The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-12-03


a real concern of millions of peo-
pie, the Office of Price Admins
tration here, which controls ra-
tioning, is being flooded with
problems of major proportions.
Once more the OPA has learn
ed that any announcement OF a
shortage leads to immediate rush
buying and thus hastens the
shortage. Even in the case OF
butter, a product on which 1t
would be foolish to hoard be-
cause of spoilage, the announce
ment of the freezing of 81 per
cent of the nations butter re-
serves brought an overnight buy
ing surge and consequently an
overnight scarcity in retail stores.
The machinery for rationlng
food products, such as coffee and
sugar, is now operating quite
smoothly. With each new prod
uct there are difficulties in get
ting the rationing into. operation,
particularly because Of misun-
derstandings or lack of informa-
ton among the people, but once
the issue is clarified the coupon
system seems to work well.
The greatest problems still are
concerned with gasoline ration
ing, since many rackets have de-
veloped for illegal sales of gaso-
line and there is general oppo-
sition to the whole program a
mong certain groups OF people.
In the states where gasoline Is
plentiful, it is difficult for the
people to see why they should be
rationed, even though they do
understand that the purpose of 1t
is to preserve tires.
The unwillingness of the peo-
pie in the Midwest to agree to
gasoline rationing is quite under
standable in those states, but it
has created strong inter-sec-
tional conflict, both in congress
and among the people. The east
erners, who have been rationed
on gasoline for many months, and
are now having their rations cut
still further feel that the mid
westerners are showing an un-
patriotic attitude in resisting ra-
tioning. The people in the gaso-
line states. on the other hand,
can't see why the fasteners can't
be good sports about it and &C
cept rationing of gasoline with
out insisting that it be nation
wide.
The gasoline problem is parti-
cularly difficult for the govern
ment to handle to the satisfaction
of all, for everyone realizes there
is plenty of gasoline in this ma
ton to supply all war needs and
all civilian needs. Gasoline is
rationed in the East because OF
transportation problems as well
as to save rubber, whereas in the
West the only reason is to save
rubber. The government has
still avoided the question around
which most of the confusion ex-
ists-that is, whether each fam
lily is supposed to preserve its
tires entirely for its own personal
use, or whether confiscation of
tires for necessary uses is a pos
sibility.
Although rationing and short
ages are changing many of our
living habits and eating habits,
conditions continue to be better
than usual in this country due to
the fact that the national income
is greater than ever before in
history. But that very fact and
the fact that national income will
be even greater next years. a
constant source of worry in Wash
ington. It is estimated that in
1943, in spite of high taxes and
increased savings by the people,
the expendable income will be at
least $15,000,000,000 greater than
the value of goods available for
purchase. This was true to some
extent in 1912, but stores and
factories unloaded a large supply
of merchandise they had on hand.
In 1913, when the SURPRISES are
exhausted, the people will real
ly feel the strange condition of
being unable to spend all of their
money: This condition could
lead to serious initiation, in spite
of all the price ceilings and other
restrictions.
The government, therefore,
feels that it is necessary to work
out still more ways to drain off
excess income from the people
and will probably put through
still more taxes, or at least a plan
for enforced savings. There is no
doubt that the treasury will have
great difficulty in collecting, dur
ing 1913, the heavy taxes already
irnnosed. but while thew are