Evening star., 1943-07-08
Newsprint Quota Case,
To Be Made Public;
Mas Is Satisfied
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The War Production Board has
decided to make public henceforth
its proceedings In the handling Of
newsprint quotas. Representative
Mas, Republican, Of Minnesota said
that satisfied his demands that
something be done to avert what he
called q threat to freedom of the
press.
Mr.. Mas charged the WPBs
Printing and Publication Division
with favoring some publishers over
others and using newsprint quota
machinery for censorship" pur-
poses. WPB Chief Donald M. Nelson
issued a fiat denial yesterday, then
conferred with Mr.. Mas, who said
Mr.. Nelson agreed to his recon-
mendation for publishing the quota
cases, probably in the Federal Reg
lister daily.
Policy Not Approved
The legislator added after his con-
ference that he was sure Mr.. Nelson
never approved any such policy.
Has not known of the trend
In this division. - Did not realize
the dangers of the potential abuses
that are possible under the pro-
cedure that the Printing and Pub
fishing Division operates"
Mr.. Mas issued his statement
after Mr.. Nelson denied that the
WPB exercised any censorship of
magazines and books by withholding
paper allotments and asserted such
charges by Mr.. Mas in the House
Tuesday were based on misinforma-
ton.
Mr.. Mas statement said:
Donald M. Nelson, director Of the
War Production Board, got in touch
with me today in connection with
my charges made on the floor of
the House that the Printing and
Publishing Division showed evidence
OF being used for control of the press,
including magazine and book pub
fishing.
did Not Realize Dangers"
II am quite convinced that Mr.
Nelson not only has never approved
of any such policy, but has not
known of the trend in this division
toward this objective. am sure,
also, that he did not realize the
dangers of the potential abuses that
are possible under the procedure
that the Printing and Publishing
Division operates. I do not think
that he has had any realization of
the dangers inherent in the secret
method of operation indulged in by
the Printing and Publishing Di-
vision.
After disclosing my sources of
information, which included an in
vestigation by a highly reputable
law firm for q number of months,
Mr.. Nelson has agreed to my recon-
mendations and has assured me that
rules for procedure will be adopted
by the Printing and Publishing Di-
vision and that all appeals with
their disposition and reasons for
final decision will be published,
probably in the Federal Register
daily.
This is satisfactory to me as
Eli sure tlldU 10 iio AuhSSA
of a secret control Of the press by
controlling white paper so long as
all of the proceedings are open to
public examination"
In denying Mr.. Mas censorship
charge, Mr.. Nelson declared that
nothing resembling censorship is
practiced," directly or indirectly, by
the WPB.
The existing system of paper
conservation orders has been de-
vised purposely to avoid any pos
sibility of censorship" he said. add
ing:
1--WE are faced with diminishing
supply of paper-what is printed on
that paper is not within our prov
ince.
publishers OF books, magazines.
and newspapers all have quota
equal to approximately 80 per cent
of the paper they have been using
In the past. Under the published or
ders OF the WPB they can print
anything they choose on that pa
per-
When publishers need more paper
than they are allotted, they may
appeal for more on hardship
grounds. Mr.. Nelson pointed out,
but when relief is granted 1t is done
without any consideration OF edi-
torial content"
The WPB chief said he will sub
nit soon a detailed report on opera
tions of the Printing and Publishing
Division. This will go to Chairman
Boren of the House Subcommittee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
which has been conducting an in
vrstigation of WPB's paper conser-
vation program.