Evening star., 1941-10-15
u. ). 10 Seize
Idle Stocks Of
Defense Metals
Copper Shortage
To Extend Into '43,
Nelson Asserts

A Senate inquiry committee heard
today that the Government was pre-
pairing to move speedily to take over
large stocks of critical defense
metals-some of them "undoubt-
edly" owned by Axis citizeRs-in
this country.
Donald M Nelson, o. p M priori-
ties director, told the Senate De-
tense Investigating Committee that
machinery now was being set up for
the seizure of idle stocks Of copper
and other metals under a bill re-
Gently signed by President Roose-
velt
He said an o. P. M. investigation
of inventories had disclosed an in
stance where l,378,000 pounds Of
copper had been stored in ware
houses since 1888. He said there was
no doubt that some of the metal
thus kept out of ordinary channels
of industry was owned by the Axis
powers
Under a new requisitioning law,
the witness explained, the Govern
ment will attempt to purchase these
metal stocks at fair prices. Failing
that, the metal will be seized and
payment fixed by the Government,
subject to subsequent court appeal.
Copper Shortage Into 1943.
Mr.. Nelson told the committee that
there was a prospective copper
shortage reaching well into l943.
There would have to be, he added,
a very severe curtailment" of do
mestlc copper use in order to meet
defense demands.
This "iS no time to be buried In
bronze caSket," he said.
Ash trays and lamp pedestals also
were mentioned as things from
which copper could be excluded.
Manufacturers, he said, are being
given until January l to readjust
their operations for substitute ma
terials.
Mr.. Nelson said he wanted to EN-.
phasize that the thing really hurt
Ing us today is a shortage of essen.
tial materials and not merely the
October Figures Indicative.
He used copper as an example be-
cause for October the total supply
is only $4,000 tons. with defense
needs alone requiring 44,00O.
When did o. P. M. first realize
these shortages eXist?" asked Chair
man Truman. recalling that when
the Senate Committee was created
II heard testimony that there was
plenty of everything" including
aluminium.
Mr.. Nelson said they found out
about the shortage as the defense
program became larger and larger.
Asked by committee members if
there has been any bootlegging of
essential materials, Mr.. Nelson said
that is a serious question which his
agency is investigating.
Inventories Being Checked.
In answer to Chairman Truman,
Mr.. Nelson testified S. P. A. B. also
/ is checking warehouse inventories
TO find out to what extent some
manufacturers may have laid in
large supplies of a scarce metal like
copper.
Mr.. Nelson agreed with Senator
Truman everything possible should
be done to protect the little fellows"
in the business world from dis
elimination.
The Senator said the committee
has had complaints from small
businessmen that when policies are
being mapped out for such metals
as copper and steel, their needs
are not considered.
That's partly true. and partly
not true" Mr.. Nelson answered.
In boom periods, he said, manu-
facturers sometimes cut out a "littls
fellow and blame it on priorities
when it is actually a desire to sell
the material to some one else.
The committee recessed until
Tuesday, when it will go into the
problems of small business. Chair
man Truman announced that a
week from today the committee
would hear Sidney Hillman, labor
member of o. P. M; John L. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Work.
ers, and William Green, president Of
the American Federation of Labor,
in connection with the controversy
over who should be awarded the
contract for a housing project in
Wayne, Mich.