Evening star., 1941-12-02
Prnrities Agency
For Small Business
Urged by La Guardia
Sees End Of War Within
Year; Feors Effect
On U. S. Industries
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Predicting that the present war
will be over in year" Mayor La
Guardia of New York today urged
Senators to establish a new priorities
section intended to keep little busi-
ness" operating when possible.
Testifying as president Of the
United States Conference OF Mayors,
Mayor La Guardia told the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee he expected
the war TO end before next winter
if this country attains production
goals and delivers supplies where
needed
Il doubt whether Mr. Hitler will
be able to enter the next winter if
We speed up production Mayor La
Guardia, who heads the once OF
Civilian Defense, said.
The Mayor appeared before the
Senate group to support bill Of
fered by Senators OMahoney. DEM
ocrat, OF wyoming and Maloney,
Democrat. Of Connecticut to create
new complaint division under
priorities legislation.
Under this. small industries that
have been forced to shut down or
have been adversely affected by
alloca ton OF aluminium. copper.
steel and other strategic materials
could appeal to an agency selected
by the President and obtain critical
materials If this did not hinder de-
fense production.
Doesn't SOLVE Whole Problem.
The New York Mayor said the
/ legislation will not solve our entire
problem" but would aid in main
/ tenance of our present industrial
system"
I Senator OMahoney contends
small business is being "strangled
to Death by the priorities system.
Senator OManoney claimed firms
not equipped to handle defense con-
tracts and unable to obtain priority
ratings for raw materials because
OF the defense effort were facing
disaster" He predicted widespread
unemployment unless Congress takes
! immediate steps to aid the little
business houses
Senator Hatch. Democrat. Of New
Mexico, testifyine yesterday in sup
port of the proposal, warned that
we're heading toward a totalitarian
state" by concentrating on big busi-
ness in the preparedness effort.
/ Representatives of small business
mems associations joined the Sena-
tors In painting a black picture OF
the present plight of small firms.
L. M. Evans. representing the
Cleveland Small Businessmen's Asso-
citation. termed the situation "des-
perate." He said the o. p. M. had
informed his organization that 1942
steel production would be less than
this year because most of the scrap
already has been used in 1941
production
Lead Output Reduced.
Guy Holcomb, head OF the small
business section of the Justice De.
partment's Antitrust Division. sale
he had learned that the lead output
dropped from $4,000 tons in Septem.
Der, 1910, to $4,000 tons in September
this year.
Frederick A. Virkus, Chicago
representing the National Small
Businessmen's Association. testified
that 6S per cent Of the small firms ir
Illinois were unable to participate
in the defense effort.
Richard c. Cook. Boston. rep.
resenting the Small Business Asso
citation Of New England. charged
that materials were not fairly dis
tributed.
In an address broadcast over tn,
National Radio Forum last night
Senator OMahoney charged that tn
Supply. Priorities and ALLEGATION
Board had adopted the 'procedur
Of the totalitarian state" by meetin,
In closed sessions to make decision
that have an immediate and in
innate bearing upon the social an,
economic lives of all Of the people.