Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-02
One Ration
Boss Needed,
Officials Say
Conflict Of Authorities
Believed Confusing
By PAUL MALLON

Just as strong as the movement
which forced consolidation OF
war production under Donald
Nelson with such excellent re-
suits.
Threaded all through the Tru-
man committee report are state
ments attributing our tire, and
hence our gas. rationing confu-
sion TO the division of authority
among many government bu-
reaus. Other mistakes are
mentioned in connection with
failures in every phase of the
problem (stock pile, synthetic
rubber, etc.
Bickering has resulted be-
tween Jesse Jones, the War
Production Board, Henderson,
war department, Ickes and
every one elso who has had any,
thing TO do with our prime
civilian problem. But in every
case. the committee goes back
TO division of authority as the
root cause.
OF our failure to accumulate
a rubber stock pile. the commit
tee says there was division Of
authority between OPM, Rub
Der Reserve Corporation, the
RFC subsidiary, and others,
adding: .,
"Tt Il possible that had COM
plete authority and responsible
ity been centered in the hands
of a single agency, the failure
might have been avoided"
CONCERNING the inadequacy
" Of our synthetic rubber plan
ming, ii mentions the conflict
between the old Stettinius adj
visory committee and the Re-
construction Finance Corpora
tion as causing great difficulty
in obtaining decision"
OF the whole mess today, II
concludes:
AT the present time Il ap-.
pears the principal difficulties
probably result from . lack of
centralized and sole response
bility."
While the more spectacular
clash of personalities involved in
the committees generous distri-
button of blame has been draw
ing most of the popular atten-
ton, this correctible cause of
the whole existing muddled
situation has been overlooked.
Disheartening aspect to the
Congressman, however, is that
q year and a half of agitation
was necessary to cause CEN
tralized control of war produc-
tion in Nelson, so ardently do
the various officials fight to re-
tain their authority. If it takes
another year and a half before
rubber and gas are put under
single control, the war could be
| over.
The unsatisfactory state OF
rubber affairs in. the govern
ment was illustrated again when
President Roosevelt promised
early solution by manufacturing
tires other than rubber.
Around the War Production
Board and the other government
bureaus dealing with rubber, no
explanation of what he had in
mind was available. It was said
politely that the President was
probably just talking off hand
(meaning he did not know what
he was talking about.
A BOUT 25 or 80 ideas for
"A making wood. tarred rope or
steel spring tires without rubber
have been submitted to the Ma
tional Inventors Council, but no
government rubber authority
believes these will solve the
situation.
The other officials swear the
public cannot expect tires OF any
kind for at least two or three
years. They say the only pos
sible solution is synthetic rubber,
because no more than 10000 to
$4,000 tons year is possible
from Brazil.
They are pushing the buta-
diene process as fast as they
can. but If they succeed in all
their plants, they say they can
furnish only enough tires for
military and essential civilian
(police. ambulance, etc. use.
Even Donald Nelson was
caught short by the Presidents
optimism. His pessimistic state
ment (founded on above men,
toned facts) reached the public
just before Mr.. Roosevelt spoke,
and Mr.. Nelson thereupon
emerged from his political. but
not his rubber. difficulties by
adding that he also hoped Amer
lean ingenuity would save the
situation.
Here again was a perfect
example of division OF authority
resulting in chaos.
So also with the adminiStra-
ton OF gas rationing. Practically
everybody has been speaking his
official piece 10 the public. Even
Assistant War Secretary Patter-
son issued a public warning
couple of weeks back, although
no one seems TO know exactly
how he got in on that particular
subject.
AS matters stand now Petro-
leum Co-ordinator Ickes keeps
track Of oil and gas tcensoring