The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-06-11

Dealers-the ones who have new
er been able to subordinate "par-
ty'' to the war effort-are worried
over the Presidents decision to
make a drastic cut in the appro-
priation for the WPA, which they
always have recognized as a SUI
per vote-producing organization.
And they are showing even great
er alarm over Leon Henderson,
unwillingness to appoint the
fright people" to jobs in the ma
tion-wide price administration or
ganization which he is building
up.
The President has said that war
jobs make it possible to reduce
the size of WPA from an employ
enrolment of around 100000 to
half that number and he has rec
omended reducing the funds for
WPA by $185,OO0,OOO. Although
the WPA claims to have accom-
plished lot of good work, the
records have always indicated
that the cost was all out of pro-
portion to the work done and the
organization has been the leading
butt of New Deal critics. Among
the claims of WPA are that it has
constructed 200 airfields and O.
yer 100000 feet of airplane run
ways, has built or improved over
100000 miles of roads, has con-
structed $4,000 highway bridges,
and improved thousands of parks.
Although many New Deal con-
gressmen realized that large ex-
penditures for WPA, when there
is a shortage in labor for war
production, could not be justified,
some hoped that a new organiza-
ton, tied up with the war effort,
might take its place. Realizing
that rationing, price control, etc.,
is the biggest single domestic un-
dertaking, they saw Mr.. Hender-
sons Office of Price Administra-
ton as the best political opportun-
ity. But they now complain that
Mr.. Henderson in many cases, is
appointing their political enemies
to important posts in his organi-
cation which may eventually in
clude as many as 100000 employ
ees.
It is believed, however, that
Mr.. Henderson's absence of poll
teal considerations in making his
appointments is endearing him
to the public and that he has
strong public support.
There have, Of course, been
many DIRECTORS to his gasoline ra-
tioning plan, but id most cases
the complaints are against unfair
actions of local boards, motorists
and gas station owners who "are
getting away with murder" and
against the proposals to extend
gasoline rationing to states where
the supply is plentiful.
If rationing is extended, the
main purpose will be to conserve
tires. But the whole question of
the public's continued use of au-
tomobiles is still due for consid-
erably more analysis and clarifi-
cation. Each day some new sug-
gestion is made which revises
thinking on the subject.
The most optimistic authorities
here predict that some solution
will be worked out on the tire
situation, that plans for carrying
gasoline to the East by inland wa
terways will be put through and
that we will be able to continue
to get both tires and gasoline
throughout the war.
Under the sponsorship Of the
Small Business committee, Sena-
tor Ellender of Louisiana has in
troduced bill into congress call
ing for legislation to furnish tires
throughout the war to keep TO-
100000 automobiles running. The
proposal is that these tires be
made of reclaimed rubber, part
of which will be obtained from
the tires and tubes turned in by
those seeking the new tires. The
committee claims that not more
than two ounces of new rubber
is needed to make a tire of re-
claimed rubber and states that If
$500 tons of crude rubber are
put aside for this purpose from
our 75O,OO0-ton stockpile, they
can develop a system to collect
all of the reclaimed rubber nee
essary.
This bill will reopen the whole
disussion on the use of automo-
biles, the rubber situation having
been considered much greater
problem than gasoline. But,
since we are the only one of the
United Nations which has any
rubber stockpile and are conse-
uuently being called upon to fill
the needs of other nations as well
&C DIR own. it is expected that