Evening star., 1942-11-13

ueVe Top this David Lawrence.
winter because of lack of heat. AT
a time when medical staffs are de-
pleted, due to the needs of the
Army and Navy, the Nation cannot
afford to leave anything undone
which may relate to the prevention
of illnesses.
Ihe winter season brings its nor
NAL quantity of colds, but if the
heating problem is not solved,
America will face much more seri-
Gus winter than it did in any of the
months of, the last war. 1t will be
recalled that Britain suffered con-
siderably during the last war be-
cause of lack of fuel, but America
Gid not. The American people this
time, however, are face to face with
uncomfortable periods indoors, all
because the fuel problem has not
been properly handled.
The difficulty seems to be that oil
Is being left to the public, including
the industrial users, to apportion
among themselves, and there is no
check-up to see whether larger in
ventories than necessary have been
accumulated. The residential user
has been urged to convert to coal,
but 1t is not clear that all the coal
needed would be available if the
conversion to coal were universal
Certainly there has been no ration
Ing OF all fuels or allocations to
plants on the basis of actual needs.
Jurisdiction Conflict.
One reason for the situation is
that there has been a conflict of
jurisdiction and no clear-cut poll
c1es on the part of governmental
agencies concerned. The Secretary
OF the Interior, for instance, does
not possess all the power necessary
to allocate fuel. The responsibility
for the decision rests with the chair
man of the War Production Board,
And whether Leon Henderson's ra-
tloning system or Harold Ickes' bu-
reaus are to handle the matter of
checking up on oil supply and it's
distribution to users, the fact re-
mains that such directive has not
vet been issued. y.
Mr. 1ckes lately has been getting
compliments from the oil industry
for his cooperation with the pro-
ducers and distributors and there
are many in that industry who feel
that the entire fuel problem should
be turned over to him. But the i'm
portance of bringing some sort of
settlement to the oil shortage is
vital at the moment and will become
one Of the most serious of the Ma
tion's complaints If winter comes
and fuel to keep residences warm
has not been properly distributed.
Fuel is basic raw material which
has to be allocated just as any
other. Industrial users of raw ma
terials lately have been required to
submit to controlled materials
plan, requiring a scheduling of needs
In such a fashion that surpluses
and gluts in any one area or plant
are avoided. Fuel will have to be
accorded the same treatment, but
10 administer such huge undertak-
Ing will require separate unit
either inside or outside the War
Production Board.
1t is said that there is no DISPOSE
tlon at WPB to take over fuel ra-
tioning or control, but that there is
already considerable argument in
favor of selecting the agency that
should handle the job and giving
It full authority to 60 ahead.
Food Difficulty Also.
Somewhat the same difficulty pre-
walls with respect to the food sup
ply. With record harvests and re-
cord production Of food supplies,
there are shortages in the stores in
certain areas. These are not yet
serious but they may become so if
no remedy is applied to the present
maldistribution.
The third problem of major i'm
portance on the home front--man-
power-also needs some clarifica-
ton both as to policy and personnel
It is apparent that legislation will
not be sought but that a plan for
voluntary cooperation of manage
ment and labor and the armed serv-
Ices Is to be tried first. But at the
head OF such an important activity
some outstanding administrator is
needed.
Some very good men lately have
been placed in positions Of respon-
sibility in WPB and the trend Is
toward efficiency. But until the
President and Chairman Donald
Nelson pick man for manpower
director, another for food admins
traitor, and third man to handle
fuel, the home front will lose valu-
able time needed to prepare for a
dangerous winter.