Evening star., 1942-11-27
'CommonSens
To Rule National
Gas Rationing
Needs of Farmers,
Workers to Be Met,
Jeffers Assures
By J. A. O'LEARY.

A common sense effort to de-,
termine the essential needs OF
farmers, workers and commer-
cial vehicles will be the basic goal
of the Government in carrying
out Nationwide gas rationing
after December /, the Senate
War Investigating Committee
was told today by the three off,
cials dealing with the problem.
Joining in this assurance wers
Rubber Director William NJ Jeffers.
Price Administrator Leon Hender-
son and Defense Transportation Di-'
rector Joseph Eastman.
Mr.. Jeffers revealed instructions
he has given Mr. Eastman and Mr..
Henderson to make changes in ra-
tioning plans to enable farmers and
workers to continue normal opera
tions while local difficulties and
problems are ironed out.
Both Mr.. Jeffers and Mr.. Hender-
son, however. stood firmly by their
expressed belief in the necessity for
Nationwide rationing if the tires
now on truck and private cars are to
last until Americas ambitious syn
thetic rubber program gets into full
production.
Output Starts in January. &.
The first of the new synthetic
plants will go in production in
January. Mr.. Jeffers said, and the
others will be coming into use in
sequence until September. He en-
phasized, however, there are "a
great many ifs" in discussing the
anticipated supply of synthetic
rubber.
The witnesses also assured the
committee they realize the i'm
portance of the farmer in the war
effort Mr. Jeffers described the
farmers part in these words:
THE producer of food is the most
important man in America today,
not excepting the men in the armed
forces, because if we don't produce
and transport the food there isn't
any use talking about this large
Army"
The railroad executive who was
called to Washington by the Presi-
dent to solve the rubber problem,
insisted, however, these is no alter
native to Nationwide rationing, to
become effective December /. if the
tires now on cars are to last until
the synthetic program gets into full
swing in 1914
In the Eastern States, where ra-
tloning has been going on, Mr. Hen
derson said, there has been no
| breakdown" in providing for essen
tlal use, even with a limited supply
Of gas for 100000 vehicles.
President Roosevelt YESTERDAY
backed up Mr., Jeffers and Mr.. Hen
derSon on the need for Nation wide
gasoline rationing, leaving Western
Members of Congress with little
chance of winning their fight to
postpone rationing to try voluntary
mileage reduction.
Reveals Instructions.
In emphasizing that the needs of
farmers and war workers are being
considered, Mr.. Jeffers testified:
AS a matter of fact I have al
ready directed Mr.. Eastman, direc-
TOR OF ODT, and Mr.. Henderson to
make changes in their handling of
ratloning for farmers and workers
IN war plants. I suggested to Mr..
Eastman that farmers and stock
men generally have very necessary
use for trucks and that pending
ironing out of local difficulties they
should be given to understand that
they are to continue their normal
operations until such time as their
individual needs are determined, In
the same memorandum, made this
statement:
1 assume that in the matter of
rationing of gas to people generally
ana specifically to workers, that in
the larger plants boards of manage
ment and labor have been set up to
determine the individual needs of
tne workers, and that the rationing
boards will act in accordance with
thelr recommendations. If there are
any disputes with respect thereto.
they should be resolved in such a
way as to preclude the possibility
OF there being any difficulty in
people generally going about their
activities without interference, until
the matter can be Strengthened out.
Must Avert Tie-ups.
In short these boards must be
instructed to adopt an attitude that
Will not result in any unnecessary
delay or tie-up."
With no new rubber available, Mr..
Jeffers testified, I'VE face the abso-
lutte necessity of the rationing pro-
gram. which will enable us to con-
(See GASOLINE, Page A-6J