Evening star., 1942-09-12
Congressional Dispute
Over Merits Of Baruch
Groups 5 Report Rises
Farm Stote Senators Coll
PorIey; Norris, Byrd
Disagree on Findings
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Disagreement mounted in con-
gressional quarters today over
the merits of the Baruch com
mittee's rubber report and the
necessity for Nationwide gaso-
line rationing.
Senator Norris, Independent, of
Nebraska, advocate of increased
production of synthetic rubber from
farm products, termed the report
Disappointing" while Senator Byrd,
Democrat, of Virginia called it
courageous" and "statesmanlike."
Simultaneously, farm State Sem
ators headed by Senator Gillette,
Democrat, of Iowa, called a closed
conference today to decide what
policy to pursue.
Senator Gillette is chairman of
the Agriculture subcommittee which
sponsored a bill to set up an in
dependent agency to stimulate pro-
duction of synthetic rubber from
grain alcohol. The measure was
vetoed by President Roosevelt.
Senator Norris. member of the
farm group, told reporters that the
Baruch committee failed to settle
the rubber issue.
Still Up In the Air.
The issue Is whether synthetic
rubber should be made from grain
or petroleum products" he de-
clared. That question is just where
1t was before-up in the air"
Senator Byrd suggested that Mr..
Baruch be asked to eliminate many
other dangerous bottlenecks due to
the ineff1eciency and overlapping
authority of present agencies"
President Roosevelt said yester-
day that rubber administrator
would be named Monday, and that
machinery to start most of the
Baruch committees recommends
tions would be effected at the same
time. In addition to national gaso-
line rationing, the committee recon-
mended a Nation wide 35-mile
hour speed limit, a centralized rub
Der control and 5,000-mile- le-a-year
ceilings on travel for each necessary
civilian automobile.
Meanwhile, Chairman MURRAY of
the Senate Small Business Com
mlttee said he would press for i'm
mediate action on a bill to provide
3O,000,000 tire retreads annually for
necessary civilian automobiles.
Byrd Praises Baruch Group.
The bill, sponsored by Senator
Ellender, Democrat, of Louisiana
calls for use of $500 tons of crude
rubber and 10000 tons of reclaimed
rubber.
Senator Mcfarland. Democrat. of
Arizona said he wasn't convinced
OF the necessity for gasoline ration
ing in States like Arizona. where
the automobile is a vital means of
transportation"
Senator Byrd declared the coun-
try was particularly indebted to Mr.
Baruch for his exposure of the
oungling and inefflciency that have
delayed for SO many months those
tnlngs necessary to replace and con-
serve the rubber supply, which is so
vital to the war effort both at home
and on the battlefield"
AS contrasted to the red tame
and unconscionable delay in. action
OF other governmental agencies -
Senator Byrd said, sit only took Mr..
Baruch "a days to survey the entire
situation and to make constructive
suggestions for remedying this per-
lious situation that now confronts
the country. :.
The lncompetents and bunglers
should at once be dismissed and q
complete reorganization of the con-
troll and production of rubber should
De erected in the hands of one
man."