Evening star., 1943-02-05

synthetics in the rubber program
butyl and neoprene-only 1876 per
cent Of rubber is under high
priority.
In one sentence the WPB chair
man disposed of the proposal by
UndersecretaV Of War Patterson
that more sweeping measures should
De taken to conserve rubber. includ
ing Government purchase or requisi
tioning of 1000, 900 of the Nations S
q 900 900 passenger cars.
Mere conservation of the present
rubber supply" Mr.. Nelson said, will
not solve our problem.
Mr.. Nelson reiterated his stand
that the program for rubber can
be carried along with the compet-
ing programs for production of high
octane gasoline, escort vessels, mer-
chant shipping and aircraft without
serious interference with any of
them. This will be done. he said.
by more orderly and greater pro-
duction of component equipment.
which includes list of "a items such
as valves. compressors, heat eX-
changers and instruments. used ex-
tensively in all the programs.
Stepping up production involves
making a complete survey of facili-
ties OF plants which make the parts
for the components. There are sew
eral thousand plants over the coun-
try engaged in this work. 1t also
involves making sure that all orders
for the components have been
placed by the agencies responsible
for the must" programs. SO con-
tractors can prepare for increased
business. After that it is the job OF
WPB to see that important needs
are served first to make sure that
plants are working on equipment
for ships or rubber plants which
are scheduled for completion i'm
mediately rather than next fall.
This procedure is known as pro
duction scheduling
Crisis Develops.
1t was in working put plans for
this scheduling operation that the
crisis developed between Mr.. Wilson
and Mr. EberStadt. The row threat
ened to blow the lid from WPB.
Mr.. Wilson had been given the job
of breaking the bottleneck which
threatened the five programs so
vital to the war effort. He insisted
that in order to do a job" he must
have control over the general in
dustrial equipment, automotive and
safety and technical equipment di-
visions Of WPB. The divisions dealt
with most of the "a critical COM
ponents' with which he was most
concerned.
Mr.. Wilson asked for control OF
the aluminium and magnesium divi-
sion, since the metals are used al
most exclusively in aircraft manu-
facture, for which he is responsible
as chairman of the WPB Aircraft
Production Board. He wanted the
branches having to do with facilities
since as production vice chairman it
was his job to see that there were
sufficient plants to produce the
weapons called for by the armed
forces.
Mr.. Eberstadt had built up the
divisions to an efficient working
level. He had equally strong reasons
as to why the sections should remain
under his control All Of this began
several weeks ago Mr.. Nelson was
called upon to make an exceedingly
difficult decision.
Wilson Sends Ultima tum.
Finally. on January 20, Mr.. Wilson
notified the IA Government claim
ant" or procurement agencies army,
Navy, rubber director. Maritime
Commission etc. that all orders for
the critical components' to be used
in the first half of the year must
be placed by February,s6. Orders for
the last half year had to be in by
March l. The agencies were told to
notify their contractors and sub
contractors. The Wilson order ig-
nored the industry divisions under
Mr.. Eberstadt. Penalty for failing
to meet headlines amounted to loss
OF priority standing.
1t required about week for Mr..
Wilson's ultimatum to clear the
Government agencies and reach
manufacturers, giving them only
about 10 days in which to comply.