit to that
second concern, stating that all the
be entitled to the automatic rating, as
suggested in the certificate to ac-
company the order.
when that affidavit has once been
presented to the second concern, all
that will be necessary under this new
supplement will be that the concern
that has SO presented the affidavit
place it's orders from that time on a
certifcation stating precisely what
rating the order is entitled to, and
sign j. No further affidavit is necs-
sary.
The speaker then went into details
concerning ratings for manufacturers
operating under direct contracts with
the government through the War de-
| partment, Navy department, United
| States Shipping board, or Emergency
| Fleet corporation, and particulars
| bearing on various ratings and prior
| ity certificates.
Vice Chairman Foster told the as
semblage that a movement was or
| foot to decentralize to the greatest
extent possible the activities of the
) War Industries board, and added thai
| the members of theboard were tire.
| mendously interested in the office OF
| Regional Advisers