The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-19

| purposes ana shipments 10 Ine
warning overseas democracies, how
can they 60 on producing for our
own defense and for the democra-
cies' benefit? So that can't be per-
mitted, Purchasing Boss Nelson
agrees. To be sure, Don doesn't an
ticipate literally complete exhaus-
ton OF all the necessities Of civilian
life, but he does foresee a coming
scarcity Of EN-. And the danger is
that, as they become scarcer and
scarcer, prices for 'em will spiral
upward and upward. From the
consumers standpoint 1t makes no
particular difference whether he
starves to death because life's nee
essaries positively aren't to be had
or because they cost so much that
he hasn't got the money to pay
for EN-.
Producing like fury, TO Offset, at
least partially, the shrinkage in
the volume Of the stuff we civilians
have got to have, is important.
This production boosting is essen
TALLY the job of Director Bill Knud-
sens Office Of Production Manage
ment. Bill isn't plugging for in
creased arms production alone.
He's plugging also for increased
civilian production.
What May Happen
The production is, however, that
there'll be a developing shortage Of
civilian consumer goods - some
foods, clothing and other merchan-
disc. Accompanying it, judging
from past experience, there's likely
to be a tendency toward that up
ward spiral in prices, and there've
been times when it's been terrific
spiral. To consumers, on fixed in
comes, it's a mean thing to have
happen while it's happening. 1t
likewise is another kind Of mean
thing later, when the emergency
that caused 1t passes and prices
slump back to normal.
Oh, yes, the price slump is a
blessing to the fixed incomer - IL
he hangs onto his income. The
trouble is that this secondary Pc
Rod is known as "dehation'-fn
other words, an economic depres-
sion," during which the fixed in
conner is apt to lose his job, and be
worse OF than ever.
Accordingly, the first thing to do
Is to prevent the initial upward
spiral. That's the intended func-
ton Of Director Leon Henderson's
Once Of Price Administration and
Civilian Supply.
Icons trying to put a ceiling on ,
prices of consumer goods.
AS consumer, wish him well,
but he seems to be having more or
less difficulty in KEEPING his
ceiling on. Commerce department
reports mention an advance in
food costs, in spite Of him, and I've
noticed that my grocery bills are
higher. I've got a desk drawerful
Of ads from elothiers, warning me
that I'd better come in and buy my
next winters suit and overcoat
right now, because gosh knows
what Ill be stuck for if l wait I'M
til the time comes. I own a little
frame house that needs some car
penter work done on 1t. But, heav-
ems! 1 can't afford 1t; building ma
terials cost so much.
Miss Harriet Elliott, Director
Henderson's Price Administration
and Civilian Supply assistant, ham
dies the situation from another
angle.
There's way, he remarks, by
which certain producers are begin
ming to nullify Icons ceilings on
the rising price spiral. They're do
ing 1t, she says, by means Of a
downward spiral on quality. That
Is, stuff doesn't cost any more
than It did, but it isn't as nutri-
tious as it was or 1t doesn't wear
as long or some such thing.
Counteraction
The Price Administration and
Civilian Supply Office is endeavor-
ing to counteract this maneuver by
creating system of gradings.
Its scheme is to put a stamp on
a sack Of wheat, ham, a pair Of
pants or whatnot, governmentally
guaranteeing that particular aru-
cle's rating. just received a
booklet from the Henderson outfit,
explaining this system. It's con-
coded that the public will have to
be educated into looking for the
stamp marks. and understanding
'em. PERHAPS it would be worth