Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-11

will be more than sufficient to allow
the satisfaction of all the immediate
civilian needs. In some of these
cases, it will be desira BILE to arrange
for stock -piling of strategic ma
terials.
6. Control of the distribution of
industrial and construction equip
ment and other producers goods will
be needed so that priorities may be
given to the rebuilding and re-
eQuipping of factories and SO that
a proper sphere will be reserved for
housing and other programs.
7. Corollary to the rationing and
ALLEGATION will be price regulations.
Retention of price controls should be
expected for any commodity as long
as the potential demand is greatly
in excess of available supply. For
many industries it will take con-
siderable period of time to rehablli-
tate productive capacity and turn
out enough goods to satisfy accumu-
price control violent initiation would
result. Unless price controls are
retained. flood Of buying in ad-
vance Of ability to recOnvert TO
peacetime production and distribu-
ton would make it impossible to
achieve an orderly transition to a
civilian economy. The kinds of COM
modities for which prices must be
fixed and the types of price controls
to be retained will depend on the
length Of the war and the market
position for each industry at the
end of the war.
Requires Labor Protection.
g. In the transition period the
supply of labor will be such that in
the absence Of positive controls the
labor standards built up over the
years by collective bargaining and
by legislation will be in danger of
being seriously undermined. Vigor-
Gus enforcement of protective labor
legislation will be necessary.
9. Utilize the wartime experience
to develop such regulation as may
stimulate the effective functioning
of competitive business in normal
times Wartime experience has
indicated the public Importance of
certain industries and the desira-
bllity Of continued Federal control
OF their operation. Industries based
on scarce raw materials or those
with rapidly diminishing reserves
and industries supplying power and
fuels fall into this category. Trans
portation and other public services
may likewise be more closely con-
trolled in the interest of national
defense and the public welfare. The
Government should retain control
over patents and properties seized
from enemy aliens and operate them
directly or license their use in such
way as to encourage competitive
development by private operators.
For the longer-range development
OF an expanding economy after the
war, our ee-enterprise system and
economic freedom for the individual
will demand constant assistance
from Government and a renewed
sense of vigilant responsibility on
the part OF all citizens.
1t is appropriate that the National
Resources Planning Board as an
agency OF the Federal Government
should give special consideration to
! the assistance and actions which
Government should undertake. Be
cause of the boards direct RESPONSE
blllty for the preparation Of pro-
grams OF public works which have
regenerative or enduring value, a
special place is given in this post
war plan to public works.
But the main reliance for an
effective consumer demand must
come from private activities taking
the lead in opening of new enter
prises and in using our new produc-
tive capacity. The board is under
no Illusion that the construction in
dustry, which now with public and
private activity combined is at a