Evening journal., 1918-08-10
PASSENGERAUTOSTO
BE NON-ESSENTIALS.
Manufacturers Get Notice
to Begin War Work by
January
STOCKS ON HAND
ARE DEMANDED

by January becouse OF the threatened
steel shortage is forecast by the wal
industries board in a letter to the ma
tional automobile Chamber of Com
merce.
The letter was drawn up by a sub
committee Of the board appointed
with full power 90 act, yesterday after
Hugh Chalmers had appeared before
the board and presented a resolution
Of the automobile chamber Of COM
merce advocating a 90 per cent. cur
tailment as sufficient to coincide with
the governments war requirements
schedule.
The letter also Informed the auto
mobile men that the steel inventories
demanded by the government Of the in
dustry on July i6 must be flied with
the board before any material what
ever will be allowed the manufacture
ers. The inventories were asked to
aid the government in getting a line
on steel stock available TO meet the
governments mounting steel needs.
now estimated at 22,5OO0OO tons for the
next six months.
received indicate many manufacturers
have on hand supplies which would
keep their plants going for periods
ranging from four TO six months When
the Inventories are in IL Is understood
the government expects TO level down
the figures and probably commander
much Of the steel not diverted by the
automobile men themselves TO war
uses.
Today's letter ls the second indica-
tiOn within two months that manu-
facture Of automobiles was doomed 10
virtual extinction for the duration OF
the war. Food Administrator Garfield
recently announced the coal allotment
Of the Industry would be reduced TO
Is per cent Of normal.
board follows:
I'VE are In receipt and have given |
very careful consideration to your com
Of August embodying |
he resolution passed at your meeting |
II Detroit, Tuesday. August 6. We note /
hat the manufacturers voluntarily /
have agreed among themselves TO cur |
tail production Of passenger cars 80 |
per cent. While this is clearly a step |
in the right direction, II ls only a step, |
and further curtailment is inevitable |
Fairness TO your industry impels us TO
state frankly that the situation as II
Is presented TO us today, indicates very
clearly there viii be little, II any,
principal materials required in the con-
struction Of passenger cars available
for nowar industries after war re-
quirements shall have been provided
for, and the war industries board can
not at this time make any promise
whatsoever regarding the supply to
your industry Of STEEL rubber or other
materials for any definite period In ad-
vance. We strongly believe that IL Is
TO the best interest Of your members
and all other manufacturers OF passen- !
ger automobiles 10 undertake to gel
on 100 per cent. war work as rapidly as |
and not later than January T. |
1919. for IN no other way csn you be
sure Of a continuation Of your indus
ry and the preservation Of your or
yanization
I'VE regret that we are not IN a post
ion at this time To glve you a more
legnlte reply 10 your communication
4 the 9Th instant. due 10 tho fact that
he data and information which on
uly i6 we requested you promptly to
urnish us have not yet been received.
Ia soon as received prompt and appro-
,riate action viii be taken. Of which
,ou will be Immediately advised
mo material VIII be furnished TO any
passenger automobile manufacturer
Until he has fled with this board q
worn statement embodying the infor-
nation requested on July IS. coupled
With an agreement 10 furnish this
,oard with such additional information
rom time 10 time as II may require
Motortruck manufacturers, who re-
elve preference IN steel and fuel ship
nents. must pledge themselves 10 the
ssential use Of steel already in their
possession as well as the supply TO be
.llocated in the future by the war in
Iustres board
This was made plain by Edwin 3
barker, prioritlos commissioner, yester-
lay in a circular issued 70 the manu-
acturers which amplifed regulations
ecently made public governing the
notortruck Industry.
The manufacturers pledge of CO
'peration," says Judge Parker's state
nent. shall apply to steel already In
Iis possession and 70 manufactured or
PARTIALLY manufactured trucks In his
at the time the pledge ls
made"
This must be done. continues the cir
ular. because the demand FOR iron
nd steel is such that no guarantee can
10 made as TO the mOtortruck or any
ther industry that its steel require
nents, or any part thereof. VIII be
net"
The manufacturers also are told that,
o far as motortrucks are used directly
II indirectly for war purposes, they are
war essential and their production
or such purposes should be facilitated
nd, further, that. so far as trucks are
mployed in essential uses IN civilian
they constitute an important
medium and curtailment
or such uses should be avoided as far
IS possible.
The priorities division will receive
he application Of any manufacturer Of
for a place on the pref
ince list for fuel In every case II will
axe into consideration the fuel sltua-
ion OF the manufacturer. the smount
II its direct and indirect Government
and the uses TO which the re-
nainder Of its products is being de-
voted
Creation Of new plants or expansion
of existing plants for manufacture OF
is held to be unnecessary
md undesirable, inasmuch as existing
'aciliities are ample to produce all the
rucks required for essential uses.