Evening star., 1942-10-31
Roosevelt Studies
Plan 10 Establish
Gar Over Food
Action Expected Shortly
To Dissolve Differences
OF Nelson and Wickurd

OF Nelson and Wickurd
President Roosevelt has under
consideration the establishment of
an Office of Food director to
handle the country's wartime food
problems, but plans to make no
immediate decision on the prob
lem, Stephen T. Early, presidential
secretary, declared today.
Mr.. Early said the President prob
ably would seek the advice of James
F. Byrnes, director of economic
stabilization, before making a final
decision.
Meanwhile, an informed source
predicted that Mr. Roosevelt would
dissolve the differences between
War Production Chief Donald M.
Nelson and Secretary of Agriculture
Wickard over the way the food stu
alton should be handled. The Of
f1cial predicted that the final draft
of the plan for setting up a Food
Control Office would not follow
precisely the suggestions made
either by Mr.. Nelson or Mr.. Wick
ard. The Presidents plan is ex-
pected to be a compromise of the
views of the two Government
officials.
Mr.. Nelson has recommended that
President Roosevelt issue an execu-
tive order setting up an admins
traitor for food with broad directive
powers to control distribution.
Mr.. Nelson's recommendation was
sent to President Roosevelt in a
letter. He suggested that the Office
of food administrator be set up
within the WPB and that the direc-
tor be given powers similar to that
now held by Rubber Director Will
liam M. Jeffers.
Nelson Held Dissatisfied.
Mr.. Nelson is represented as far
from pleased with the manner in
which the food problem has been
handled up to this time. He was
said to be dissatisfied with the work.
ing of WPB's Food Requirement
Committee headed by Secretary of
Agriculture Wickard. This COM
mittee has acted in an advisory ca
pacity in distributing food to the
armed services and civilian popula-
tion. 1t was this group that recon-
mended recently that meats for civ
ilian consumption be cut approx
mately 20 per cent from last years
consumption.
= Mr. Wickard, while recognizing
the desirability of setting up a food
czar, believes the Agriculture De-
partment should have overall direc-
ton of the food situation, it was
said. Informed Government officials
said there had been considerable
friction recently between Mr.. Wick
ards department and WPB. Agri-
culture was said to be particularly
resentful of the recent WPB order
limiting production of farm ma
chinery during the next year to less
than half of last years output.
A WPB official declared that the
Agriculture Department now han
dies less than one-third of the work
of supplying the armed services and
civilians with food. He pointed out
that a major portion of wartime
food problems was concerned with
processing, packaging, distribution
and, more than anything else, ra-
tioning. While sugar Is the only
food rationed at this time, the dis
tribution of coffee. meat and many
other foods will be controlled
shortly
WPB officials point out that in
order to put up food In cans ap-
proval must be obtained from
WPB's iron and steel and tin
branches. Similarly the board S
container branch must be ap-
preached if glass is to be used for
canning.
On the other hand the Agricul-
ture Department was said to have
little admiration for the WPB food
branch.
Perkins Mentioned for Post.
While it was understood Mr.
Nelson's letter to the President
made no recommendation as to who
should fill the post of food admin
istrator, two men were prominently
mentioned for the job.
One is Milo Perkins, chairman of
the Board of Economic Welfare, who
attained considerable success in op-
Grating the food stamp plan before
the war for the Surplus Commodi-
ties Corp.
The other nominee is Lee Mar
shall, Continental Baking Co. off,
cial, said to be highly regarded by
Mr.. Nelson. Mr.. Marshall has been
in Washington for some time as
consultant to Mr.. Nelson on food
problems.