The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-30

II he succeeds he'll prove him
self a wonder. The existing mix
up is awful. Try as you may, you
can't find out a thing.
ulustratively, take the simple
little matter Of buying an in
come tax anticipation note. Next
March's income levy doubtless will
be terrible. Realizing it, the
treasury hit on the scheme Of per-
hitting the victims to invest occa-
sionally (maybe once a month"; in
one of these anticipation notes Ia
fraction of'the expected totaD and
turning in the collection of 'em
when the full amount is due. 1t
struck me as a wise idea to begin
acquiring 'em, but didn't know
just how to go about it.
Well, Washington Is fairly
swarming with querists on such
emergency subjects these times,
so the District Of Columbia has
opened an information bureau" in
the center Of town to explain
things.
To this bureau I applied for in
formation. why, you see" said
the proper functionary, that
would be information and we
haven't got it. But you go right
over there" And he pointed to
another bureau half block away.
That's especially a treasury bu-
reau. They can tell you" To the
treasury bureau, accordingly, I re-
paired. TOO bad" replied the bu-
reauis boss, "but that's informa-
ton. Hence we don't know"
Pays Up, Anyway
Finally I took the chance OF
mailing my check directly to the
treasury department. don't know
how that method will work, for !
haven't received my tax anticipa-'
ton note yet, but the department,
If it's cashed my check, has got
my dough.
told. my information bureau"
story to a friend Of mine, Jim
North. whose livelihood is in steer
ing visiting businessmen around
from emergency agency to agency
to get authorizations to run their
factories and things.
Heck" commented Jim. your
experience is nothing.
why, I've got on my hands" he
continued! "a big party Of plant
owners from ont west, here in
quest Of priorities. enabling them
to buy raw materials to operate
their various industries. If they
can't get 'em, they'll have to shut
down, and look what thatIl do to
Jobs,
Priority grants are up to Bill
Knudsen's OPM, but each raw ma
terial is under the jurisdiction Of
some separate OPM sub-director.
You've got to find the right one.
And there are a lot of 'em, and
they're scattered all over Washing
ton. Suppose a guy wants a prior
ity on silk. You're not in danger of
mixing that priority-granter with
priority-granter as to steel. But
there are a couple Of dozen differ
ent qualities Of steel, with a diff
ferent priority man in charge of
each one. Applying at headquar-
ters, which doesn't know steers
variations from something to eat,
you're apt to be directed to the
wrong sub-ofice. Most likely that
gives you another misdirection.
It's nothing unusual for a ques-
toner to be kept scooting around
Washington, from Office to Office,
for matter Of weeks.
Tough Questions
Finally the applicant hits the
right place. Immediately he's
asked, How much Of your finished
product, converted from raw ma
terial, goes into defensive stuf?'
Unless the bird has a direct gov
eminent contract for his output, 1t
may be pretty hard for him to say
how it's divided up, between civil
ian and defensive usage.
But assume that, at last, he
gets a first, second or third degree
priority rating. Then he streaks 1T
out to Chicago, for instance, and
puts In his order for raw material,
to keep his plant in operation.
But, before he gets the stuff, in
all probability priority ratings
have been readjusted and his own
no longer is any good.
"Ain't that calculated to disor-
rxarf1a trdfetrt,7D