Evening star., 1942-07-22
Rubber
Continued From First Page.)


cation and had spent and allo-
Gated some sl3,00o,00o in acquiring
the land for the plant. preparing
it and ordering material up TO
the priority stage"
The Senator said that a subcom-
mittee handling the legislation to
create an independent rubber agency
to push production from alcohol and
agricultural products went into the
rubber situation thoroughly, and
"the only one we learned about who
was making rubber from petroleum
was Mr.. Phillips" president OF the
oil company bearing his name.
Divided Responsibility Hit.
He said it was figured that plant
producing butadiene for rubber from
alcohol could be prepared by using
5000 to 10000 tons of critical ma
terial while the Berger plant was
estimated to use 10000 tons OF
critical material to get the same out
put.
Senator Barkley protested against
a division of responsibility for the
rubber program over which Mr.. Mel
son has assumed control. He as
serted the attempt to provide Tor
civilian as we'll as war needs was
mistake in view of the critical short
age of steel plate, steel, copper and
air compressors.
II think it would be most un-
fortunate at this stage OF our war
effort to divide authority among
those charged with producing this
essential war commodity" Senator
Barkley said. He continued:
I'VE demanded unified authority
and this proposal we are considering
undertakes to divide that authority.
Is such a step in the interest OF
good administration? 1t appears to
me to be a stepbackward."
The result, he said, would be two
rival agencies, neither having any
responsibility to the other
No Interest in Oil Grain Fight.
The War Production Board, Mr.
Barley said, would be left in charge
of production of rubber from pc
troleum, while the proposed new
agency would take over RESPONSE
bility for the 200 900 tons of alcohol
rubber provided in WPB's current
program calling for an eventual
capacity of 800 900 tons year from
all sources.
Senator Barkley said he had no
interest in any controversy between
oil and grain alcohol groups over
which should have the greatest
share in synthetic rubber produc-
ton and deplored any action which
would allow any interest to obtain
a monopoly after the war
He said criticism of the failure of
the administration to give authority
to one agency over war materials
was changed to general praise when
Mr.. Nelson was given supreme
charge. and he said he was op-
posed to passage of bill that would
detract from that control.
Norris Indorses Bill.
Senator Gillette said there was
''indescribable confusion" in Gov
ernment agencies today over the
formulation of rubber program,
and Senator Norris, Independent, of
Nebraska indorsed the bill. saying it
involved no reflection on Mr.. Nelson,
whom he wanted ito commend be-
fore the world" for the splendid
job he is doing"
representative johnson, Republi-
can, of Illinois told the House Rules
Committee that the present system
of rubber production has been in
the hands of petroleum people" and
that the synthetic output could be
greatly increased through further
utilization of agricultural processes.
Representative Fulmer said that
''monopolies have control" of rub
ber plans OF the War Production
Board.
Donald Nelson and the others
down there are under the complete
domination of selflshness." Repre-
sentative Fulmer said BY using
agriculturally- produced alcohol. he
testified, rubber could be turned out
in four to six months instead Of the
IL to Is months it would take from
petroleum"