The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-07-11

ming shy on
merchandise TO keep EN- open.
They'll face bankruptcy. in fact.
That's why Price FiXer Leon Hen
derson wants EN- subsidized by
the government-to prevent an
economic crisis as they begin TO
pop.
That time hasn't come yet,
though-not here in the United
States.
Nevertheless, the situation is
rather funny already.
Illustratively-
Several months ago It was pro-
claimed that, in the name OF pa
triotism, all good Americans ought
TO save waste paper, which federal
agents would coma around periodi-
cally and collect, as an accumula-
ton with which to fight the foe
That Paper Drive
Well, in my occupation I get a
lot Of newspapers and my wife and
saved the back numbers faith
fully. For quite a while a federal
representative called regularly and
scooped EN- in. complimenting us
for having such wads Of EN-.
Then he began visiting us less fire.
quently and now he's stopped
doing so az all. I've got cellar
full Of the sheets, threatening TO
SET my house on fire. My wife
tries 10 get in touch with the
proper functionary's headquarters
by phone. The answer is. "Oh,
gee. We've got nine times as
much waste paper as We need, and
more. too"
That was one kind Of scrap col
lection. A still better advertised
kind Of rubber scrap collecting, ac-
companied by rationing to the
point Of transformation.
II was widely broadcast q few
days ago that Interior Secretary
Harold L. Ickes, leaving the White
House after a call on President
r boswell. glimpsed a rubber mat
OF the floor. and. yanking IL I'D,
conhscated it for wartime utility.
Upon analysis it develops that
such mats consist Of so small a
proportion OF already reclaimed
rubber that they aren't worth re-
claiming.
Nevertheless Harolds stunt
made a splurge.
Some weeks back I had occasion
TO quote Elliot E. Simpson, New
York rubber dealer, TO the effect
that, in reality, we've no rubber
shortage except as it's being en-
gineered by four or FIVE big COM
panies for the purpose Of boost
ing the price Of huge stocks Of
the stuff that they've got on hand.
I'm TO judge Of the merits OF
ElHot's story. but one Of the house
OF representatives subcommittee
was sufficiently impressed by il TO
have engaged him as the commit
tees counsel, TO push an investiga-
ton Of the matter. He's az it now.
And gas
That's an eastern shortage. Out
west oil simply bubbles out Of the
ground, but trarsportation's lack
ing to bring 1t to our Atlantic sea-
board There appears TO be no
question that there's genuine
scarcity Of it. What Of it," Louis
Block OF New Orleans asks con-
congress. There's perfectly sat
isfactory substitute"
Water and Gas
It's q concoction consisting rs
per cent Of water and only IS per
cent Of gasoline, which isn't SO
bad, with a swish Of alcohol. To
prove his contention Louis fills up
his tank with sample Of his mix
ture and runs his car with H. Con-
gress u investigating that account
also. Just how its inventor doctors
the stuff hasn't been fully ex-
planned yet. It seems 10 work,
though.
Then as 10 sugar rationing?
With American housewives al
lowances Of it strictly limited. the
statements been made in congress
that our southern warehouses are
simply bulging with it.
The Office Of Price AdminLtra-
ton admits the storys truth. too,
but says only those particular
warehouses are overful-that the