The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-25
BY ROBERT RUARK

writing his coIumn.)
 
 BY ROBERT RUARK Waterbury Democrat Washington Correspondent
 Tn case you've been wondering why the WIPE doesn't make up it's mind on the scrap question and tell us plain citizens who are going to dig up the scrap exactly what articles are needed and exactly which of our humble belongings are not needed, the answer is well, draw up your chair and here goes.
 Basically what the mills want at this stage of the game, even more than the scrap itself, is an inven- tory of just how much scrap is available and where they can get their hands on 1t.
 It is, of course, true that some | few mills are actually critically in need of scrap right this minute. Why their need is so great and why other mills have had to lower pro- duction for want of scrap is 8 ques- tion to which there is no convincing answer. But that has nothing to do with this question of inventories.
 Before the WIPE can lay down any hard and fast rules about what scrap is needed, it wants to know what 1t has,. It's going to find out when you get your crap into your local scrap salvage depots.
 Well, you ask, do the mills need that bronze fruit bowl of which you're especially fond and which graces the family dinner table? The answer is: Until the WIPE can make an inventory of the bronze which is unquestionably scrap until it sees what the sal- wage drive turns out = it won't know whether your fruit bowl, even though you use it, is needed or not.
 We'll why doesn't the WIPE ask | for such obvious and easily avail able metal as auto bumpers? The answer is just the reverse of the fruit bowl logic. There is no secret as to how much bumper steel is available when it's needed. WIPE already knows, from state car regis trations, just about how many pounds of bumpers are chasing around the nations highways. This metal is available, when needed, just by the flip of an executive wrist.
 There is another aspect to the question of auto bumpers which is basic and applicable to all scrap. It is that auto bumpers are per- forming every day an extremely useful function, as you needn't be reminded if you've tried to squeeze into small parking space. USEFUL
 ITEMS
 If there is one overall principle I in the scrap drive at this point, it is: Don't give anything that you are using in your every day living. It's that iron bed which you've had stored in teh attic against the fu- ture day when daughter marries and wants to furnish a home that WIPE wants, not the iron bed that's actually in use in the guest room. Until 1t has been proved that there isn't enough unused metal in your home to supply war produc- tion needs, the WIPE figures it wouldn't make sense to take metal | for. which there is an everyday consumer use.
 This question of use is import ant, and is another reason why WIPE doesn't make cold and hard rule about what it wants as scrap. Take lawn mowers. They aren't being manufactured for civilian use any more. So if you have a lawn mower in good work ing condition which you don't need any more, you'd probably do better to tsell it to a hardware store than to a junk dealer. A lawn mower in good condition has an important non-scrap use.
 CAN'T BE
 SPECIFIC
 By this time, maybe you're be- many ifs, ands and buts that the WIPE can't be specific about in requesting scrap until it finds out what's turned in without specific requests.
 The word request is import ant. Unless and until it finds it can't get the necessary scrap by voluntary contribution, WIPE isn't going to requisition. If requisi- tioning is necessary, however, WIPE will requisition.
 Another underlying factor in the whole "what's-needed" question is the time element Obviously, if the present scrap drive is successful, we're going to clog the smelting and reclaiming facilities.
 If people could be persuaded to look on scrap needs as being con- tinuous and sustained, WIPE would not now ask for scrap which won't be needed until months hence. But as you know if you've ever solicited funds or clothes for your local charity (where the need is also continu- ouS and sustained), you can get Ida Housewife and Bill Mechanic steamed up for a bit, but you can't maintain the pitch.
 If 1t will make you feel any bet ter, you might as well know that the men and women directing the WIPE salvage drive are as aware nf the cnnflISin1, aS vnlI ara