Evening star., 1941-06-02
Defense
Continued From First Page)


to blame and in others both labor
and capital are to blame. Some
thing is going to have to be done
unless both labor and capital take
heed from the Presidents request
for cooperation"
Senator Taft said it was ''ridicu-
lous" to contend that the present
hour standards are necessary for
the physical well-being of workers
and added that they were set up
entirely in an effort to spread work.
He said that since defense produc-
ton had created shortage Of some
types of workers. the hour require
ments should be relaxed for the
period of emergency.
Senator Lucas declared that re
gardless of who is to blame" for pro-
duction delays I'VE cannot afford to
lose any more working hours"
Tank Carrying Planes.
The tank-carrying transport
planes that the Army is experiment.
ing with, according to congressional
sources, are capable of handling a
ight-armored tank weighing be-
tween and tons, or roughly hall
the size of the regular so-called
light tank" used by the armored
force.
Representative Enbel, Republican,
of Michigan, a member of the House
Military Appropriations Subcommit-
tee. said such planes might prove
invaluable for hemisphere defense.
Senator Truman said the Senate
Defense Investigating Committee in
tended to inquire thoroughly into
reports that small business firms
were being neglected in defense con-
tract awards while large concerns
we're obtaining most of the orders.
Senator Truman said the COM
mittee would call John D. Blggers,
director of the Division OF Produc-
ton of the o. P. M, and other o.
P. M. officials for testimony in near
ings beginning tomorrow.
While defense officials are con-
cerned with controlling price OF
gasoline and fuel oil, according to
reliable authorities, it was considered
unlikely that price ceilings such
as have been imposed on other
commodities would be invoked even
if action is found desirable. This
is due. it was said, to the varied price
structure in the oil business. In
stead. it was learned, companies
might be required to submit their
cost records to justify any increases
Aroused by recent advances IN
prices of California crude oils, the
q. p. M. today called conference
in San Francisco Saturday with
leading producers and purchases IN
that area. Increases of S to 10
cents a barrel in April, and further
i1mp of - cents a barrel announced
on Nav % by the Standard OH 90.
of California, along with recent IN
creases of about cent gallon on
gasoline, o. P A. c. S. ofnclals salo'
are not justified by rising costs.
Leading oil companies operating
in the Atlantic and New Eng
land areas already have agreed TO
a request of Leon Henderson, price
administrator, that they not raise
prices without first consulting him.
In some quarters, it was said that
any such notification to Mr.. Hend-
erson would result in thorough
study of the company's books be-
fore the increase was approved.
In a prepared statement, issued
in calling the special conferences
on assurance of electric power for
defense industries, Federal Power
Commissioner Olds asserted that
he could not overemphasize "the
gravity of the present power situa-
ton"
The expanding defense indus
tries, he explained, were calling
for large deliveries of power at an
earlier date in most areas than the
utilities expected"
In addition, he continued, drought
over large areas has crippled hydro
electric plants and depleted reser-
voirs. AS a further factor, he said,
needed equipment has been delayed
in manufacture to such a degree
that in some instances capacity
planned for installation during the
latter part of 1941 will not be in
operation until the late spring OF
1912"
New Proposals for Peace Move.
Meanwhile, new proposals that the
United States take the lead IN atz