Evening star., 1942-04-05
Civilian Controls
Extended asWar
Output Scars
Trade Still Operating
On StockpiIe, Reports
Business Week
Special Dispatch to The Star.

SSsssSSS w WIN
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. April A. When the
War Production Board this week
announced stoppage Of civilian out
put Of long list of common house.
hold appliances-toasters, waffle
irons, percolators, cigarette lighters,
and dry shavers- 1t hardly came
under the head Of news, says Busi-
ness Week, In its analysis Of the
outlook today. Rather, 1t represents
the continuation Of q dominant
trend.
The Nations production becomes
increasingly divisible into two parts !;
war and non-war. And war output
will continue to rise sharply while
civilian output declines sharply.
But, in the aggregate, as Business
Week has indicated before, produc-
ton will be UP. Only there will be
much less for civilians.
However, the War Production
Board quite clearly recognizes that
people must go on living; that
civilian establishments must be
maintained II the war effort is to
be prosecuted efficiently.
Thus, this week w. P. B. author
lied manufacturers of non-mechan-
ical refrigerators to turn out 495 900
units in the year commencing July
/, an increase Of lat per cent over
the 200, 900 units scheduled for this
fiscal year. This suggests that in
civilian life we may 60 PARKWAY
back to grandmothers era. We're
going to have to get along without
new vacuum cleaners, stokers, oil
burners, and fancy stoves with
thermostat controls. Mops, shovels,
and broomstraw for testing cake
may stage a comeback.
At least w. P. BIS ruling points
In that direction; and businesses
the gadget age Debated may give
their owners a war-born taste Of
prosperity.
Changes Yet to Come.
AS yet, however, going lack closer
to nature is a prospect, rather than
an actuality. The country is still
living on its stockpile Thus, Easter
retail sales threaten to break all
records.
March Is tax payments only cut
moderately into the uptrend In con-
sumer buying, as Business Week
indicated. Loaded with increased
purchasing power and fearing ul-
innate shortages. people have been
buying freely-not only spring finery,
but also house furnishings, jewelry
and so on. Retailers have been able
to supply goods out of stock, which
have been accumulated during the
last II months.
But as replacement becomes in
creasingly difficult and shelves get
bare. the problem of distribution
will become acute. And the ONCE
of Price Administration will no
longer be able to dodge the question:
To ration or not to ration? For in
the not far future, when production
will be running below current de-
niand, inventories on hand viii not
be sufficient to make up the differ
ence.
Price Control Difficult.
This potential scarcity empha-
sizes the problem of price control
especially with costs rising. o. P.
A. this week authorized raising the
gasoline, fuel oil and coal ceilings to
take into account higher transporta-
ton charges. But it took this &C
ton reluctantly and, while permit
ting coal dealers to add the boost in
freight rates to their prices, urged
them to absorb 1t.
And to iron and steel makers. the
agency offered no choice; the steel
industry is expected to absorb in
creases in steel scrap prices. o. P.
AS policy is still not clear cut. Rul-
ings are still improvised to At par
ticular situations. But If the Price
Administration has any policy
touchStone, 1t seems to be this: Can
the seller afford to absorb the high
er cost? If so. let him.
Railroad transportation now is
coming under restrictions. Rail-
roads no longer will accept CONNER
cial freight traffic destined for
South or East Africa or South
America except by order Of the Gov
ernment or the Association of Amer
ican Railroads.
Not only does this free car space
for urgent shipments, but also it
avoids port congestion. AS part OF
the program of easing the railroad
burden, the ONCE of Defense Trans
portation this week specified min
imum loads on less-than carload
freight hauls. Although Lei freight
only about is per cent
of total freight tonnage. it accounts
for IA per cent of total boxcar days.
The new ruling is expected to double
car utilization on this traffic.
Policies Geared to War.
Two new operating procedures
the result of the warfare
worth noting: The Farnsworth Tele-
vision & Radio Corp. this week an
that its sales force, in
stead of going out after orders
(Which are now coming in over the
transomS), will be turned into pro-
curement division-to see that the
company gets on schedule the mate
rials it needs to produce war goods.
Statesmen will visit suppliers in
stead Of calling on customers.
And Thorn Mean, retail shoe
chain, has adopted two-price pol
icy for the first time in its history.
Slow-turnover, double -soled, wing
tipped models will be higher priced.