Evening star., 1942-11-14
Byrnes Orders Halt
In 'Fri1Is' and Waste
Of Civilian Goods
Economic Czur Calls
For Standardized Styles
To Increase War Output

OTQeTeQ ny James r. byTueS, eco
nomic sterilization director, to elm
mate "frills and wasteful practices"
in consumer production.
The vigorous program" for SIM
pliflcation and standardization to
combat rising costs and help turn
more production capacity to war
goods was among series of moves
announced by Mr.. Byrnes late yes
terday.
Farm Wage Ceiling Lifted.
Other action:
Ceilings on agricultural wages are
lifted temporarily to help ease the
farm labor shortage.
Bedrock civilian needs" are being
determined to help planning on such
matters as rationing and ALLEGATION
Of manpoWer.
Possible reduction or elimination
of Government subsidies.
Employers seeking permission to
grant wage rises that will increase
prices must file application with the
Office of Price Administration and
the War Labor Board simulta-
neously.
Mr.. Byrnes said he had asked
Donald M. Nelson, War Production
Board chairman. to undertake the
program to simplify and standardize
production and distribution mot
merely to eliminate frills and waste
full practices, but, wherever neces-
sary and advantageous, to concen-
trate on the production of relatively
few types of goods of standardized
quality, design and price"
Such a program is designed, he
explained, to keep down rising costs
that threaten price ceilings, main
tain maximum possible output OF
civilian goods, and lower prices of
some essentials, as we'll as save man
power, materials, machine, capacity
and "other acute war needs"
"Bed-Rrock Civilian Needs"
The task of determining bedrock
civilian needs" was assigned to the
Office of Civilian Supply. Mr. Byrnes
said there was no intention to re-
duce civilian production to this
minimum, explaining:
Both the determination of these
minimum civilian needs and simpli-
flcation and Standardization of pro-
duction and distribution are parts of
what is intended to be a positive
program that will guarantee our
people the basic living essentials
that they must have at prices they
can pay.
"By reducing the number of vari-
eties, styles and models, eliminating
unnecessary costs, decoration, fancy
packaging and the like we can clear
the war for a fuller production of
basic essentials.
The more far-reaching the
measures taken to reduce excess
spending, as in the new tax bill,
the tighter our manpower situation
and the more our civilian economy
is contracted in favor of war pro-
ducticn, the greater will be the
need for a positive program to
guarantee the people at least their
minimum essentials"
Review on Subsidies.
The director asked the Budget
Review to review all Government
subsidies related to economic sta
bilization in order to determine
whether they can be discontinued
or reduced or what alternatives are
possible"
He said he had in mind as alter
natives the possibility of Towering
profit margins" as well as economies
through simpliflcation and stand
ardization moves.
Aides said the subsidies affected
include those on wheat, coal, petro-
leum, milk and others which in the
past have been approved by Federal
agencies on a national or regional
scale. Soil conservation payments
to farmers are not included in the
group, Mr.. Byrnes' aides said.
The ceiling on agricultural wages
is lifted only until Secretary of
Agriculture Wickard can determine
the effect Of wages on farm produc-
ton IN the more critical farm labor
shortage areas, and where increases
IN farm wages might raise price
ceilings, Mr.. Byrnes said.
Question Of Workers.
Temporary action was taken, he
explained, because agricultural wages
generally are "suhstandard" and be-
cause of the serious problem" in
holding workers on the farm. He
pointed out that most farmers al
ready are exempt from wage regu-
lation because they employ less than
eight workers.
In wage increase actions before
the War Labor Board, Mr.. Byrnes
said, an employer requesting per-
mission to pay workers more money
must state whether the increase
would boost prices. IF it will, he
must file an application for such an
increase simultaneously with the
Once Of Price Administration" Mr..
Byrnes said. "OPA can then de-
termine whether q price increase
would be required, notifying the War
Labor Board"
Both In those cases and in dis
pute cases where the War Labor
Board Is asked to act on demands
for wage boosts. he added, III pos
sible price rise Becomes involved, the
decision Of the War Labor Board
must Be approved by the Once Of
Economic staibnzation."