Evening star., 1942-04-19

Eight Federal agencies are studying
Uncle Sans rubber needs Though their
approach varies, each Is concerned with
sonne aspect OF the problem OF supply
and production. the development OF sub
stitutes or the compilation OF interna-
tionsl and domestic trade statistics
For many years before the outbreak
Of World War II. the Commerce De-
partment specialized in gathering data
on rubber and hundreds of other COM
modities important in our national econ
omy Nearly two decades ago II made
an exhaustive survey OF the world rub
Der situation Later, the Department Of
Agriculture entered the field. sending
agents abroad to scout for new sources
OF rubber
In recent months, many OF the war
agencies have recruited their own STATS
OF specialists. whose work, at many
points. parallels or duplicates that OF
the Commerce Departments commodity
specialists. There are rubber experts
INV phiy al btiS hbd hStfto-
ture Departments. but on the STATS OF
the Tariff Commission which keeps in
touch with the international movement
OF all commodities, the War Production
Board. the once OF Price Administra-
ton. the Co-ordinator Of inter American
Affairs. the Economic Warfare Board.
and the Rubber Reserve Co, A subsidiary
OF the r. r. C.
Commerce Supplies Data.
With strategic and raw materials
prime military objective and economic
weapons playing an important part in
grand strategy, the present war has
created an unprecedented demand
among Government agencies for men
and women who can interpret accurately
the significance OF current trends in
rubber. sugar. tea, metals and minerals
and make recommendation providing
the basis for effective executive action.
In addition to gathering primary data,
Commerce commodity specialists made
II their business to keep in touch with
the trade In this country, and with pro-
duction and other developments abroad.
Commerce experts have helped edu-
cate other agencies In the technique OF
commodity research and have furnished
them with much of the basic statistical
data needed in their work. Commerce
records have been photostated so often
by representatives OF other departments
and bureaus that in many instances its
files are beginning to show the effects
Of the resulting wear and tear.
The Commerce Department often has
received requests from several other
agencies for data on the same commod-
fly. The purpose Of some OF the queries
submitted has puzzled Commerce experts.
An illustration in point was request
from o. p. A, for information on the
capacity OF railway repair shops in Aus
tralia. They have yet to figure out what
relationship such information could pos
sibly have to the problems OF price cell
ings in the United States.
AS its expert on the laundry machine
industry, one of the war agencies hired
a college economics instructor. On call
AIlk AT tilc To kel
some pointers on the industry, he ad-
mitted that he had never seen the inside
of laundry but said he planned to visit
a Washington laundry in the near future
A budding expert on ONCE machines
came to the department to find out
what machines come under this classifi-
cation.
Requests Often Duplicated.
An Army supply branch recently asked
the department for complete data on in
dustrial production In Australia, the
goods In which 1t is lacking, domestic
requirements and so on. This was rush
order, requiring report within a few
days, Working at high gear over a week
end. Commerce trade experts, tapping
their large fles, submitted a complete
memorandum, we'll within the Army's
deadline.
Several days later. an officer from the
same Army branch called at the depart
ment to obtain data on the construction
materials industry in Australia appar-