Evening star., 1918-04-08

The War Industries Board has an
nounced its functions and policy under
the powers delegated by President Will
son to the board and it's chairman.
Bernard NJ. Baruch. This board and it's
chairman henceforth virtually will con-
troll production and distribution of all
commodities essential to the conduct Of
the war.
The central agency of direction will
be the requirements division, appointed
recently. which will carry out the poli-
cies of the chairman. Purchasing
agencies of the government and the
allied purchasing commission will OBJ
tain needed commodities through this
division. They will submit statements
of their needs as far ahead of the time
desired as possible. The special COM
modities division Of the board is in
trusted with filling the orders.
Where no shortage exists the require
affected department purchase in accord
with established practices It will In
terfere as little as possible with the
present normal processes of purchase
and delivery.
Purpose, to Guide and Assist.
Through information gathered by the
new division, Chairman Baruch will de-
termine a general industrial policy. Ac-
cording to the announcement, the re-
quirements of the American govern
ment and the allies can be met If or
ders and deliveries are systematically
ailocated according to the relative ur-
gency of the needs of the various war
activities. Shortage of materials is de-
clared to be frequently not actual, but
a result of poorly planned distribution.
guide and assist" the departments
through proper ALLEGATION of materials.
Special commodity sections have been
created to solve problems of supply in
volving raw materials and finished
products, and where there is a threat
ened or actual shortage necessitating
government control Of price or produc-
tion for the protection Of the govern
ment, the allies or the civil population,
new sections will be created.
In commodity sections will be central
ICED the gathering Of information re-
garding each industry, to be available
to the several interested departments.
the price fixing committee of the board,
and the priorities division.
Through the new organization, the
chairman's statement says, confusion in
the minds Of business men as to the
agencies through which they are to
deal in furnishing information to the
government will be avoided.
Chairman to Decide Appeals.
Any appeal from decisions affecting
distribution will be made to Chairman
Baruch, whose decision will be final.
Conversion of existing facilities for
production will be a function of the
section chiefs in addition to creation
and disclosure Of new, sources of sup
ply.
Where it is necessary for the gov
ernment to control an industry, in
whole or in part, the section of the
industry involved will determine allot-
ment Of material. commodities and ia
cilities to the various departments of
the government and the allies. and
the extent to which manufacturers and
others shall be supplied. whether serv-
ing the civilian population or engaged
in war work.
In this connection representatives of
the fuel and food administrations and
the American Red Cross will attend
the meetings Of the requirements di-
vision whenever they are prepared to
present plans under consideration the
Contamination of which will require
fuel, supplies. facilities, electrical