Evening star., 1940-07-17
66t,891,494
u. 5. Defense
Contracts Lei
Commission Meets.
With Tool Makers
To Discuss PIuns
(Tert OF Defense Commission
Report on Page AL
BY ROBERT BRUsKIN.

~ AsOD04t4 OkSOOxAAINs
Clearing rearmament contracts at
the rate of $4l .00o, 900 day, the
National Defense Advisory Commits
sion today held conferences with
machine tool manufacturers. seek
ing to accelerate the pace of trans
forming contracts totaling $l,661,-
89l, ,494 into implements of defense.
Soon after President Roosevelt dis
closed yesterday the accomplish
ments of the commission in the
last 40 days. machine tool makers
were summoned to consider a CO.
operative plan under which a per-
centage Of their manufacturing IA
cilities will be reserved for defense
needs.
William s. Knudsen, commission
chief of production, reported to the
President progress toward solution
of the bottleneck in the machine tool
industry. He said the virtual en-
barge now in effect against exports
Of the tools had contributed sub
stantially toward retention of vital
machinery.
All Types of Material.
OF the total contracts, President
Roosevelt said at his press confer
ence late yesterday. 1880 SIS, ,405
was for the Navy and $271 ,3l6, OBS
for the Army. They covered all
types of material, ranging alphaS
betically from airplanes and battle
ships to tanks and submarines. Mr.
Knudsen's report added that designs
for heavy tanks had been changed
because of combat experience in Eu-
rope.
Edward r. Stettinius, jr., commits
sion chief of the materials division
reported completion of plans for
placing underground large stores OF
100-octane airplane gasoline, more
powerful than any used in Europe
Celebrating on previous announce
ment. Mr.. Stettinius added that
within the next few weeks plans
would have been completed for
manufacturing suficient synthetic
rubber to meet present emergency
needs.
Mr.. Roosevelt stressed the impor-
tance Of having Congress appropri-
ate $25.O00,O00 requested by Mr.
Stettinius for enlarging power faciN-
ties at the T. v. A. for production
| Of atrplane aluminium. He said
plans to construct q smokeless DOW
der plant in the r. v. A. area might
be delayed If additional power
facilities are not provided.
Needs Are Being Met.
Sidney Hillman, commission chief
Of labor supply, declared in his re-
port that 1T Is evident that thus
far needs Of private industry for
skilled and other labor are being
met" Mr.. Roosevelt added that
there had been talk at the commits
sion conference just before the press
conference of trying to establish
defense industries in agricultural
areas, especially where there is most
unemployment.
Several threatened work stop
pages in vital defense industries
were averted through intervention
OF his division, Mr.. Hillman added
in his report.
Numerous proposals for price
regulation are being studied to pre-
vent mwarranted increases in prices
as a result Of the defense program,
Leon Henderson, commission head
OF price stabilization, reported.
Ralph Budd, commission chief of
transportation, reported concrete
recommendations have already been
drawn up for acquisition of very
substantial numbers of special roll
ing stock for handling troops and
their equipment"
| Cellar Cars to Be Used.
Mr.. Roosevelt declared the Gov
ernment would purchase this spe-
cial rolling stock, which would be
lowered to permit passage under
bridges and tunnels Of large tanks
and guns. The President added
that 1t was planned to reduce the
bad order" rolling stock to 6 per
cent, lowest in United States rail-
road history.
Miss Harriet Elliott, commission
chief for consumer protection, de-
clared in her report that ground
work was being laid for IAN extern
sive educational campaign to
mobilize public sentiment behind
the idea that the civilian popula-
ton must be prepared physically to
meet the defense responsibilities
placed upon it by any emergency >
The President said this would be
the work chiefly Of women's or
ganizations In various communities
A committee has been appointed
for this phase Of defense, including
Surg. Gen. Thomas Parran.
Chester Davis of the Agricultural
Division, reporting that plant loca.
tions were being studied in agri-
cultural areas for defense factories
declared that farm youths would bt
Afforded equal opportunities in ths
vocational training program now ir
effect. The r. r. G. is negotiating
he said, to have funds advanced tx
other nations for supplies o.
strategic materials. The funds viii
be used to purchase agriculture
commodities In this country.
/ A broad program likewise Is II
preparation to promote increased
domestic use Of farm surpluses as {
means Of minimizing effects Of cur
tailed exports.