Evening star., 1942-08-06

BY GARNETT D. HORNER.
resident Roosevelt today
named a special three-man
committee "to get the facts" on
the confused rubber problem as
he vetoed a bill which he de-
clared would "block the progress"
of the war effort by setting up
an independent agency to direct
production of synthetic rubber
from grain.
The President pointed out that the
bill would break up the "co-ordina-
ton of centralized control over crit
ical materials"
Bernard M. Baruch, who was
chairman of War Industries Board
in the World War, is chairman of
the investigating committee whose
appointment was announced by the
President In special message to
Congress vetoing the Gillette bill.
DR.. James B. Conant, president
of Harvard University, and DR.. Karl
T. Compton, president of Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology,
were named to serve with Mr..
Baruch under instructions to rec
ommend as quickly as possible such
action as will produce the rubber
necessary for our total war effort"
Confers With OfYicials.
Shortly before the veto message
reached the Capitol, Mr.. Roosevelt
conferred with WPB Chairman Dom
aid M. Nelson, Director Leon Hender-
son of the ONCE of Price Administra-
ton, Joseph B. Eastman, the De-
tense Transportation Director, and
Undersecretary of War Robert P.
Patterson.
Leaving the White House, this
group refused to detail their discus
sions but said it could be assumed
that there would be no decision on
Nation-w wide gasoline rationing until
the Baruch Committee reported.
In a letter to Mr.. Baruch, the
President said "a quick but adequate
survey of the entire rubber ques-
ton would include not only
facts with respect to existing sup
plies and estimates as to future
needs, but also the question of the
best method to be followed for OBJ
tanning an adequate supply of rub
ber for our military and essential
civilian requirements"
Mr.. Baruch issued a statement.
In which he said:
"The Presidents command has
been received. The committee has
organized itself and Is in action.
There will be no public hearings
or statements, although we may an
nounce the names Of those experts
working with us.
Whatever we have to say will
be in our report to the President,
which we will make as quickly as
We can determine the facts"
Seeks to End Confusion.
The President said he was setting
up the committee to investigate the
whole situation because there have
been SO many conflicting statements
about the rubber problem from
responsible Government agencies
as well as from private sources" to
confuse the public.
This committee" he informed
Congress, will Immediately proceed
to study the present supply (of rub
ber), the estimated military and es-
sential civilian needs, and the vari-
Gus processes now being urged, and
they will recommend processes to be
used, not only in the light of need
for rubber, but also in the light of
critical materials required by these
processes"
The committees report will form
q basis for future action concern
ing such matters as Nationwide
gas rationing and motor transporta-
ton" as well as synthetic rubber
production, Mr.. Roosevelt said.
WPB's Responsibility.
Although its work will invoyle a
review Of the program now being
followed by the War Production
Board, he explained that the WPB
will retain "the responsibility for
the distribution of critical mater
ials."
The President said he was GER
tain that once the American people
ARE given the full facts" about the
rubber shortage they will be wholly
willing to forego their own conven-
fence or pleasure" to whatever ex-
(See RUBBER, Page A-4D