Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-10-21

German lines few days ago.
meeting production requirements
are available elsewhere.
Time Limit Proposed.
The report to the WPB was made
by the Manpower Commission,
which also listed another ga places
which it classified as areas of AN
ticipated" labor shortage. 1t recon-
mended that these be avoided in
placing contracts which have
maximum delivery date of more
than six months"
The War Production Board also
received third list from the Man.
power Commission. showing 81 areas
having labor SURPRISES and desig-
mating them as areas lin which war
contracts should be placed
The Manpower Commission ex-
planned that the designation of areas
in which contracts should and
should not be placed was requested
by the War Production Board as
guide to war procurement agencies
IN placing OF contracts.
Sees Production Spread.
1t pointed out that the withhold
ing of contracts from the labor
shortage areas would result in the
spreading of war production. espe-
cially in the Midwestern and South
ern States.
But the holders of contracts even
in those areas where there is sur
plus of labor should remember the
commission warned that there is
going to be continuous drain on
the Nations manpoWer
They should make use of all types
of labor, including women, older
workers and Negroes"
| Besides the District of Columbia,
the areas designated as ones to be
avoided are located principally in
the Northeastern and Pacific Coast
States. Two thirds are in Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Connect
icut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Washington. Oregon and California.
Danville, Lynchbure, Richmond
and Roanoke. Va, were among the
cities listed as having labor sur
pluses.
Warned by President.
The committee began its hearings
with a warning from President
Roosevelt that any attempt to
pass a bill apportioning available
labor among perhaps half hundred
different occupations would be I'M
sound.
He explained that conditions vary
between different parts of the coun-
try and from one month to another
and legislation which would be all
right in October might not be in
November.
The Presidents press conference
yesterday followed lengthy con-
ference with Mr.. McNutt. He de-
clared that he preferred not to 60
into details of possible manpoWer
solutions pending completion of
report by the Manpower Commits
sion's Management Labor Policy
Committee.
Informed sources said Mr.. McNutt
had gone to the White House to re-
| quest the President to intervene in
a controversy between the Manpower
Commission and the Selective Serv-
ice Administration over draft defer
ment regulations.
Earlier, the House Committee on
National Defense Migration made
public report stating that Maj
Gen. Lewis B. Hershey had informed
the committee that the Selective
Service Administration was the key
agency in budgeting and allocating
the Nations manpower for the war
| effort
Some Confusion Admitted.
Gen. Hershey admitted to the
committee that he was confused
as to whom the Selective Service
Administration was answerable. He
said he was attempting to CO.
operate with the Manpower Com
mission and I'VE have not yet had
a clash The chief of the selective
service system declared further
| 1lldo III UllC CNCllU Vic Cllllt WOulu
come when he would not be able
to carry out the Manpower Com
missions deferment directives and
"at the same time provide the
armed forces with the men they
call for, do not know what the
answer is"
Disturbed over reports that
skilled men were being drafted into
the armed forces and that the
shortage in these essential war occu-
pations was mounting steadily, Mr.
McNutt is reported to have con-
ferred with tibet President as to
what was the answer.
On taking his departure from the
White House late in the afternoon
Mr.. McNutt told reporters that II
have nothing to say" and that
anything disclosed about the nature
of the conference would have tc
come from the President.
The Chief Executive, without
making reference to his conference
with the manpower official said a
number of soldiers IS to 40 years ole
probably would be furloughed tc
take jobs in essential industry.