Evening star., 1942-05-10
Consumer Faces
1892 Standard
Of Living
Henderson Outlines
Clear Picture for
Civilians in War
BY JAMES NARROW
and WILLIAM PINKFRTON,

and WILLIAM PINKERTON,
World Wide Business Writers.
NEW YORK, May 9,-Americans
have more spending money than
ever before and are heading toward
the living level of the deep depres-
sion days.
And for this reason:
In the early 1905 they lacked
the money with which to buy: now,
loaded with money, there will be
a lack of the things that might be
bought.
This whole trend of wartime liv-
ing for Americans was made tersely
clear this week in couple of blunt
paragraphs by Leon Henderson,
price administrator:
I'VE are at the highest level of
production of civilian goods that
there has ever been Out of the
amount of money in peoples pockets
We would be able to buy a standard
of living exceeding all the dreams of
the idea boys in the back room"
Then, explaining that this country
will not have enough materials or
skilled labor for civilian production
since they must be turned to war
output-he added:
1T is probable that in the next
II to IS months we will get a
civilian standard of living equivalent
to 1882. which was the low of all
lows during the depression"
Gasoline Cut Ordered.
If any one needed further evi-
dence of the pressing war needs and
the Governments grim determina-
ton to fill them, 1t was forthcoming:
As the Nation complied Its reg
istration for sugar rationing, the
War Production Board ordered gas
oline consumption in the East cut
so per cent below normal, meaning
that many of the areas 10000 900
motorists may have to get along on
two to six gallons q week.
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard
said the wars strain on the coun-
try's distribution system was placing
serious obstacles in the way of get
ting food to American consumers.
He said ''in transportation by rail,
truck or ship the situation is so
tight that we cannot afford to move
anything that is not absolutely es-
sential."
The President gave the Office of
Defense Transportation, headed by
Joseph B. Eastman, power to set
policies for wartime control of pas
senger cars, buses. taxicabs and
trucks. including the authority to
limit the use Of these for non
essential civilian activities"
Travel to Be Rationed.
Soon afterward officials OF the
o. D. T. said rationing Of passenger
space on railroads and overland
buses was definitely In prospect"
within the next few months, while
persons wishing to travel for holiday
or other non essential purposes must
expect to have their reservations
Cancelled at the last minute.
Mr. Eastman said steps would be
taken to eliminate high-speed dupli-
cation services on competing lines,
lengthen limited schedules to In
clude more stops and reduce OF
totally eliminate all luxury equip
ment for the duration Of the war.
Meanwhile, the Senate Military
Affairs Committee considered ap-
proving legislation giving the Presi-
dent authority to seize automobile
tires from private owners and the
cars. too, if necessary to conserve
rubber for actual war use.
Steel Curb Tightened.
The w. P. B., In one of the broad
est conservation orders it ever issued
forbade the use Of iron and steel in
more than 400 common civilian
products, which included: Bathtubs
pie plates, cash registers, cigarette
lighters, mail boxes and fountain
pens.
The President warned that full
wage increases now due part of the
Nations shipyard workers under
union contracts, which provide peri
odic adjustments on the basis of
living costs, are "irreconcilable with
the national policy to control the
cost of living"
The Federal Reserve Board, car
rying into effect the seventh point
In President Roosevelt's seven-fold
program for halting rising living
costs, brough retail charge accounts
under control for the first time and
ruled that installment purchases
must be liquidated in II months.
Secretary of the Treasury Nor
genthau told the House Ways and
Means Committee that the time
has now come" to lower personal
exemptions under the individual
income tax to 5000 for single per-
sons, 81 200 for married couples and
$500 for each dependent"