Evening star., 1942-06-19
On the Civilian Front
Henderson Coils for Renewed
Effort to Decrease Living Costs

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Price Administrator Leon Hender-
son announced yesterday finding
which the housewife probably already
has noted-that the rise in living
costs has been checked. Mr. Hender-
son attributed this directly to the
general ceiling on retail prices estab-
liShed by OPA on May 18 and the
accompanying measure to reduce
rents.
The price car commented on a
special Labor Department study
which showed that in 81 cities
there was general living cost de-
cline of a tenth of l per cent from
May 15-June 2. This was the first
drop noticed since November. 1910.
Mr.. Henderson said that battle Is
not won yet" and called upon the
people to be on guard to help win
their battle" The program i'm
mediately ahead, he said, is one of
"joint effort by consumers, retail
ers, wholesalers, manufacturers and
the Government to see that provi-
sions OF the general maximum
price regulation are followed scru-
pulously."
Greatest cost decline came in
rents, which dropped IL per cent
as q result of OPA rent-control
plan. Clothing prices declined one
half on / per cent; house furnish
ings dropped 03 per cent. while
food, some OF which cannot be con-
trolled due to special provisions OF
the price-control law, rose 0.3 per
cent. Fuel. electricity and ice costs
rose one-tenth of per cent.
OPA made provision for increas-
ing the sugar inventories of retail
ers SO that consumers will not ex-
perience so much difficulty in OBJ
tanning sugar to which they are
entitled under the rationing regu-
lations. Wholesalers, too, may be
granted temporary increases in
sugar inventories during peak sea-
sons.
Two types of adjustments are pro-
vided: Permanent adjustments to
cover the continuing needs Of the
business and temporary adjust
ments to cover abnormal peaks,
such as may be caused by the
home canning season. A retailer
may apply to a local rationinng
board for a permanent increase in
his allowable inventory, and the
board may increase the allowable
inventory to an amount equal to
l pound for each dollar OF gross
weekly sales reported in his ap-
plication at the time Cf registra-
ton. If transportation difhculties
or other reasons require the re-
taller to maintain a larger inven-
tory. application will be considered
for q permanent increase in ex-
cess Of this amount
Instructions have been sent ra-
tioning boards to guide them In
handling requests for sugar in
ventory increases.
WPB issued an order sharply re-
stricting the use of critical metals
in the manufacture of water
meters No stainless steel or nickel
alloys may be used in the meters.
Tin is prohibited except as an
alloy in copper, and copper and
copper base alloys are eliminated
from all parts of the meter except
internal gears and workings.
The order, it was estimated, will
reduce the annual use Of copper
in water meters from $500 tons to
300 tons. Other orders similar to
the one on meters are expected to
be issued later in regard to other
auxiliary equipment.
The busy little bee is buster than
usual this year and has enlisted
wholeheartedly in the war effort.
As a result of this turn OF events,
WPB announced that several mil
lion additional pounds Of honey are
available this year as a sugar sub
stitute in such foods as bakery
goods, ice cream. candy and soft
drinks.
The board, several months ago,
restricted the quantity of honey for
industrial use to conserve the small
supply on hand. Though the guam
titles of honey that manufacturers
are permitted to use are still sub
! ject to quota regulation, q larger
amount is now available.
Under the new amendment man
ufacturers may use during any