Evening star., 1942-12-07


who says that good food and plenty
of it is one of the best missionaries
for democracy that 1 know Of" be-
comes the fourth single director OF
a national resource in President
Roosevelt's Official war family.
The others are: Manpower, Paul
v. McNutt; rubber, William M. JEFF
fers, and petroleum, Harold Ickes
Mr.. Roosevelt's order provided
that any difference of view arising
In these cases. as well as any con-
diets between Mr.. Wickard and other
Government agencies, shall be set
as he may designate.
James F. Byrnes, whose authority
as director of economic stabiliza-
ton to determine comprehensive
national economic policy" can be
interpreted to cover most any de-
velopment in this field, is expected
to act as the Presidents arbiter In
any disputes that might arise.
Byrnes Assistant President"
Mr.. Byrnes already is specifically
authorized to settle any conflicts
over food price ceilings between Mr.
Wickard and Price Administrator
Henderson. He also is expected to
be the final authority in any differ
ences between Paul v. McNutt and
other Government agencies devel-
oping from the greatly extended
powers given Mr.. McNutt Saturday
as chairman of the War Manpower
Commission. Thus Mr.. Byrnes
would rank as virtual assistant
President"
Mr.. Wickard already is a member
Of Mr.. Byrnes' Advisory Board OF
Economic Stabilization, and by the
Presidents order last night was
made member of the War Produc-
ton Board.
The order consolidated numerous
separate agencies dealing with va
rious phases of food production
and distribution into two new
agencies-the Food Production Ad-
ministration and the Food Distribu-
ton Administration-and empow-
cred Mr.. Wickard to appoint direc-
tors to head each administration.
Both were made part of the Agri-
culture Department.. Samuel B.
Bledsoe, chief Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture, was mentioned as a
candidate for the distribution
agency.
Mr.. Wickard was given full power
to determine "the need and the
amount of food available for civilian
rationing," and to exercise his "pri-
critics and ALLEGATION powers
through Price Administrator Hen
derson. Rationing powers were ex-
tended to cover, in addition to retail
sales, any disposition of food at any
'levels of distribution Mr.. Wickard
may determine. OPA will continue
to administer the rationing pro-
grams.
The Agriculture Secretary's author
1ty to procure food for such Fed
eral agencies, and to such extent
as he shall determine necessary and
desirable" and generally regulat te
food buying by any Government
agency, was limited only by pro-
vision that he may not interfere
with food purchases made outside
the United States by appropriate
oficials for military needs or foreign
relief purposes.
Authority Shared With WPB.
The matters on which Mr.. Wick
ard and Mr.. Nelson share authority
involve:
l. Determination of the amount
Of "non-food" materials and equip
ment to be used in carrying out the
food program.
2. Division of the available supply
Of food-broadly defined to include
most any agricultural commodities
or compounds made from them-be-
tween needs for human or anima,
consumption and industrial uses.
3. Issuance of directives to the
Board of Economic Warfare relat-
Ing to the importation of food fol-
industrial uses. These shall be
Joint directives." Mr.. Wickard will
take over completely the issuance
Of such directives concerning fooc
tmportations for human and ami
NAL consumption, formerly done BY
Mr.. Nelson.
4. Exercise of "priorities and Al
locations powers concerning any
material or facility" other than
food and agreed-upon non food
materials held necessary by Mr.
Wickard for the food program.
In connection with the latter
point, Mr.. Wickard was authorized
to use all the powers conferred or
the President by the Second War
Powers Act concerning priorities ano
allocations of food for human and
animal consumption, and of all
'non-food" materials anocated BY
the WPB for carrying out the fooo
program.
Nelson Has Right to Object.
Regarding use of these powers ir
relation to ANY other material OF
facility" Mr.. Roosevelt directed that
'in order to avoid overlapping and
conflicting action" Mr.. Nelson
should have the right to object" tc
any action proposed by Mr.. Wickard
with the issue Ito be dtermined'
by the President or his agent.
Mr.. Nelson was left full discretion
In acting on Mr.. Wickard's recon-.
mendation for ALLEGATIONS of ma
terials and equipment for carrying
out the food program, but. after al
locating stated amounts" of such
materials, was ordered to direct their
use "for such specific purposes al
the Secretary may determine"
Mr.. Wickard has served notice he
would make every effort to raise
next years production allotment fol-
farm machinery, which has been re-
stricted by WPB to 40 per cent Of
the 1910 production, as against 80
per cent for 1912. Mr.. Wickard
wants 50 per cent Of the 1910 output
next year.
The President delegated full
priority to Mr.. Wickard to assure
fulfillment Of any contracts or orders
for materials made in accordance
with provisions of the executive
order. The Secretary also was au-
thorized to use the President's s
powers to requisition food, acquire
Al A.